2011 Sandeman

Pitch dark – thick and glutinous. Loads of powdery tannin, loads of fruit richness. Layered and detailed, with all the classic port notes of dried fruit and floral perfume. Exemplary. (RH)

The 2011 Sandeman Vintage Porto has a very precise nose that is imbued with far more clarity than previous vintages: pure black cherries, minerals, creme de cassis and violets, like a super-charged Margaux. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, the black cherries intermingling with marmalade, fig and raisin. It is seductive toward the finish, confirming its impressive showing out-of-barrel last year. This is without doubt the finest Sandeman of the modern age. Drink 2018-2040.

Saturated black-ruby. Sexy, superripe nose offers black raspberry, minerals and a whiff of black olive. Intensely flavored, sweet and fine-grained if a bit youthfully musclebound today; suggests a strong extraction. Boasts a powerful wall of tarry black fruit flavor but does this wine have enough inner-mouth tension for long-term aging? It certainly has the tannic support.