TAWNY
Niepoort 10 years old
Tawny
(Bottled in 2023) The wine has a pale garnet color, almost tiled. The nose offers a fine oxidative and caramelised notes, with gourmandise of dried fruits. It expresses notes of caramelised hazelnut, dried fig, dried apricot, dried red cherry, dried orange peel, dried red cherry, a touch of prunes, toasted almond, walnuts, dried flowers and wild herbs, tobacco and a hint of vanilla in the background. The palate is savoury and reflects the notes of dried fruit, which we find on the nose. It expresses the flavors of dried apricot, dried fig, cream of prunes, dried red cherry, caramelised hazelnut (or even praliné), toasted almond, combined with touches of vanilla, fresh tobacco and dried wild flowers. The finish is persistent, more on oxidative notes of fresh nuts and with a tertiary touch of wet leaves. A good level of acidity a salivating finish, which brings freshness to the wine. The alcohol is wellintegrated.
Score: 15.5/20 (90-91/100)
Van Zellers & Co – 10 Years Old
Tawny – Porto
(bottled 2023) The nose is racy, frank and offers a fine and tight grain. We find notes of dried zest and slight notes of sweet quince associated with touches of plum, hints of honey, cooked strawberry, nougat as well as hints of tobacco, citrus fruits and a very discreet hint of pepper. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers precision, elegance as well as good freshness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of candied mandarin, candied red plum and small notes of small candied fruits associated with touches of rancio, tobacco, cedar as well as fine hints of roasting as well as honeyed hints/roasted almonds. Good length. Roundness, harmony and gourmandise.
Score: 15.5+/20 (91/100)
Ramos Pinto – Quinta de Ervamoira 10 Years Old
Tawny – Porto
(bottled 2023) The nose is elegant and offers controlled power, harmony as well as a certain small energy. There are notes of candied fruit (peach, orange, touch of apricot), plum and small notes of cooked honey associated with fine notes of dried fruit/almond and a discreet touch of wood. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, nicely mineral, gourmand, elegant and offers suavity, suppleness, a certain roundness as well as beautiful energy and purity. On the palate this Port expresses notes of candied white fruits, candied mandarin and small notes of crystallized purple plum associated with touches of honey, candy apple, caramelised/cooked apricot as well as fine hints of fig and hazelnut in the background. Good length. Presence of a very discreet hint of sense of place (local biotop) in the background.
Score: 16.25+/20 (93/100)
