1995 Quinta dos Pesos, Howards Folly

[Alex Bridgeman]

1995 Quinta dos Pesos by Howard’s Folly. 1995 was an outstanding vintage in Carcavelos, outperforming 1994 as the wines mature. Bottled 2023, possibly refreshed a little before bottling to make a more consistent style along with the 1991, helped by selection of the wine in barrel. 25% of the grapes were red. Double decanted a little time before the tasting. Dark olive-brown colour, 30% opaque. Lovely nose, rich vinagrinho. Intense flavours, beeswax and black treacle. Concentrated but well balanced. A little bitterness of burnt sugar on the aftertaste, a touch of iodine on the finish showing salinity in the honey and molasses. Big, rich and uncompromising. 92/100. Tasted at a Carcavelos event in Lisbon on 29-Feb-2024.