Tawny port is barrel-aged, filtered, fined, and ready to drink as soon as bottled. Unlike vintage port, it will not further age in the bottle. Most tawnys are 10, 20, 30, and 40 years old and the prices for these escalate accordingly. It is said that the best bargains lie in the 20 year range. Tawnys are blends from different years but can come from a single year's grapes - these are colheitas.
This TAA, utilizing the paramaters of price and availability, is the first port TAA. Naturally, it had to be a 10 year tawny to be both widely available and within the pricing range. I tasted Taylor, Sandeman, and Graham and selected the Graham for us, although the Sandeman was decent. The ubiquitous Taylor 10 year, on every menu of every restaurant by the glass had begun to taste a little like Robitussin.
My Graham is dated 2001. Yours may range from 2000-2002. This variable should not make a material difference in our comparisons. This wine has a reddish-tea color, and is vibrant and bright appearing. It has an aroma of candied cherry, the kind you find inside of chocolates, with a current of orange zest. It has a light to medium body and mouthfeel and coats oral surfaces well. Its flavors are of mixed plum, cherry, and persistent light citrus. Its finish was of medium duration with a hint of nuttiness.
How does one rate a mere 10 year tawny in a world of wonderful vintage ports? Perhaps the best for me is to rate it within its class. 89.
Best wishes to all for the holidays.
Dick
Posts: 2027 | Location: Delaware | Registered: Jun 21, 2002
Rating it in it's class vs other tawny ports changes the perspective; not sure if that's fair.If so, my evaluation is suspect in that I have had no more than 10 tawny's from Portugal. My preference for Oz in these is prejudicial.
Had this in Atlanta early this month. This clear ruby red-mahogany Port had a blast of alcohol, with chocolate, cigar, and cherry creme, a consistent monolithic flavor, medium body; but I did not notice nearly the nuttiness you did and nowhere near that of some Oz ports in the same group eg Rosemount OB. Nor was it that smooth, the heat noticeable but not disturbing.
A step up from Taylor's and Warre's, which I sometimes find undrinkable, and a very good choice for TAA, but not something I would buy in a store.
88 pts
Posts: 2350 | Location: Virginia Beach,VA | Registered: Oct 18, 2001
I tasted 4 Tawneys as a comparison and found the Grahams far and away the best, great job Dick. I wish the Churchill wouldn't have been corked as it is a highly rated wine (RP 94 I think).
Grahams 10 Year Tawney Bottled in 2002. 1 of 4 in darkness (meaning darkest), root beer color. Molasses, butterscotch, some would say root beerish, fresher nose. Seems to take the best attributes of the other wines and combine them, almost elegant, very round and easy to drink, long clean finish. 90
Churchill 10 Year Tawney 4 of 4 in darkness, hint of red remaining. Corked . Muted molasses, butterscotch, some musty alfalfa (wonder why?), wet cardboard. Full wine, excellent balance, long finish, does not show its alcohol. NR
Fonseca 10 Year Tawney Tie 2 of 4 in darkness, deep tea. Molasses, butterscotch, dusty nose. Very full bodied, a hint of honey shows here, higher acidity than any of the others. 85
Taylor-Fladgate 10 Year Tawney Tie 2 of 4 in darkness, deep tea. Molasses, butterscotch, fresher nose. Very lightly sedimented. Bigger fruit, but not as full bodied, showing some cherry still, some earth as well, balanced, but a little alcohol showing through. 86
Posts: 1761 | Location: Folsom, CA | Registered: Oct 20, 2001
Dark solid purple color. Very grapey nose, very grapey wine. Not terrifically complex, I like the previously used term "monolithic". A little hot, not bad finish. Overall ok, but I prefer vintage ports, or even LBVs. I'm a little less impressed here, I give this 85 pts, QPR B-.
******** Lighten up, Francis.
Posts: 4540 | Location: Chicago | Registered: May 24, 2002
I cheated a bit, in that I opened my bottle last Saturday night and had some then, had some more the next night, then some a couple of nights ago and some more again today. Also had the NV Chambers Rutherglen muscadelle which is pretty tawny-like.
I must say that I was not impressed by this wine. I must also say that while I love port, I am not really a tawny port kind of guy. I found this quite bitter on the aftertaste, with not enough of the sweetness and fruit I like in a port. But I've had only a handful of tawnies, so my judgement is perhaps a tad suspect.
It was best the second night after it was opened, and weakest when it was first opened, IMHO.
I'd score it 84 points.
Finally, I hope I don't sound unappreciative of the first port being chosen for TAA. Just the opposite in fact, Dick. Too bad there is not a widely available/affordable vintage port for all to try for TAA, but there it is.....
------- "Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others."
Clear ruby-red-brownish color, the nose presents an interest mix of sweet nuts, rubber, and sweet smoke. Palate is predominately alcohol, with notes of rhubarb, nuts, and caramel. Finishes a bit hot with tart notes. Not unpleasant, but not something I would seek out. 82 points.
Posts: 4409 | Location: San Ramon, California | Registered: May 07, 2002
I'm putting the notes that I wrote on Saturday night so independent of anything above.
Decanted first and tasted immediately.
Dark amber colour - consistent with a pinky orange glow.
Smell of caramel and veno's cough mixture - very sweet with raisins and preserved fruit.
Tasted - Very sweet with the Christmas pudding flavours to the front - raisins, orange peel and brandy. Actually the whole thing tastes of Christmas. No strong tannins, gentle acidity - pleasant.
We had it again with an ice-cream dessert after Easter lunch and my mother piped in with the caramel and a sort of linament that she used to put on her dad's feet - similar to the cough mixture, we agreed. Wasn't quite right for ice-cream but no complaints.
I'm not going to give it a score. I'll be honest, I prefer playing with LBVs than tawnys but thanks to Dick for choosing this - I enjoyed the chase and the wine.
DATE: 4/20 PLACE: Home WINERY: Graham's WINE:10 Year Old Tawny VARIETAL: Port VINTAGE: N/A (2001 bottling PRICE: $24 COLOR: Ruddy red/brown, like herbal tea BODY: Full. Numerous thick, slow moving legs. A mouth-coating wine. NOTES: Not decanted. Poured and served into Riedel Extreme Ice Wine/Dessert Glasses. I definitely got the nuttiness in the nose. Hazelnut and almonds. A bit like Frangelico. Some citus peel and nutmeg as well. Straightforward, linear flavor without much layering. Again, found hazelnut on the palate along with a twist of lime. Medium finish that was a bit hot. But at 20% alc., what would you expect? Enjoyable. Perhaps not as a "house" after dinner drink. But as an affordable option in a restaurant for a glass of Port that won't break the bank, it is worth considering. Half bottle left. If notes change over the next 2 weeks, I will edit. SCORE: 86
Posts: 1644 | Location: CONNECTICUT | Registered: Oct 19, 2001
My experience with port is VERY limited so this was kind of fun, I felt like I wasn't drinking wine (is that wrong?) but a flavored brandy or as JimmyV said; Frangelico. It was a bit too much alcohol on the palate and it seemed to inhibit me from pulling out any distuingishable flavors or nuances, the only other tawny port I have had was Whisker's Blake courtesy of Dr T from the 06/15 "brown bag" wine exchange, so my point of reference is almost nil. My nephew and his girlfriend finished off the bottle and might I add, crashed for the night at my house!! Thanks Dick for an interesting TAA!
********************************* One sip of this will bathe the drooping spirit in delight beyond the bliss of dreams.
Posts: 2964 | Location: So Cal | Registered: Oct 29, 2001
I'm sorry, I thought the TAA was next weekend! I've got a bottle of the 2002 bottling ready, and I'll pop the cork this week.
Only a few of you posted the bottling date of this port; I think it would be interesting to know (as ratings vary quite a bit) which bottle year everybody drank (it's on the back label). Please post!
Posts: 2203 | Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Registered: May 08, 2002
I'm sitting here sipping some more and seeing if I can get the same notes as the rest of you. As always this is practically impossibe but here goes:
Dick mentioned nuttiness, which I didn't - yep got that. Very strong, roasted hazelnuts or possibly almonds - oh hell. Sorry, no cherries or chocolate, oh hang on - yes, dark chocolate in the finish. Still no cherries. Hey, this is fun
Sorry, Dr T, I can't get me no cigar action.
Stealthman - the molasses and butterscotch go with my caramel. Root beer? Is that ginger beer or sasparilla, I've never worked it out. Sasparilla would go with the cough mixture still much in evidence.
grossie said grapey - I said Raisin, I think we match here.
bman is more a Vintage man who downs LBVs like me, I think but I had plenty of raisin fruit.
Eric had:
sweet nuts - check rubber - uncheck, nope can't get that. Hang on, found it looking for rhubarb - check sweet smoke - uncheck, nope still not that either. alcohol - check, check, check rhubarb - uncheck, nope found the rubber instead nuts - check caramel - check
Eric and I are pretty close.
Jimmy V - hazelnuts and almonds!!! - check. Citrus - check. Nutmeg - not exactly but I can see where you're coming from.
Pinot Envy - Crashed out students - check
Stevie Cage, 2002 bottling - check!
That was fun. It's not often you get the chance to compare when the wine is in front of you and so are a load of differing notes. I think we're all drinking the same wine, which is a bit of a relief
I tried this bottle twice over the weekend. I brought it to a fondue restaurant on Saturday and drank it with a chocolate and carmel fondue. On Sunday I brought what was left to my Sister-in-Laws for Easter with a vanilla and coconut cake. It was much better the first day with the chocolate based dessert. I paid $22 for this bottle.
It was a clear ruby color. It was apparant that this had been filtered as the opaque character and sediment present in a vintage Port was not present. I almost felt as though the wine was a sterilized version of Port. Aromas of crushed berries and blackberry liquer. It had a typical brandylike quality with notes of sweet black cherry, plum and some tar. No tannic structure to speak of. I was not impressed and left the bottle with my Sister-in-Law who enjoyed it very much. Tawny's are not my style. 85 points.
VM
Posts: 10124 | Location: Chicago | Registered: Oct 17, 2001
KB- Sasparilla! I can surely get VM's blackberry liquor, but I don't usually find much nuttiness in ten year tawneys, twenty year and up, definately. I generally drink 20s (probably 2 or 3 a year), the price appreciation for over that is way out of line for the drinkability increase, exception Colheita. I would agree at the pricepoint, LBV is a much better value. California's Ficklin makes a decent 10 year for the price- 10 bucks.
Posts: 1761 | Location: Folsom, CA | Registered: Oct 20, 2001
Color was a pretty orangish-brown color. Slight heat on the nose. Thick and almost honeyed on the palate, it completely coated the mouth. Aromas of cherry & nuts.
I have had very little port to date. What I have had has been VP. I think my preference lies there. This was ok, but not my cup of tea.
85 points
---------------------------- You bet your sweet #@% I'm a woman.
Posts: 593 | Location: Illinois | Registered: Mar 03, 2002
I'm not going to beat a dead horse with my TN, but I was disappointed with the complexity and fruit components to this Tawny. This just isn't what I remember it being the last time I had it two years ago. I love 20 year Tawnies (Sandeman, Taylor, Ramos Pinto), so maybe I look to much in that direction for a profile. Ehh ... 86
Aaargh! My bottle (2002 bottling) was CORKED! But, my retailer being a great guy, I'm sipping the 2003 bottling right now.
I slightly chilled my bottle (I like my tawnies just below room temperature), and tasted it from a Riedel-wannabee Port glass. Hazelnut is evident on the nose, but there is a dried fruit element as well (dades, perhaps?). Medium bodied, with more nutty flavours, some cherry. Finish is warm and of medium length. Some citrus peel, some nuts.
For 15 Euros, it's not bad. However, for my taste at least, it's not as pronounced as I would like it to be. Not nutty, not fruity enough. A bit boring: 85 points.
Posts: 2203 | Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Registered: May 08, 2002
You beat me to it. You just knew that James Suckling would want to play TAA (even if his note is 2 months late). Here is the rest of his TN that goes with his 92 score:
quote: Rich on the nose, with candied fruit, fruitcake, toffee and maple syrup. Full bodied, with medium sweetness and a brilliant aftertaste of fruit and caramel. Lasts for minutes on the palate.
He also recommends that Tawnys in general be served slightly chilled (at least in the Summer).
VM
Posts: 10124 | Location: Chicago | Registered: Oct 17, 2001
. Muted molasses, butterscotch, some musty alfalfa (wonder why?), wet cardboard. Full wine, excellent balance, long finish, does not show its alcohol. NR
