If you suffer from Young Vintage Port syndrome, this makes for a good interim alternative to infanticide.

Dark, opaque purple. Soft, smooth palate showcases the syrupy, jam/raisin/brown sugar flavors. Finish lingers nicely, where it picks up additional complexity.
90 pts. /$27.

The above post was based on a small pour at a wine bar, after going through a slew of other wines.

I've just now been working my way through a full 750 bottle over 3 nights. I'm matching it with a crumbly, hard Stilton and some dark bittersweet chocolate.

The basic profile is as noted above, but it seems to be underperforming just a tad. The aromatics require some coaxing, as in, lots of swirling. I know it's rather old for an LBV, but if anything, it seems more primary and monolithic than when I tasted it in April. Loads of grapey sweetness but not so much of the complexity or nuances I got then. I'll dock this bottle a couple of points, to an 88.

The Stilton is a nice piece of cheese but I'm not quite getting the whole Port/Stilton thing. Maybe a Port with slightly less sweetness would be a better match.

Sipping this Port with the dark chocolate really rocks, though. There's a definite alchemy in that pairing.

thanks for the TN.

I agree with you on the port / stilton thing. I find that the stilton is almost always too powerful for the port. The only ports with which I liked the pairing was young, straightforward, powerful VP and young, powerful ruby types like crusted port.

Thanks for the TN, VS - now if only I could find SW LBV over here...I have never even seen a bottle.

(oh, and great signature!)