2019 : a year rich in fortified wines

WINE TALK
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Sweet wines, including fortified ones, are not so often commented on this forum.
2019 was the occasion to taste wonderful fortified expressions :

18,5/19 :
Navazos Montilla-Moriles Oloroso Bota 74 : 18,5/19 – 13/5/2019
Vial-Magnères Banyuls Al Tragou 1993 : 18,5/19 – 21/9/2019
Vial-Magnères Banyuls ambré solera cuvée Bernard Sapéras : 18,5/19 – 21/9/2019

18,5/20 :
Jerez Palo Cortado VORS Lustau : 18,5/20 – 18/1/2019
Montilla Morilles : PX Hors d’Age Toro Albala « Don PX Convento Seleccion 1929 » : 18,5/20 – 18/1/2019
Porto Dow’s 1985 : 18,5/20 – 15/6/2019
Vial-Magnières Banyuls Al Tragou 1985 : 18,5/20 – 15/6/2019
Rivesaltes ambré Domaine Cazes Aimé Cazes 1976 : 18,5/20 – 19/9/2019
Domaine de Rancy Rivesaltes ambré 1952 : 18,5/20 – 21/9/2019
Domaine de Rancy Rivesaltes ambré 1948 : 18,5/20 – 21/9/2019

Jerez, Montilla-Moriles, Port and several french Vin Doux Naturel (Rivesaltes ambré, Banyuls ambré, Banyuls tuilé).

What were your best wines ?

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For 2019 so far I’ll go with

2000 Valdespino Macharnudo Palo Cortado
1966 Gonzalez Byass Oloroso
Equipo Navazos La Bota 72 Palo Cortado
1966 Sandemans Port


But the year is not quite over yet…

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I don’t stray in this direction often but I’ve really
Enjoyed the 1999 Kopke Colheita I cracked last weekend.

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The 2017 Vintage Ports are shaping up to be something special.
The best wine, not just fortified, I’ve had this year is Quinta do Mourao CL. CL for 150 years. This is a wood aged Port, a blend of vintages from 1863 to 1875 with an average age more than 150 years. There’s also a stellar 90 year old white Port and a new blend of their 100 year old.
I’ve also attended comprehensive tastings of the Ports from DR (Agri Roncao). The standout wines were the 70 year old wood aged Port and their 50 year old white. They also have a Muito Velho (Very Old) which is wholly from 1885.
The best Sherries were the series from Bodegas Tradicion. Their VORS wines Amontillado, Oloroso, and Palo Cortado.
Unfortunately, I haven’t drunken enough Madeira this year. I’ll have to remedy that during the holidays.

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The Barbeito Verdelho Frasqueira 1992 I had during summer 2019 was excellent (17/20) but not great …

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This year I had a memorable experience with the 1946 Toro Albala Don PX Convento Seleccion

Not a fortified wine, but honorable mention to the 2010 Marcel Deiss Altenberg de Bergheim, which has entered my sweet wine top 10 pantheon

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Deiss Gewurztraminer Altenberg de Bergheim SGN 1989 also turned out to be a great unfortified great sweet wines …

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A couple Madeira with the owner of the Faja dos Padres, the most famous vineyard on the island.
1950 Barbeito Faja dos Padres Terrantez, 1920 Cossart Malmsey. Both coming from the same vineyard and both excellent.