2004 Pocas Colheita (bottled 2022)

[Alex Bridgeman]

Poças 2004 Colheita, aged in casks and bottled in 75cl in 2022. Significantly lighter in colour than the Quevedo 2004, which was a deep blood red with an opaque centre. This is a gentle strawberry blonde, 50% opaque. On the nose this offers some treacle and a little rhubarb, smooth and fruity. The wine on the palate is balanced and elegant, bringing good acidity with generous fruit and just a hint of brown sugar. The acidity builds to a crescendo, but never overwhelms the baked rhubarb and vanilla. Smooth and effortless, generous apple on the aftertaste with hints of aniseed in the apple on the long and very fine finish. This is a delicious and subtle Colheita, very worth the effort to hunt out and acquire. Later the apple had evolved into a delicious bitter-sweet dark orange marmalade. 91/100.  Tasted 21-Mar-23. Decanted ½ hour.