2011 Quinta de la Rosa (Waitrose)

Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
Forum rules
Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
Post Reply
LGTrotter
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
Posts: 3707
Joined: 17:45 Fri 19 Oct 2012
Location: Somerset, UK

2011 Quinta de la Rosa (Waitrose)

Post by LGTrotter »

2011 Waitrose (Quinta de la Rosa)
In direct defiance of Alex's winces and with the thought of the 'predicting the future' thread I opened this, just to see.

The cork has 2011 stamped on the top and 'Quinta de la Rosa' with a crest on the side, nothing to suggest a different bottling.

Wow, this is different. Absolutely impenetrable to light, the colour coats the glass and sticks. When the glass is almost empty it looks the colour of black cherry juice. Really dense. Nothing on the nose at opening, nowt, nada. A bit of waiting and twirling brings a suggestion of bitter plums and boiled sweets. But still nothing really. The palate is most noted for the tannins which give a wool carpet/velcro feel to the inside of the mouth. It has a real lift in the mouth as you go through the palate, finishing on a privet note. There is tons of fruit too but this is swamped by the sense of raw power, in the tannins and the spirit. It is testament to the tannins that the spirit seems secondary.

Alex is right, this is infanticide and I have murdered a bottle that could have grown into something good. I have no idea how this might develop, but it seems full of good stuff at the moment and I would buy some if I wanted to still be drinking port when I'm 103. It has a lot of impurities to shrug off.

I wonder about who might buy this, and what they might make of vintage port if they idly tried this.
User avatar
djewesbury
Graham’s 1970
Posts: 8165
Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Contact:

Re: 2011 Waitrose (Quinta de la Rosa)

Post by djewesbury »

I bought a case of it (unopened). I think it's fantastic (tried it from a half-bottle, which I gave some time).
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
LGTrotter
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
Posts: 3707
Joined: 17:45 Fri 19 Oct 2012
Location: Somerset, UK

Re: 2011 Waitrose (Quinta de la Rosa)

Post by LGTrotter »

Don't misunderstand me, it may be fantastic in maturity, it has oodles of good things about it now. It's just that I've no way of telling.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 2011 Waitrose (Quinta de la Rosa)

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Then don't worry about what it will be like in 30 years time - drink it and enjoy it today. It is a fabulous drink right now in its infancy. Who cares what it will be like in the future? Baby port is so much more drinkable than baby claret.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
LGTrotter
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
Posts: 3707
Joined: 17:45 Fri 19 Oct 2012
Location: Somerset, UK

Re: 2011 Waitrose (Quinta de la Rosa)

Post by LGTrotter »

A day later; very tasty, the nose has come out a bit, still not expressive though. A bit smoother all round.
AHB wrote:Then don't worry about what it will be like in 30 years time - drink it and enjoy it today. It is a fabulous drink right now in its infancy. Who cares what it will be like in the future? Baby port is so much more drinkable than baby claret.
All true. But this is a brutal drink for all that. This is not the genius of port.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 2011 Waitrose (Quinta de la Rosa)

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

LGTrotter wrote:A day later; very tasty, the nose has come out a bit, still not expressive though. A bit smoother all round.
AHB wrote:Then don't worry about what it will be like in 30 years time - drink it and enjoy it today. It is a fabulous drink right now in its infancy. Who cares what it will be like in the future? Baby port is so much more drinkable than baby claret.
All true. But this is a brutal drink for all that. This is not the genius of port.
Port, smort.

If it tastes good today, drink it today. Use it to wash down a slab of rare roast rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding, gravy and french beans. Very tasty.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Post Reply