NV 50 Year Old Tawny Port
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Tasting notes
The NV 50 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in May 2022 with 134 grams of residual sugar and a bar-top cork. This is an entrant in the new age-indicated category of 50; it no longer stops at 40. I thought the 50 Year white was fabulous. Its Tawny brother is as good or better. It doesn't have the brightness of the white in terms of acidity (the fruit doesn't taste old in terms of decay, so don't misunderstand), but it is richer, lusher and more flavorful. There's a touch of nuts, caramel and spice. It also has a long, long finish, which is what I would expect from an old Tawny in top form. Kopke did a great job with the blend here. This is completely delicious, smooth and balanced, juicy on the finish. Which is better? Depends on what you like, and it is worth getting some of each. For wines this old, the prices are reasonable. They are both great experiences.
Critic scores
Average Score
Tom Parker MW, jancisrobinson.com
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Cask sample. Hand-picked traditional Douro varieties, crushed and fermented in lagares at between 28 and 30 °C until the right degree of sweetness is achieved. Aged on average 50 years in cask. TA 5.64 g/l, pH 3.4, RS 140 g/l. Dark ochre-brown colour, no red colour left here. Even more savoury than the 50 Years Old White port with equally complex aromas but less orange. Figs and prunes soaked in alcohol (though not as sweet as pruneaux d’Agen ), polished wood, walnuts, with the spiciness of sotolon. The alcohol seems to show a little more on the nose than it does with the 50 Years Old white port, and the flavour is dominated by walnuts wrapped in bitter toffee and just a hint of coffee on the finish, where there is also a little more obvious sweetness. Rich, super-intense, beautifully balanced with just enough freshness for a complete wine. More elegant than its white twin, the texture less viscous even though the RS level is higher. Absolutely gorgeous. (JH)
Brownish tawny colour. Deeply savoury on the nose, with mahogany, roasted nuts and varnish. Very intense in both aroma and flavour, the concentration is highly impressive. Figs, unsmoked cigars, walnut and liquorice are just some of the flavours on show. There is a glycerol richness, but the sweetness has integrated fully into the wine. Nutty, long finish. (TP)