Intermediate
The importance of the quality of the ‘Aguardente’ in the making of Port wines
The ‘Aguardente’ (also called ‘Aguardiente’) is a distilled alcoholic spirit that is used to fortify wines when a winemaker wants to make a fortified wine…
/B+
Tasting Note: Porto Quevedo, 20 years Tawny Port
Comments = great complexity, well balanced, long finish
Final Grade = B+
/A-
Tasting Note: Quinta de la Rosa, 2010, Colheita Porto
Comments = great complexity, well balanced, enjoyable bouquet
Final Grade = A-
/B+
Tasting Note: Late Bottled Vintage Porto, 2014, Quinta do Noval
Comments = Need further aging to develop its full potential and smooth its tannins
Final Grade = B+
/B+
Tasting Note: Graham’s Vintage Porto 2010, Quinta dos Malvedos
Comments = has a good potential for developing complex tertiary aromas through aging. (Tasted while still young, if drinked after 10+ additional aging, this wine would probably be graded as a A- wine)
Final Grade = B+
/B
Tasting Note: Dow’s, Ruby Porto, Porto
Comments = this is not a faulty wine, it is balanced and fruity. It is also a good deal for the price. However, its lack of complexity (outside of its fully fruity profile) prevents it to be graded higher
Final Grade = B
/B
Tasting Note: Canasta, Sherry, Cream
Comments = not very complex aromatic and short finish
Final Grade = B
/B
Tasting Note: Valdespino, El Candado, Pedro Ximenez, Sherry
Comments = powerful candied and dried fruit flavours together with a long after taste. Its excessive sugar imbalance and sugary finish prevent it from pretending to a higher grade
Final Grade = B
/C+
Tasting Note: Croft Original, Sherry, Pale Cream
Comments = not a long finish; this wine relies probably too much on its level of sugar to hide its lack of complexity and some imbalances
Final Grade = C+