Three Burmester LBV's

[RonnieRoots]

Because we felt so sorry for ourselves that we weren't able to attend the Fonseca offline, StevieCage, LadyR and I decided to organize our own pitiful tasting. Or rather, together with another port loving friend, we were pretty impressed with a couple of Burmester LBV's some years ago. We tasted the 1996 and 1997 when they just hit the shelves and we had the feeling that they would be well capable of ageing.
Last friday we came together for an evening of watching the Jeeves & Wooster series, and it seemed like an appropriate event to test the LBV's once more.

I've retasted the ports tonight, and gave a score based on how the ports were showing in the end.

For those who never had a Burmester LBV before: they are unfiltered and bottled after 4 or 5 years. When young, they can be a bit rough, showing great structure, but also some heat. That's why it seemed to us that they could do with ageing. Our favorite just after release was the 1996.

1996 Burmester LBV
Bottled in 2001. Had this before, a couple of years ago, and thought then that it could age gracefully. This bottle hasn't proven that. Tastes old, with only some dried fruit and lots of leather. Overly hot on the finish. When that blows off, it's a nice drinker, but doesn't stand up to the 1997. Two days later: the heat has blown off entirely, and it shows younger. Light red fruit, with notable acidity and rather high sweetness. Light bodied. Nice, but nothing really special. 82 points on the first night, upgraded to 84 in the end.

1997 Burmester LBV
Bottled 2001. Very nice, round and soft, with nice red and dark fruit. Top drinking now, and doesn't seem to be on the decline. Still standing strong after two days, even seems to have gained a bit in structure, shows some more noticable tannins now. 87 points, solid.

1998 Burmester LBV
Bottled 2003. Smells of plums and cherries, and posesses some good flavours of dark fruit, mint and chocolate. Lacks structure to guarantee further ageing, and finishes rather hot. Drink now. 85 points at this stage.
Hotness has blown off after two days, and it's a nice harmonious drinker. Elegent and medium bodied. Nice for drinking now, or in the near future. 87 points.

It seems that the 1996 didn't quite live up to the expectations, which was a bit of a disappointment, but the 1997 and 1998 were very nice. The 1997 could even do with some more bottle age. 10 years look like a good stage to drink these ports...