1980 Gould Campbell Vintage Port
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 9:29 pm
I picked up 6 half bottles of this Port from WineLibrary.com for $20 each about a year ago. Circumstances at the time prevented me from ordering a couple of cases or I would have done so... and I really wish I'd been able to. My first glass was pop-n-pour so didn't show especially well, but it opened up very nicely for the second glass and was rocking along after 24 hours.
1980 Gould Campbell Vintage Port
375 ml bottle
Color: Dark red or garnet with maybe just a touch of bricking at the edge. It's not quite fully opaque in the center, but it's pretty close.
Nose: Initially muted, it started showing lots of black cherry and cocoa powder after 24 hours. There's also a slight impression of smoke and a background of purple brambles.
Palate: Very rich, lots of black cherry and chocolate. On the sweeter end of things, but only medium body weight so the sweetness doesn't get thick or cloying. Excellent acidity that's very much hidden behind all of the fruit. Unless you're really paying attention you might think it's lacking in acidity, but it's literally mouth watering and that comes from the acidity. The flavors are deep and bold but strangely one note. It's a very nice note, though.
Finish: Fruity but rather short for such a luscious Port. There's a little echo of something green that eventually resolves to apple stems/seeds.
Score: 92 points. But for a couple of quibbles this could have been outstanding, but I'll settle for "merely" excellent. If this half bottle was normal, it will continue to improve for at least another 10 years.
1980 Gould Campbell Vintage Port
375 ml bottle
Color: Dark red or garnet with maybe just a touch of bricking at the edge. It's not quite fully opaque in the center, but it's pretty close.
Nose: Initially muted, it started showing lots of black cherry and cocoa powder after 24 hours. There's also a slight impression of smoke and a background of purple brambles.
Palate: Very rich, lots of black cherry and chocolate. On the sweeter end of things, but only medium body weight so the sweetness doesn't get thick or cloying. Excellent acidity that's very much hidden behind all of the fruit. Unless you're really paying attention you might think it's lacking in acidity, but it's literally mouth watering and that comes from the acidity. The flavors are deep and bold but strangely one note. It's a very nice note, though.
Finish: Fruity but rather short for such a luscious Port. There's a little echo of something green that eventually resolves to apple stems/seeds.
Score: 92 points. But for a couple of quibbles this could have been outstanding, but I'll settle for "merely" excellent. If this half bottle was normal, it will continue to improve for at least another 10 years.
