1994 Ferreira Vintage Port

[John Trombley]

Thanks, Bartholomew Broadbent!

Purchased for $27/750 ml at a discount release sale on release(circa 1996) somewhere in California, 12 bottles bought; 20.5 pabv. Some was also purchased from Gibbs for $42.99 somewhat later. Estimated cost is that of WineSearchear's lowest ($50). Broadbent Selections; San Francisco, California. Fruit reduction due to rain in springtime; afterward a dry and mild growing season. All this results in a somewhat low yield. I believe that this wine contains a goodly amount of Quintal do Siexo, which has long been a favorite of mine. (cf 1983).

This wine had a lot of difficulty attracting much favorable critical attention, and so it was nearly given away at first. Though I bit I never was impressed by it due to its somewhat rough and acetic character, and a somewhat lightweight disposition, until perhaps about 2004, at which time it really started to strut its stuff.

Currently this cork-finished wine has very clean corkage and is easily opened with my Durand. Now I double-decanted it and offered it to Trinity Church, Troy, for its Easter sacramental 'communion' wine.

Fairly dark color with 2 or 3 mm of dusky, somewhat bricked edge. Thick coating of the glass with reluctant legs.

Homemade vanilla cream pudding, with some dusty, smoky nose suggestive of strawberries and tar. Shows plenty of depth and holds its shape for at least 5 days after opening.

It's got a sweet, candied cherry-strawberry entry and good, ripe tannin, and a rich, somewhat lithe, medium finish; a touch hot at present but will go well with cheese, nuts, or fruit.

This was one of the best dollars spent in vintage port over the last 34 years, but, like many another mis-judgment of mine, was mostly thrown away. However, in addtion to the Mimosas funded by Rev. Smoke after the 10:30 service made with good Sekt and the best bottled orange juice I could find, it went over very well with the guys at the coffee service.

[Roy Hersh]

I remember this early on from cask sample and at a "release party" of 1994's in SF, that we did blind. Bartholomew Broadbent was there too. Great fun with LOTS of 1994's and two ringers, including a Quinta do Crasto 1994 LBV. I remember being really surprised when the Ferreira was revealed. It actually showed very well as an elegant and drier style that afternoon into evening. Better than expected that is for sure. It was one of the best showing Ports in the lineup and we had about 20 bottles from a wide variety of top producers and only missing the 1994 Nacional.

I've tried this only twice in the past five or six years and it was drinking really nicely both times. I look forward to visiting a bottle of this in July of this year during our big 1994 horizontal tasting. Thanks for the fine note, John. Regards to Barbara!

[David Spriggs]

I've slowly become a Ferreira VP fan over the years. It's certainly not the biggest wine, but after many years of aging it can become such a beautiful wine... like a fine aged Burgundy.