Reveals a touch of age on the nose with some leather aromas accompanying the lovely fresh fruit. Very approachable, medium sweet and medium bodied port. Refined and elegant, with nice cherries, bay leaf, dried herbs and liquorice. I loved it, it’s all about finesse and complexity, a joy to drink. I only had two bottles of this, but went out as fast as I could and bought six more.

Ronnie - Thanks for the notes. Any experience with the '94 Quinta de Eira Velha? I have a few of these (as well as the regular bottling).

Unfortunately not. I've never been able to find it (for a decent price), but I know StevieCage has some bottles, and perhaps I can persuade him into opening one not too long from now...

Just four bottles, Ronnie - but should you open one of your Martinez, we could do a side-by-side tasting: I'd sacrifice one of them for that! I have not tasted the Eira Velha '94 yet...

J. Henry's Dad:

About 5 months ago, I had a famous winemaker as a houseguest for the night, and opened up the 1994 Martinez single quinta. It was the first time I had tried it since the year of its release.

It is fabulous! Still young. Dark and dense, oozing all kinds of black fruits, spice, licorice, and more. This deserves a rating pushing 100 points.

That's actually a very good idea Stevie! It looks like it will be a nice comparison.

I posted notes on the Eira Velha here, and all I can say is that you will need to give this about 2-3 days to open up. I couldn't believe how tight this wine was and how much air time it needed. I've decided to hold my other bottles for about another 10 years and beyond. If you do open it, I will very much look forward to your tasting notes!

Thanks for the link Emilio...a side-by-side tasting of these two Ports just became more tempting...

There are several other threads that mention this wine:

http://forums.winespectator.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/.../111100513#111100513

http://forums.winespectator.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/.../384101613#384101613

http://forums.winespectator.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/.../311103892#311103892

and they all agree that this is a real winner. Even more so when one considers the price, which is currently under USD$50, in London at least.

I'll just add that my view on drinking young vintage ports, especially great ones, remains the same: give them at least 20 years (notwithstanding the fact that I opened a 94 Martinez myself! - but I was in London and needed to taste as many wines as possible)

Funny that the bottle you tried in London was a real young monster, while this bottle was all about elegance, young indeed, but not monstrous.

BTW, I paid €25, that's why it was so easy to run back to the store and buy 6 more!

quote:

Originally posted by Ronnie Roots:
BTW, I paid €25, that's why it was so easy to run back to the store and buy 6 more!

I bought one of these in Portugal last year, but it wasn't showing quite as well as you describe. If it had been I would have bought many more. I guess I should have anyway.

Opened a 1985 Martinez at a dinner with Mark Neal in NYC several months ago - drinking nicely now but still young - shoul dprobably wait another several years before opening another but probaly won't.