40 Year Old Tawny Port by Sandeman

[Glenn E.]

Purchased from my local QFC grocery store after consultation with FTLOP regarding any familial resemblance to the Sandeman 20 Year Old Tawny Port.

Sandeman 40 Year Old Tawny Port

Color: Not as dark as I expected, but I'm used to the Kopke and Noval 40-year olds. To my eye, the Sandeman looks like a 20-year old - a medium tawny with an orange tint to it. Near the rim, a faintly greenish yellow.

Nose: Lightly oaky, with a high toned spiciness that resembles mint without being minty. Vanilla, soft orange peel, a very light caramel, and some very soft alcohol. Of note, not a hint of VA (which I usually find in 30- and 40-year olds). Oddly, swirling the glass causes the scents to fade - I have to let the glass sit for a while after swirling for them to reappear. After swirling and sitting, some dark almost sour apricot.

Palate: Relatively light in tone (for a 40-year old), but with a nicely full body. Not as bright as the 20-year old, but brighter than the Noval or Taylor. Probably on par with the Kopke in that regard. Tangy and bold, with plenty of citrus. An odd impression of green pear floats around the usual apricots and blood oranges. An oaky/nutty note hits right after you swallow.

Finish: Tangy, with lots of dried and mellow citrus fruits. Starts to fade rapidly, leaving a pleasant warmth, but levels out and holds on for quite a long time.

Score: 94 points. I think the Noval and Kopke have just a little more complexity and depth, but it's a very slim margin. This is an outstanding 40-year old and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who loves tawnies.

[David Spriggs]

This is an all-time favorite. I think it doesn't get the appreciation that it should. A superb tawny!
-Dave-

[Roy Hersh]

It is definitely in my top 5 of all 40 year olds. I don't think this was the best showing I've had as it did not exude the richness and deep unctuosity that I often enjoy with the Sandeman 40, but still a very solid bottle.