2018 Barros

[rich_n]

Initial pnp - mostly closed nose with a hint of red cherries, but my, this opens up on the palate beautifully! Initially full of Parma Violets and perfume, but that’s immediately washed away in a sea of red cherries that fills the palate, accompanied by milk chocolate and mint. That is then followed by a luscious finish of ripe plums, but the gripping tanning close it off for a relatively short finish that I expect to lengthen after it has had some time in the decanter.

+10 hrs - nose is now full of dark fruits, backed up with a barrel full of plums with strawberries in behind. Lots of spice and some milk chocolate on the mid palate and plenty of tannic grip drying the lovely finish.

My co-tasters are not quite as excitable about port as I am but were still intrigued and eager to try a young vintage port, and were suitably impressed. I’m only a touch saddened that I was unable to try taste the further evolution of the port with a day or two in the decanter but I’m extremely pleased I have more of this for the future as it stands up well alongside all but the best that I tasted at the 2017 TPF vintage port tasting last year.

Very good to excellent.

[PCM]

Initial pnp - mostly closed nose with a hint of red cherries, but my, this opens up on the palate beautifully! Initially full of Parma Violets and perfume, but that’s immediately washed away in a sea of red cherries that fills the palate, accompanied by milk chocolate and mint. That is then followed by a luscious finish of ripe plums, but the gripping tanning close it off for a relatively short finish that I expect to lengthen after it has had some time in the decanter.

+10 hrs - nose is now full of dark fruits, backed up with a barrel full of plums with strawberries in behind. Lots of spice and some milk chocolate on the mid palate and plenty of tannic grip drying the lovely finish.

My co-tasters are not quite as excitable about port as I am but were still intrigued and eager to try a young vintage port, and were suitably impressed. I’m only a touch saddened that I was unable to try taste the further evolution of the port with a day or two in the decanter but I’m extremely pleased I have more of this for the future as it stands up well alongside all but the best that I tasted at the 2017 TPF vintage port tasting last year.

Very good to excellent.

Thanks a lot for this note! Happy to hear it's really great value for money !!