Tried this last night because one of my Porto friends was visiting:
- Porto Melford Vintage (21%; Imported by SvengaliImports/VanNuys) DouroWine Shippers & Growers Assoc/VilaNova de Gaia 1980: Med.light some bricking color; some licorice/pungent/fusel classic old Porto slight grapey/smokey slight alcoholic/fumey quite complex nose; slightly sweet smokey/pungent/fusel oil light grapey delicate/elegant classic old Porto complex flavor w/ light/gentle/dried out tannins; very long/lingering smokey/pungent/licorice/fusel oil slightly sweet light grapey/fumey complex finish w/ light/smooth tannins; a lovely complex old Porto in mighty fine shape. $4.99 (TJ)
A wee BoodyPulpit:
- Back in the '70’s-'80’s; TraderJoes always had some dirt-cheap vintage Portos of unknown names. They were always pretty tasty/authentic classic tasting young Portos. Did I mention they were also cheap? This was one of those btls I bought back in the early '80’s. I don’t recall paying many $$'s for it.
The DouroWineShippers was a brand owned by Barros Almeida and no longer exists. DWS&G
I don’t think there was actually a Melford Port House but this was probably a TJ’s BOB (Buyers Own Brand) label that they used for TJ’s. Oftentimes they were the exact same Portos, but w/ different labels.
I was expecting this wine to be totally dead & gone in that it came from my poorly-stored stash out in the garage I discovered. It was not. It was a classic example of an old vintage Porto, rather delicate on the palate, not as alcoholic as some old Ports can be, and in wonderful shape.
Did I mention it was quite a bargain at $4.99??
Tom