1995 Carcavelos
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Tasting notes
500-ml-bottle. This was found at Quinta dos Pesos, which no longer makes wine and is owned by very wealthy Portuguese people who live in Switzerland and own most of the petrol stations in Portugal, apparently. Bottled and labelled by Hong Kong-based Howard Bilton, whose other wines are Portuguese table wines. Colour of walnut skins. Gorgeously complex aroma of dried fruits, bitter caramel, walnuts and a volatile note that reminds me of Madeira. Sweet, complex, full of every manner of dried fruits and nuts. Intense and multi-layered. Very long, caramelised aftertaste but with a bitter edge that contrasts well with the sweetness. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Dominating nutty and dried fruit characters followed by hints of leather and cigar box undertones. Warm and creamy on the palate before a generous finish. Spicy and gingery edge to it. Drink now or hold.
About the producer
A joint project from British entrepreneur Howard Bilton and Australian winemaker David Baverstock, Howard’s Folly is a boutique wine producer in the Alentejo. Working with old vines and indigenous grapes largely in the cooler Portalegre, they craft fresh and modern expressions of the region.