Ok, let me preface this by saying I’ve had maybe 2 or 3 ports in my lifetime, including the 5 year old Broadbent Madeira I opened tonight.
Do all of these wines show their alcohol on the nose and on the attack/mid/finish? My hunch says no since higher alcohol wines can be balanced and not show the alcohol. But then again, the port class is fortified, so maybe that might not be the case here???
I think I would truly enjoy these types of wines, but the alcohol showing so prominent is a detractor for me. I’d really love to have another option in addition to the the late harvest and Sauternes.
The best ports are usually very well integrated, with a good marriage and balance between the fruit and spirit.
When very young, a long decant can usually help smooth out the spirity edges…
The spirit usually shows most often in fortified wines both too young and too old. Too young the alcohol has not integrated, too old the fruit is fading leaving the alcohol.
Serving conditions can also contribute. I try to serve at cellar temp, and of course in warmer climes/seasons the wines could show more unbalanced. In terms of the wines’ behavior, however, I would tend to agree with Eric, and I think that it is more magnified in port than Madeira, IMO.