Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

6 notes

1994

Dow Porto Vintage

Douro · Porto

Smooth plum, camphor, and soil notes. A little bit of animal and bear paw fur on the back end. Not completely barnyard, but definitely some mammalian tinges on the finish. Still, this maintained its…

Reviewed 2 June 2018
2012

Shafer Firebreak Dessert Wine

Napa Valley · Stags Leap District

Nope. I don't get this thing at all. Serves no purpose. A syrupy simpleton. One wonky note of chocolate-blackberry goofiness. This is why most wineries shouldn't have a desert wine. 79? points.

Reviewed 7 February 2018
1976

Quinta do Noval Porto Colheita

Douro · Porto

Incredibly smooth and seamless in every way. An almost golden color, with just a slightly darker orange/brown-ish hue on the rim. Lighter on the attack, with toffee, caramel, light maple syrup, dried…

Reviewed 13 October 2017
2014

Vincent Arroyo Port

California · Napa Valley

When in doubt, go for the port? Well... It was a rocket-fuel injected vintage port version, with syrupy blackberry and Absolut flavors clashing into each other. The finish was a blast of straight…

Reviewed 26 August 2017
NV

Del Dotto Dolores

California · Napa Valley

Typical Port with a stewed plum and brandy-like vanilla bean and chocolate note. Not too rich, sweet, or syrupy (which was a good thing). Paired well with the dessert.

Reviewed 18 June 2016