1987 Souza Vintage Port

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Andy Velebil
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1987 Souza Vintage Port

Post by Andy Velebil »

Glenn told me 4 hours was a good decant time, so 4 hours it has been...

Hard to see the color as room is a bit dark but appears to be more of along the lines of a redish 10 year tawny. The nose is full of dried strawberries, eucalyptus, old leather, and dried oleander. It's a rather light/medium weight on the palate. Dried strawberries, fully resolved tannins, with a pronounced cocoa which shows up mid-palate and lingers throughout the moderate finish. The finish brought forth some lovely acidity that helps add some perceived complexity on the back end. If this bottle is representative, it's a fully mature and ready to drink VP. These will make a nice "house VP" for me. I'd recommend consuming these within the next few years for best results.
88 Points
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Glenn E.
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Re: 1987 Souza Vintage Port

Post by Glenn E. »

Sounds familiar! I've been scoring them higher (~91) but your note sounds spot on for a good bottle. I've seen some bottle variation, but even the "off" bottles have been very tasty... just not what you'd expect them to taste like.
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Roy Hersh
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Re: 1987 Souza Vintage Port

Post by Roy Hersh »

It will be interested reading what people think of these. I've seen the bottle variation too. However, delicious for current drinking and a decent plateau too. Love that mocha essence that is impossible to miss.
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
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Re: 1987 Souza Vintage Port

Post by Andy Velebil »

First bottle I've opened so will report back if/when I notice any variations in bottles.

And yes, I found that cocoa (or mocha for you) as an odd ball in it, in a good way. Usually I don't see that flavor in a mature VP. It usually is in much younger and primary VP's so it caught me off guard...I like when that happens in a Port.
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
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Glenn E.
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Re: 1987 Souza Vintage Port

Post by Glenn E. »

I get the cocoa/mocha in all 3 of the Souzas from the buying op (87, 95, 97), but it does seem to be most prominent in the 87 (and weakest in the 97).
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Re: 1987 Souza Vintage Port

Post by Roy Hersh »

Yep, that is definitely the case, Glenn.

Cocoa ... mocha ... kind of splitting hairs. [help.gif] But we all do get different aromas/flavors from these. :thumbsup:
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
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