Wine Wednesday - 2010 Tenuta Vineyards Black Mamba Syrah Port

This is a Syrah Port made by Tenuta and is called Black Mamba! It is just fun to say if not great to drink. At a Tenuta wine tasting a few weeks ago, some friends seemed to prefer the Zin Port but my palette still enjoys the Black Mamba.

This little port is the fortified version of Tenuta's Late Harvest Syrah, the Black Mamba Lite.  As with most dessert wines, this only comes in a 375mL bottle but it packs a punch with the dark berries and a velvet, viscous texture with a good balance of brandy.

2010 Tenuta Vineyards Black Mamba Syrah Port, Livermore Valley

The Black Mamba is a deep, dark purple, almost black...hence the namesake. The viscosity is definitely there, but is not too syrupy, which is a big plus for me.

You can definitely pick up the higher alcohol content on the nose, with strong bouquet of dark-skinned berries and peppery-sweet aromas that linger over the port.

Ripe, sweet blackberries dominate the flavor that finish with a nice pepper and clove finish that has an initial edge due to the higher alcohol when the bottle is first opened. This tappers off to a more smooth and sweet finish once open for a little bit and the initial alcohol evaporates off after the first hour or so.

Once opened it maintains it rich berry flavor and viscosity for at least three days, but we finished the bottle at that point. It would be likely good for some time after but I doubt it would last that long.

Pairing definitely enhances the Black Mamba, it is stronger with a counterpart as opposed to being fully stand alone. Chocolate is the classic port complement, specifically some milk chocolate or a good peach-blackberry tart. I could also see a good Roquefort being a great cheese to cross paths with the Black Mamba.

Cost: $36