89 Quinta do Infantado VP [Porto] I don’t think I’ve ever had this shipper nor vintage. 19.3% abv. Over 3 nights, and only decanted near the end, when the sediment was getting intolerable/uncomfortable. Color is a very pale rusty red. The first night it shows celery, herbal notes on the nose – those blow off over the next two nights. Also its a bit hot on the first day, so needs some time to breathe. It has watery rims. Flavor is sweet and light, not dense. A little cinnamon here on the palate. It doesn’t have much tannin and there is a slight acidic edge by the end of the bottle. Although I enjoy port, we don’t have VP all that often, and a 3 day weekend was an opportunity to open one, since the two of us could finish it with a glass each night. (We’ve been drinking more Banyuls if anything recently) Anyways, I hadn’t seen this before, so decided to pick one up and try it. For something which had an ok reputation in many vintages, although not widely seen by me, I was disappointed. I’d give it maybe a B- or B. And I’m a charitable grader with all dessert & fortified wines.
Infantado isn’t known for making great VP’s. A middle- lower tier producer. I’ve had some ok things by them but never a “this is really good” moment from anything in their line up.
Given the producer and year, and your note, I assume it was at peak or past and time to drink these up if you have them?
I thought this was going to be a note on a Nacional that was too young!
Although it did get ‘better’ after being open, I’d regard that as the hotness blew off, rather than complexity emerging. I think its actually past its peak. This bottle was an Intertrade import, maybe they had the name before Dressner? I forgot to mention there is a nice map on the back label, along with the quantity, 2200 cases made.