For The Love Of Port

Hello Port Lovers. My first post. here. I am cross posting this from the eBob BBS.
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I had a fantastic long weekend with the GJE in Peso da Regua about 70 minutes east of Porto in the Douro Valley in the heart of port country. The setting was nothing short of spectacular being the guest at a new resort/spa called AquaPura overlooking the vines and Douro River. Let me just say that the hotel and grounds are breathtakingly stunning. A must stay if you ever plan on visiting this amazing region.

I will post my brief notes on some of the wines from the other sessions this past weekend (including a bunch of Tinto still wines) but the full GJE results should be available in a few weeks.

Here I would like to post my brief notes on a particularly enjoyable tasting of (11) 1970 vintage ports.

First let me say that I have limited experience with aged vintage port finding it difficult to find situations to open them very often. But I do love them and this weekend was a major education for me. There was not a disappointing wine in this group.

2/2/08

1970 Warre's
Brick red with thin rim. Fresh sweet fig nose. Nice and round on the palate. Well balanced with no heat on the finish. 93

1970 Barros
Cloudy burnt orange. High toned candied nose. Balanced on the palate with a touch of heat on the palate. 90

1970 Grahams
Translucent ruby. Subtle marzipan on the nose. Fruit well matured if not fading. A little lacking in concentration. 87

1970 Dow's
Translucent deep orange. Focused sweet core of fruit preserves. Great thrust and finish. No heat. 94

1970 Real Campanhia Velha
Very evolved brick with thin brown edge. High toned nose. Bitter chocolate and fig. Very long. 92

1970 Fonseca
Throwing considerable sediment. Ruby reflections. Dark and brooding nose. Sweet burnt orange. Alchohol on the nose and finish obscures the fruit somewhat. 87

1970 Sandeman
Very light orange. Quite expanding on the palate. Creamy mouth feel and long. Some stewed fruit and not real clean. 89

1970 Taylor's
Lovely young ruby color. Sweet red fruit nose. Most uneveolved of the wines tasted. Rich and powerful with forrest fruits. A bit short on the finish. 92

1970 Neipoort
Crystal ruby. Spicy rich nose. Big and sweet on the palate. Still tannic. Long. 91

1970 Croft
Cloudy ruby-brick. Concentrated melange of forrest fruit. Very persistent. Some heat and tartness on finish. 90

1970 Ramos Pinto
Translucent ruby w/ light brick. Very expansive on the palate. Creamy mouth feel. Rich palate coating fruit. Had an odd medicinal nose that I forgive for the palate. 91

Welcome aboard Kelly, we are fortunate to have you join us and I truly hope you will come back and visit more often.

I have known Kelly (on line) for a number of years on the Squires/Ebob site and he is much more knowledgeable than he gives himself credit for being.

What a nice lineup of 1970s and my only thought about how some showed (esp. the Fonseca) is a too short decant time. That was out of Kelly's control though!

Thanks for the TNs and I look forward to you joining our discussions whenever you find time to revisit.

Hi Kelly, welcome to FTLOP. Its great to have you here.

Nice notes and thanks for sharing.