NOSE: strong minty/wet stones aspect — not unusual for aged Cabernet Sauvignon; slight pyrazine note; “dark”; a touch high-toned; expressive.
BODY: garnet color with bricking; color is of medium-deep depth. {forgot to note wine’s weight — by memory, it was somewhere in the medium range}
TASTE: spicy — woodsy; medium to medium+ acidity; mostly tertiary; wet stones; alc. not noticeable; tannins mostly gone; a very pleasant – excellent, actually – aged Cabernet Sauvignon that is ready to Drink Now; I do not see room for further improvement. Awesome QPR at the $40 I paid within the past two years.
Glad to see Caves de São João get some love. Their Cabernets are the exception to the rule in Portugal, where international grape varieties are secondary when compared to the native ones. They also sell dirt cheap… Did you get from them directly?
Their 1994 Arinto is a favorite of mine, and even cheaper - I think it’s like 15€.
I purchased the 95 about a year from Last Bottle for a ridiculously low price. Some like 25 a bottle. I bought 6 and after tasting the first one was horribly upset I didn’t get 12. I hope I’ll see another release soon
I purchased the 95 about a year from Last Bottle for a ridiculously low price. Some like 25 a bottle. I bought 6 and after tasting the first one was horribly upset I didn’t get 12. I hope I’ll see another release soon