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NV Quinta do Passadouro Ruby Reserve

Posted: 21:35 Sat 19 Oct 2013
by djewesbury
Opened yesterday; was too busy drinking it to record what it tasted of.

This is the colour you'd expect of a ruby reserve, dark pink and almost entirely opaque with a thin pink rim. It's not hugely expressive on the nose - black cherries and perhaps a touch of vanilla. In the mouth it's very soft and very well balanced. Many reserves are very simple: massive fruits, cloying sweetness. This is altogether subtler. The fruit is quiet, gentle. The dryness and heat are on the top of the palate; late acidity gives a good depth; and the finish is good and long [replenishes glass..] and here's the fruit: at the end, black cherries, slight figgy notes, a little eucalyptus giving complexity, and then there's that vanilla again, with chocolate as well.

For a 'basic' port this is really very good; it could be an unfiltered LBV. It's rich, but with depth and complexity and an exceptional, mouthwatering finish that is still going as I write this. Coming back from Porto in September, I gave up two of the places in my luggage (out of a total of 12) that were intended for VP, so that we could have some of this. Glad I did so.

NV Passadouro Ruby Reserva

Posted: 22:12 Sat 19 Oct 2013
by djewesbury
Later on, I've noticed that a blend of mint as chocolate is in the front of this, with kirsch cherries behind, when first you take a sip.

It really is good.

EDIT: I believe the predominant note in the finish is described by some as 'mocha'. Some seem to find this flavour unpleasant. I rather like it; the slight bitterness is welcome in a rich port such as this.