So it was my birthday yesterday, and of course I could scarcely allow the occassion to pass without a spot of port to mark the day.
I began the evening with a glass of Graham's 20 year tawny at a local dessert spot called The Chocolate Room. My friend Nicki (aka Big Bizness) and I shared a molten chocolate spice cake served with a scoop of homemade burnt-orange ice cream which was the recommended pairing with the Graham's 20. It proved to be an outstanding combination. The predominant notes of orange peel and nutty spice played beautifully off the tangy orange ice cream and warm chocolate spice cake. This once again proved to me why Graham's is always an obvious go-to when it comes to aged tawny's. The 20 year is concentrated, complex, and has a long, long finish. On returning home I popped a bottle I had picked up that afternoon on a whim - a Rozes 1994 that I found for $40. I didn't know anything about this bottle in particular, but considering the year, I figured it was worth a shot:
Rozes Vintage 1994
Tasted: 2/3/07
Dark maroon in color. Smokey blackberry and some dark chocolate and pepper on the nose, a bit spirity. Very similar notes on the palate with medium sweetness and depth - comes off fairly hot as well with a medium length of finish. A decent port, enjoyable for sure, but considering the excellence of this vintage, I did expect more. Not a bad wine, but not one I'd recommend.
-L.H,
