Guessing time!

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 8:58 am

Two bottles delivered today - good levels but no labels - green glass - driven corks and foils that very neatly state 'Delaforce Port' in raised white diagonal text on the side - but no date on the top - just a logo!

Came with a couple of other bottles from 1945 & 1947, so probably quite old.

I'm going to open one tomorrow - maybe the cork will reveal?

Not totally confident that it will, as the green glass suggests UK bottling (although the custom foil suggests Oporto..) and almost all the old UK bottles I've opened have had un-branded corks.

But for now, who is going to pitch a date??

Winner (if there is one) gets my permision to feel smug for a day!

Tom

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 4:51 pm

I'll play! But more info is needed: which style of neck label: old (large seal, slim band) or new (small seal, broad band). The fact that it carries a neck label seems to me to point to a Portuguese bottling.
Also, to me in my limited experience with 30+ year old Port: the oldest bottles on my display shelf (geeky, I know) are ALL Portuguese bottles, and they are (different shades of) green...
Capsules: lead, tin or plastic? I do not know whether Delaforce embosses (sp?) the top of their capsules, so I can't help you with that.
Anyway, hope it is a taste glass - whatever it might turn out to be!

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 3:15 am

There is no neck label - just the text DELAFORCE PORT in raised white text on the side of the foil - on the top there are the superimposed embossed letters T H B surrounded by a circle.

Foil is very thin and was very difficult to shift. I disturbed the bottle a fair bit removing it, so I'm leaving it another hour before I decant.

Bottle glass is too dark to see if the cork is branded.

- so still guessing

Tom

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 3:54 am

OK the cork WAS branded. Although it broke, and the bottom part crumbled, I managed to draw just enough to reveal the date.

Now decanted, I have just had the first sip.

Colour is similar to rusty water - just a hint of cloudiness; spiritous nose with a distinctive apricot bouquet.

On the palate, light, but no off notes

The year?? - keep guessing

Tom

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:22 am

No clue whatsoever. Just guessng here, but THB...perhaps the H and B stand for Harvey's of Bristol? The T might be a first initial, in that case. Could you post a picture of the bottle?

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:59 am

Whilst I have a digital camera, I am technically challenged when it comes to uploading pictures...

Tom

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 6:57 am

Tom,

Come on - please put us out of our misery and tell us what the wine was (plus a tasting note from when the wine had been in the decanter for a while).

Alex

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:30 am

Ok - I give in - see new thread

Tom