For The Love Of Port

Well, gang, here it is, my first publicly posted tasting note on ANY wine. Be gentle....



Drunk from 375ml. Stood upright for a couple of hours on the bartop. Extracted the straight cork in two pieces. Staining up about 1/4 of the cork, no signs of leakage, etc.

The color was a deep, inky purply, fading to ruby, and eventual bricking at the edge. Initial aroma was very full of spirit, hard to get much else. That blew off eventually, and at about 3 hours had a nice fruity aroma with hints of raspberry, and I thought I caught a bit of licorice. Definitely some good plum there, too.

In the mouth it is medium-weight, delivers on the promises of the aroma, though the spirits come on hard after the wine warms up in my mouth. This leads to a pretty long finish that is initially dominated by heat, giving way to a hint of green pepper, then sweetness and remnants of plum, and a raisiny flavor that I get in the finish of a late harvest sweetie.

I won't have much update on day 2 as this won't last another hour (wife swiped a glass!!!)

Without much to compare this to, I'll just say I enjoyed it. Didn't knock my socks off, but I would give it a B-/B.

Anyone with experience with this same wine, please share your thoughts.

Rich

edited 5/10/07 to add photo.

Rich,
The only bottle of Vargellas '88 I've had was bad, wish I could say it wasn't as I was really looking forward to trying it.

But most importantly, Congratulations on your very first (of many I hope) TN's.

Rich

Great tasting note and good to see you posting your first one here. I tried the '88 Vargellas in April and had a view that was similar to yours. I described the wine as "pleasant enough" but also placed it as a below average vintage port - so your B-/B is probably consistent with my view.

What did your wife think about it?

Alex

but I would give it a B-/B

Reminds me of my schooldays...

"Causes little trouble, but takes less"

Tom

What did your wife think about it?

I asked her if she liked it, and I received an indifferent yes. She's not as looney about wine in general as me, so that suffices, and I can guess from her tone, etc, that while she would drink it if in her glass, it won't be a bottle that she asks if we have more of (bad grammar, I know.)

Reminds me of my schooldays...

I resemble that remark a bit, too, Tom! :) However, I'm sure that both of us have matured as we reach our peak, yes?

Rich