2004 Réccua LBV (unfiltered)
Réccua Port is made by Caves Vale do Rodo, a Régua-based co-operative, apparently one of the first companies to export Port directly from the Douro in the 1980s. They also seem to make quite an extensive range of table-wines, including a sparking Douro white which isn’t something I’ve seen before!
This is an unfiltered LBV, bottled in 2008.
I feel I have already spent too much time testing this Port on the nose, but after 90+ minutes of decanting time, I found this quite subdued with the grapyness of a young vintage Port predominating. However, the aroma does not grab me like a young Vintage Port: the grapes seem to be the primary aromas of this Port. Behind that there is a little rounded fruit, perhaps red currants and a lingering spiciness.
In the mouth, I am struck by how subdued this wine is. There is no immediate hit of sugar, acid or fruit. Some furry tannins form on my tongue, there is a little sensation of grapes in the back of my throat, followed by some sugar which fades quite quickly into sticky nothingness.
This is very straight-forward, simple Port. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it; there is no fiery kick to the aftertaste nor astringency or bitterness. However, it is not very exciting and shows almost no complexity. If this were a Ruby, it would be fine, but for an LBV (and sold at LBV prices) it is perhaps not as exciting as one would expect. Perhaps a little redolent (and here I am making all sorts of assumptions about the shipper) of a Baixo Corgo Port? Anyway, this is certainly nice to try, and with 3 years in the bottle, drinking well but perhaps not an experiment I would repeat.
