/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+
/B+
Tasting Note: Lustau (Xeres), Oloroso, Don Nuno, Seco
Comments = dense mouth but well balanced with a long finish
Final Grade = B+
/B+
Tasting Note: Tio Diego, Amontillado, Valdespino, Dry Sherry
Comments = is it reasonable to expect more from a 6 euros wine?
Final Grade = B+
/B+
Tasting Note: Lambrusco di Sorbara, Secco, Cantina di Sorbara
Comments = this wine offers a good expression of a Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC (not to be confused with cheap & industrial Lambrusco). It is very fruity (mainly cherry) with no secondary aromas and a lighter body than Lambrusco Salamino DOC and Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC. This Lambrusco di Sorbara can be considered a classic example of a traditional Lambrusco (this DOC is the most renowned of the 3)
Final Grade = B+
/B+
Tasting Note: Castello Bonomi, Franciacorta, Saten, 2016
Comments = this wine offers a very good expression of what a Saten Franciacorta should look like. The Medium+ finish and the lack of tertiary aromas (despite long aging) prevents it from having a better grade (but note than in that case, the price should be around 45 euros)
Final Grade = B+