The Last Drop Centenario 1870 and 1970 Port Duo

1870 -- 97 Pts: The 1870 Centenario Colheita Tawny Port has a deep colour, one you would expect from a Tawny of 148 years. It has an arresting bouquet with scents of black plum, rosehip syrup, Manuka honey, fig and grilled walnut. To be honest, it was far less oxidative than I expected and that is followed through on the palate. Beautifully balanced, fresh and slightly viscous in texture, this is a complex Tawny Port whose age has not diminished just how delicious it tastes. It just goes out to offer gorgeous mulberry, clove, eau de vie and Chinese five-spice notes throughout its harmonious and poised finish. This is just a sublime Tawny of class and pedigree and it comes highly recommended. 1970 -- 93 Pts: The 1970 Centenario Colheita Tawny Port was actually a similar color to the 1870 despite the hundred-year age gap. I found this showing more VA at first, calming down with time to offer clove, toffee, wild fennel and smoke aromas. The palate is sweet and crisp on the entry with a tang of Seville orange marmalade and quince. There is great tension here thanks to the fine seam of acidity with a fresh, almost “zippy” finish that belies its age. It does not quite possess the earth-shattering complexity of its 1870 sibling and there is just a touch of heat that develops on the aftertaste. But it is still a fine Colheita Tawny.