Wine Tasting - Offley Boa Vista Vintage Porto 2007

"Alcohol is necessary for a man so that he can have a good opinion of himself, undisturbed be the facts."

 -Author Unknown (but could have just as easily been Tiffany)

Hello to one and all.  May this hour only be surpassed by the next hour, so on and so on.

This blog post focuses on a most wonderful gem uncovered during a wine class which Tiffany and I attended on June 26th.  If my recollection serves me correctly, this is the highest scored wine which either Tiffany or myself has experienced (to date).  Absolutely and without any doubt whatsoever incredible!

Chucky's Point Score:  94

Tiffany's Point Score:  93
Wine Enthusiast Score:  93

Offley Boa Vista Vintage Porto 2007

Appellation:  Portugal, Douro, Porto

Grape Varietal(s):  Port Blend

Retail Price:  $69.99

Vintage:  2007 (bottled in 2009)

Producer:   Sogrape Vinhos, S.A. (Offley Boa Vista)
Alcohol:  20.5%
Calories:   approx 37 to 47 per ounce

Tasting notes as follows.

Chucky's Tasting Sheet

Tiffany's Tasting Sheet

The label reads as follows:

"Offley, a port house renowned for it's pioneer history of almost 3 centuries of heritage and experience became famous due to Joseph J. Forrester (1809-1861), who was granted the title of 'Baron' from the King of Portugal, for his role in the expansion of both porto wine and Offley.  Offley vintage wines are traditionally limited to the famed Quinta da Boa Vista, one of the oldest and best known estates in the Douro Valley.  This top quality wine is purple, opaque, with a very intense and complex aroma of red ripe fruits, resin and spices on the palate.  The structure and firms tannins of a great quality are an impressive balance to the long and robust finish.  Offley Boa Vista Vintage 2007 is ideally drank with a creamy cheese such as Serra da Estrela (Portugal), or a Stilton due to its characteristics. Vintage porto bottles should be stored laid horizontally.  Overtime natural sediments will be created, requiring the bottle to be carefully opened and decanted, after standing up for 24 hours."

I've always been somewhat a fan of port wines due to my fondness of sweet grape nectar.   Tiffany, on the other hand, has discovered an affection for select port wines by virtue of our wine classes.  Of course, until we began attending monthly wine classes we had no wine acumen.  Our favorite wine had but a single label, "Cheap".

The more bang-for-the-buck in a 1.5 liter bottle, the better.  This was my goal when making a purchase.  Since I did not know a Pinot Noir from a Cabernet Sauvignon from a Shirah or Zinfandel, why delve out my hard earned dollars?  This is to say Tiffany or I did not truly "enjoy" a wine in those days.  On rare occasion, a bottle of vino simply seemed appropriate for our dining venue.

But, those were the "old days".  Tiffany and Chucky have since graduated into big grown-up people.  You would be both amazed and impressed to see how much wine we little 4-foot plastic bubble-headed folk can consume!  Not only that, the quality of our wine selection continues to grow and grow.  I am so proud to display our selections to anyone entering our abode.

Oops... Back to my blog subject, huh?  This Offley Boa Vista Vintage Porto was so good and delicious that we had to purchase a bottle!  No way were we leaving without our grubby little plastic hands scarfing this wine booty.  It's the crème de la crème of our wine collection right now.  Well... this and a Barolo from Piedmont, Italy perhaps.  My "special" little wine cellar (refrigerator) has a few "keeper" wines stashed away for special occasions like winning the Lotto.  At worst case, Tiffany will be having one helluva party when they bury me 6 feet under or sprinkle my ashes over a vineyard?

This port was nothing less than extraordinary and almost beyond words.  But I shall try anyway.  My eyes teared up in love and passion upon my initial whiff.  Upon smelling the intense raspberry and chocolate notes, I so wanted to change myself into a bottled genie!  And I knew exactly the bottle!

Only to be outdone by the aroma were the absolute perfect flavors upon my tiny little palate.  Intense cherry immediately awakened any sleeping taste buds.  Mixed with the tasted of raspberry, blackberry, chocolate, and tobacco a true party was going on.  Never has my palate been so happy.

Let me say something about its viscosity.  Unlike your typical port wines, it's not thick or syrupy to the feel.  Nor is it fluid and free flowing as an ordinary wine.  The viscosity is somewhat between the two in a most wonderful place to the tongue.  It melds the intense grape taste of a wine with the elegance of an aged tawny port.

Deep dark fruit flavors, extremely smooth and lingering bliss.  That's what this port wine is all about.  This wine is the epitome of why grapes exist on this beautiful planet of ours.  I am sorry if I tend to paint such a pretty picture.  Offley Boa Vista Vintage Porto 2007 is simply that good!

Hi-dee hi-dee this-is-a-must-have-port-ho my friends.