Penfold's Grandfather Fine Old Tawny Port, South Australia

[wondersofwine]

19% alcohol
Handsome amber color.

Sweet dried apricots and prunes color both the nose and flavors. Slight vanilla toffee note and possibly a smidgeon of maple sugar coexisting with the dried fruits. Quite rich and luscious.

Claims to be Australia's benchmark Tawny Port and I would not quarrel with that statement. Back label mentions depth of rancio complexity and subtle oak flavors.

[Kcwhippet]

What's "rancio"?

[winoweenie]

That's a WW typo whenced she was tryin to tipe rancid. WW [img]http://wines.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by winoweenie (edited 01-06-2007).]

[wondersofwine]

Rancio means something maderized (spelling?) or deliberately having some oxygen exposure as part of the aging process (I think)

[VouvrayHead]

yep, and is often characterized by a slightly tangy, smokey pungency... It's not just oxidation, but also (in the case of madeira and southern france sticky) from being heated by the sun in barrels or jugs.
the word means "rancid" in Spanish.

[This message has been edited by VouvrayHead (edited 01-08-2007).]

[wondersofwine]

So WW was inadvertently correct!

[winoweenie]

Never Inadvertantly! WW [img]http://wines.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img]