2005 Cruz
Posted: 09:38 Wed 30 Jun 2021
I am a very strong believer that one should revisit and test prejudices and assumptions, especially when it comes to Port. Accordingly (but not without some trepidation) I try the 2005 Cruz.
The colour is really quite light. Completely transparent, it is more red than purple, although only fading a little bit. The nose is quite subdued with little on offer. In the mouth, there are no tannins left, little fruit and a strange bitter aftertaste. It is not undrinkable but it is not a good vintage port. I don’t think I would have guessed it would have been a VP at all, blind. Perhaps an elderly ruby or unfiltered LBV? Rather like the 1989, I don’t quite understand how it got past the IVDP.
Incidentally, I also tried the unfiltered 2003 LBV. It looks a measure darker than the 2005 VP. The nose has good concentrated fruits which carry on into the mouth. There are some tannins left, too. It is not a blockbuster but it is perfectly pleasant to drink at a good state of maturity and is very good value.
The colour is really quite light. Completely transparent, it is more red than purple, although only fading a little bit. The nose is quite subdued with little on offer. In the mouth, there are no tannins left, little fruit and a strange bitter aftertaste. It is not undrinkable but it is not a good vintage port. I don’t think I would have guessed it would have been a VP at all, blind. Perhaps an elderly ruby or unfiltered LBV? Rather like the 1989, I don’t quite understand how it got past the IVDP.
Incidentally, I also tried the unfiltered 2003 LBV. It looks a measure darker than the 2005 VP. The nose has good concentrated fruits which carry on into the mouth. There are some tannins left, too. It is not a blockbuster but it is perfectly pleasant to drink at a good state of maturity and is very good value.