NV Cockburn's Special Reserve Port

[John M.]

Opened 3 hours before. T-cork. Ruby rim, good strong fruity bouquet--plum and blackberry. Taste: Fruity bomb with cassias, blackberry with a hint of strawberry on finish. Finished a little too sweet, saccharin, hard to drink too much of this. A good ruby, sort of reminds me of a better Churchill Reserve. Only paid $14 for the bottle ($15 with tax) so for the price it is alright.

87 points

[Andy Velebil]

If you've had this in past years I'm curious as to how it compared then to now?

[John M.]

I have not. I have, however, had this in the past two years and it seemed better then--i had slightly higher scores and better notes. This bottle was a gift, so the source is unknown, and the label looked slightly different--it did occur to me that perhaps this is the previous permutation.

[Rob C.]

I have not. I have, however, had this in the past two years and it seemed better then--i had slightly higher scores and better notes. This bottle was a gift, so the source is unknown, and the label looked slightly different--it did occur to me that perhaps this is the previous permutation.

Yes - they are supposedly quite different.

The current permutation (introduced in August 2011 and released widely in UK, not sure about the US) carries a traditional rounded bottle shape and contains the Symingtons' new blend (designed to return CSR to its former glory). Link with pictures of bottle/label of current permutation

The former permutation (introduced around 2006 when the Symingtons had purchased the Cockburn's vineyards but were still making CSR for Beam under contract) carried the tall, modern, square shouldered bottle design and contained a blend made to Beam's style/specification, albeit with some improvements to pre-06 CSR! picture of bottle/label for previous permutation

Of course, its not beyond the realms of possibility that your gift was from a pre-06 CSR! (I'm pretty sure that on more than one occasion i have been given a bottle of ruby that has lain unopened in someone's cabinet for several years before being recycled as a gift...)

[John M.]

Thanks, Rob.

Definitely the square shouldered 2006-2011 bottle; same label. Yet the ones I bought in the last two years the bottle shape is the same, but the label has an added colorful design motif--think it was two or three circles of color--so I think there is a split in the 2006-2011 range (the ones with the new, colorful design motif just tasted better than this one).

I have not seen the new bottle. Got to say that its the stuff inside that counts; however, I thought the square shouldered bottle was cool, unique, modern and a nice marketing gimmick. The new bottle---not so much.

[Rob C.]

however, I thought the square shouldered bottle was cool, unique, modern and a nice marketing gimmick. The new bottle---not so much.

Yes - interesting that the Symingtons seem to have gone in completely the opposite direction with CSR branding than Noval have gone with Noval Black.

But the more traditional bottle/branding was apparently a nod to CSR's heritage and success in the 70s and 80s (i.e it was a carefully thought-out strategy) - and personally i do actually prefer the traditional looking bottle over the more modern looking bottle, but would not be surprised if I am in a minority on that one!

[Andy Velebil]

however, I thought the square shouldered bottle was cool, unique, modern and a nice marketing gimmick. The new bottle---not so much.

Yes - interesting that the Symingtons seem to have gone in completely the opposite direction with CSR branding than Noval have gone with Noval Black.

But the more traditional bottle/branding was apparently a nod to CSR's heritage and success in the 70s and 80s (i.e it was a carefully thought-out strategy) - and personally i do actually prefer the traditional looking bottle over the more modern looking bottle, but would not be surprised if I am in a minority on that one!

I prefer the current squared off shoulder one. It has a much edgier look to it than the new one. But the old school part of me also likes the throw back. The question is, which will the general public embrace? The Symington's are very good at marketing so I have a feeling a lot of research was done before making the change.

[Andy Velebil]

I have not. I have, however, had this in the past two years and it seemed better then--i had slightly higher scores and better notes. This bottle was a gift, so the source is unknown, and the label looked slightly different--it did occur to me that perhaps this is the previous permutation.

Yes, the quality did change slightly when the Symington's took it over, for the better I may add. Sadly the previous owners didn't seem to put a lot of focus on quality first, from what I've seen. The Symington's have done a lot already, and still have a lot more to do, to get this House and its Quinta back into top shape. Something I am glad to see since this house made some fantastic Ports back in the day.