NV Porto dos Santos Tawny 20YO (bottled 2022)

[Alex Bridgeman]

NV Porto dos Santos 20YO Tawny, bottled 2022; pop and pour. At cellar temperature (12°C) this doesn’t show much on the nose but on the palate this is full of red toffee apple, candy floss and burnt sugar (and later, when a little warmer, this changed to be clover honey). The huge levels of acidity really show strongly on the aftertaste, making the heat and burn quite uncomfortable, although this is much less noticeable on a second sip. The finish is pleasant and enjoyable, giving a very long impression of a tarte tatin with the complex combination of caramel, apple and the vanilla from the pastry. This is totally atypical for a 20YO, with much more age and complexity. If served to me blind I would be guessing this to be one of the new 50YO blends. 93/100. Drunk 26-Aug-2025. Pop 'n' pour.