2002 Quinta do Monte Bravo LBV
Posted: 10:39 Tue 29 Jul 2014
Unfiltered
Pull-style cork
Bottled 2006
18.99 Euros
Decanted at midday: Deep purple, red, with the merest hint of orange. Blackcurrants with a side serving of blackcurrants and a blackcurrant chaser in the nose. Oh very nice - smooth, some heat, blackberries, blackcurrants - why is it that almost nothing made of grapes ever tastes like grape? - reasonable finish.
D + 6: Since I really can’t stand brandy (a hangover from an incident at university many many years ago), if ever I’m stranded on a mountain, it would be acceptable to load the St Bernard you send to rescue me with this stuff - thick and gooey, but somehow not syrupy - hard to pick a berry - it’s almost like “generic dark berry” - heat in the stomach, but not much finish.
D + 10: Certain sourness now - not as nice as it was earlier
D + 24: This is back in a better place - the berries, presumably after a night out on the town, have returned - slightly less heat.
D + 32: It’s fully recovered from yesterday’s hissy fit now - but there’s some other flavour there in the background - takes another sip - coffee? - another sip - blueberry? - another sip - nope - and the small, preprandial sampler glass is now empty - more later when it becomes the postprandial tipple.
D + 36: Nose of blackberry & blackcurrant jam. Disappointing finish in the mouth - it’s all in the stomach.
Not a bad drink by any means, but I'm not going to be rushing out to get some more.
Pull-style cork
Bottled 2006
18.99 Euros
Decanted at midday: Deep purple, red, with the merest hint of orange. Blackcurrants with a side serving of blackcurrants and a blackcurrant chaser in the nose. Oh very nice - smooth, some heat, blackberries, blackcurrants - why is it that almost nothing made of grapes ever tastes like grape? - reasonable finish.
D + 6: Since I really can’t stand brandy (a hangover from an incident at university many many years ago), if ever I’m stranded on a mountain, it would be acceptable to load the St Bernard you send to rescue me with this stuff - thick and gooey, but somehow not syrupy - hard to pick a berry - it’s almost like “generic dark berry” - heat in the stomach, but not much finish.
D + 10: Certain sourness now - not as nice as it was earlier
D + 24: This is back in a better place - the berries, presumably after a night out on the town, have returned - slightly less heat.
D + 32: It’s fully recovered from yesterday’s hissy fit now - but there’s some other flavour there in the background - takes another sip - coffee? - another sip - blueberry? - another sip - nope - and the small, preprandial sampler glass is now empty - more later when it becomes the postprandial tipple.
D + 36: Nose of blackberry & blackcurrant jam. Disappointing finish in the mouth - it’s all in the stomach.
Not a bad drink by any means, but I'm not going to be rushing out to get some more.