by Ray Johnson | May 17, 2010 | Aperitif, Madeira, Portugal, Sercial
Blandy’s, Madeira, 5 Year Old, Sercial nv The nose features dried fruits and nuts, melding a sense of citrus and raisins with honey all wrapped into a nutty dessert. The complexity is great and always leads one down a garden path to expect loads of sweetness but we...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 23, 2010 | Duoro, Fortified dessert, Port, Portugal
Dow’s, Porto, Late Bottled Vintage 2004 Blackberries and prunes mark the nose with an appropriate sense of the fortifying spirit. In the mouth, chocolate combines with nuts and figs and brandy’s strength. Bottled in 2009 by Symington Family Estates in Oporto...
by Ray Johnson | Mar 6, 2010 | Bual, Fortified dessert, Madeira, Portugal
Blandy’s, Madeira, 5 Year Old, Bual nv Toffee meets raisins with a spriritous character in the nose. In the mouth the weight is there, with nuttiness, caramel and a lighter shade of residual sugar than you find with Blandy’s Malmsey. I would break out the...
by Ray Johnson | Jan 12, 2010 | Aperitif, Madeira, Portugal, Verdelho
Blandy’s, Madeira, 5 Year Old, Verdelho nv The flavor profile puts together the best of Amontillado from Spain with a splash of sweetness. You’ll find a woody, nutty essence with warmth and dried oranges. This is a weighty aperitif that celebrates bold flavours...
by Ray Johnson | Dec 7, 2009 | Duoro, Fortified dessert, Port, Portugal, Tawny Port
Fonseca, Porto, 20 Year Old, Tawny nv The nose features brown sugar and cinnamon infused into oranges cooked over an open flame. In the mouth it is caramel personified, with a healthy dose of brandy and an underlying sense of acidity taking the flavors for a lengthy...
by Ray Johnson | Dec 7, 2009 | Douro, Fortified dessert, Port, Portugal
Dow’s, Porto, Vintage 2007 This baby of a Port smells of sweet black fruits, oranges, candied berries, a notion of flowers and the spirit that fortified it. In the mouth it is dense yet already smoothing out, approachable with a silky character, very much so...
