2003 Osborne LBV Port
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:18 pm
This is going to be a multi-day experience, so I'll come back and edit this as time goes by...typing as I taste...
Purchased at Total Wine for $17.99.
Bottled in 2008.
Unfiltered.
Decanted 11/23/2009 7pm
Opaque; deep, inky purple with blackberry cola at the edges. Not extremely alcoholy, which I normally attribute to just-opened LBV's, fruity, blackberry, figs, chocolate, almost a faint hint of cinnamon; spicy. It's got my mouth watering, hopefully the taste doesn't disappoint... Nice blast of berries right up-front, grapey, juicy (which I gather indicates fairly acidic)... Bright flavours at the front, floral, delicate, giving way to ripe cherry, a touch of blueberry or strawberry and whisps of green apple; hints of chocolate at the start of a moderately spicy finish which lasts a good couple of minutes.
D+30m
More cola, less blackberry, though not a significant difference. Much of the stronger alcohol smell has disspiated but still lingers on the nose, which is now a more mellow chocolate at the fore, figgy, hints of gorgonzola and leather amongst dark red berries. A little more conservative than the initial bright nose on decanting, not as spicy either. Taste is still pretty vibrant, bright fruits and apples and opened up a little on the front, while the back is a little mellower than before with figs, oak, dark cherry and cinnamon. Finish is light, but long and fantastic.
D+1h30m
After knocking over a glass while doing email...reminds me to make a post on how best to get Port stains out of your carpet...![[rotfl.gif]](./images/smilies/rotfl.gif "ROTFL")
...wasn't even that good an email...I shall continue. A titch of rust on the edges. Chocolate and more noticeably mellow and brooding nose of gorgonzola, leather, fig, though still berry essence. Ranier cherries, raspberry, strawberry...red berries on the front, an oddly spicier midpalate, and on the back less chocolate and more of a vanilla, oaky, apple taste. Earthiness creeping in, don't really detect the leather or gorgonzola from the last (unspilled) glass. Still bright flavours, but dimming a little, leaning towards mellowing out a bit. A little sweet, but then I haven't had anything to eat since I've gotten home, so that may be a factor. I liked it a bit more at 30m, but if history serves, LBV's for me tend to be at their peak 4+ hours in. Will come back before bedtime and have another hit, if nothing else to warm myself up before I slip into a cold bed.
Will also try not to stain anymore carpet.
D+8h
Not much change at all in colour; opaque Welch's. Fruity nose has mellowed out some, a little more earthy with oak, leather accents...pleasant. The same flavour profile, except maybe a little darker/subdued and earthy in the middle. Not sure if its the fact I had a Coke a half hour to an hour ago, but the mid to back has taken on a little bit of a bitter/tangy note that overwhelms other flavours on the way down. Definitely a little spicier/hotter on the back, but still that nice finish. Hoping this pulls itself together overnight. Heading to bed.
D+16h
Will probably have only one more update after this for academic purposes when I get home from work. No change in colour. Nose predominantly red berry chocolate. Front palate reflects the nose, maybe a little jammy but not in a bad way. Less juicy and a little thicker. Middle is dark red berries with a tang to them, then floral red berries, touch of oak, leather and vanilla on the back with a hit of spiciness that is more intense than I remember it last night. Finish is still long and strong. Nice way to wake up. Overall impression at this point is that the flavour and structure have congealed somewhat and is a little more rounded. Shave off the high notes, shave off the low notes, and what you're left with is in the middle, which is still pretty good.
D+1d6h
Last entry. Colour is more welch's grape juice now. Nose is essentially the same, however more pronounced oak, gorgonzola and leather. Not sure if it was my palate tiring from not eating anything last night, but this is actually really nice. Still floral and vibrant red berries, blackberry on the front, fig and apple giving way to chocolate, and a little gorg and leather. Juicy, and feels light, which I don't normally associate with chocolate, gorg and leather. Virtually no tannins, which almost makes this refreshing if it wasn't so late. Finish is shorter, not quite as spicy. Satisfying, but would be more satisfying if the finish could hold on a little longer. Spice is in perfect balance right now with the current flavour profile. I daresay I like this more than I did this morning.
Observations:
Not really tannic for an unfiltered LBV. I'm hardly an expert, but if I were to guess (someone can correct me if it doesn't fit the profile, or if they taste this themselves) I'd say it's got enough heft that'll probably allow it to cellar for 10 years, but I can't see it improving much more than where its at, maybe a couple points since I tend to like more mature port.
Purchased at Total Wine for $17.99.
Bottled in 2008.
Unfiltered.
Decanted 11/23/2009 7pm
Opaque; deep, inky purple with blackberry cola at the edges. Not extremely alcoholy, which I normally attribute to just-opened LBV's, fruity, blackberry, figs, chocolate, almost a faint hint of cinnamon; spicy. It's got my mouth watering, hopefully the taste doesn't disappoint... Nice blast of berries right up-front, grapey, juicy (which I gather indicates fairly acidic)... Bright flavours at the front, floral, delicate, giving way to ripe cherry, a touch of blueberry or strawberry and whisps of green apple; hints of chocolate at the start of a moderately spicy finish which lasts a good couple of minutes.
D+30m
More cola, less blackberry, though not a significant difference. Much of the stronger alcohol smell has disspiated but still lingers on the nose, which is now a more mellow chocolate at the fore, figgy, hints of gorgonzola and leather amongst dark red berries. A little more conservative than the initial bright nose on decanting, not as spicy either. Taste is still pretty vibrant, bright fruits and apples and opened up a little on the front, while the back is a little mellower than before with figs, oak, dark cherry and cinnamon. Finish is light, but long and fantastic.
D+1h30m
After knocking over a glass while doing email...reminds me to make a post on how best to get Port stains out of your carpet...
...wasn't even that good an email...I shall continue. A titch of rust on the edges. Chocolate and more noticeably mellow and brooding nose of gorgonzola, leather, fig, though still berry essence. Ranier cherries, raspberry, strawberry...red berries on the front, an oddly spicier midpalate, and on the back less chocolate and more of a vanilla, oaky, apple taste. Earthiness creeping in, don't really detect the leather or gorgonzola from the last (unspilled) glass. Still bright flavours, but dimming a little, leaning towards mellowing out a bit. A little sweet, but then I haven't had anything to eat since I've gotten home, so that may be a factor. I liked it a bit more at 30m, but if history serves, LBV's for me tend to be at their peak 4+ hours in. Will come back before bedtime and have another hit, if nothing else to warm myself up before I slip into a cold bed.Will also try not to stain anymore carpet.
D+8h
Not much change at all in colour; opaque Welch's. Fruity nose has mellowed out some, a little more earthy with oak, leather accents...pleasant. The same flavour profile, except maybe a little darker/subdued and earthy in the middle. Not sure if its the fact I had a Coke a half hour to an hour ago, but the mid to back has taken on a little bit of a bitter/tangy note that overwhelms other flavours on the way down. Definitely a little spicier/hotter on the back, but still that nice finish. Hoping this pulls itself together overnight. Heading to bed.
D+16h
Will probably have only one more update after this for academic purposes when I get home from work. No change in colour. Nose predominantly red berry chocolate. Front palate reflects the nose, maybe a little jammy but not in a bad way. Less juicy and a little thicker. Middle is dark red berries with a tang to them, then floral red berries, touch of oak, leather and vanilla on the back with a hit of spiciness that is more intense than I remember it last night. Finish is still long and strong. Nice way to wake up. Overall impression at this point is that the flavour and structure have congealed somewhat and is a little more rounded. Shave off the high notes, shave off the low notes, and what you're left with is in the middle, which is still pretty good.
D+1d6h
Last entry. Colour is more welch's grape juice now. Nose is essentially the same, however more pronounced oak, gorgonzola and leather. Not sure if it was my palate tiring from not eating anything last night, but this is actually really nice. Still floral and vibrant red berries, blackberry on the front, fig and apple giving way to chocolate, and a little gorg and leather. Juicy, and feels light, which I don't normally associate with chocolate, gorg and leather. Virtually no tannins, which almost makes this refreshing if it wasn't so late. Finish is shorter, not quite as spicy. Satisfying, but would be more satisfying if the finish could hold on a little longer. Spice is in perfect balance right now with the current flavour profile. I daresay I like this more than I did this morning.
Observations:
Not really tannic for an unfiltered LBV. I'm hardly an expert, but if I were to guess (someone can correct me if it doesn't fit the profile, or if they taste this themselves) I'd say it's got enough heft that'll probably allow it to cellar for 10 years, but I can't see it improving much more than where its at, maybe a couple points since I tend to like more mature port.