For The Love Of Port

Yesterday I attended a wine tasting for a California distributor and Broadbent Selections was there doing a small seminar on Port and Madeira. The seminar was very well put on, albeit a bit simple if you already knew about Port and Madeira . They had a sampling of various Ports and two Madeira's to taste as part of the seminar.

This bottle was my only gripe during the seminar and I was very displeased that this VP was not filtered before they poured the small samples. My small taste pour was loaded with sediment, so much so that I could not swirl it without churning it all up. I ended up slowly sipping it, so as not to disturb and drink all the sediment in the bottom of the glass...and there was a lot. Shame on them for not planning ahead for this obviously overlooked detail.

What first struck me as odd was this tasted like it had a predoment amount of Touriga Nacional grapes in it. I don't recall having a blended VP that seemed to show a single varietal like this did. As a result it lacked that complexity needed in a VP to balance it all out. There were vegatative notes on the nose and the palate was soft with basic red plums and some cedar chips. I think this was popped-and-poured and that may have contributed to it not showing well at all. I would love to try another bottle of this with some decanter time (and no sediment ) to see if that changes things. 86 points
09/10/08

I have a six-pack of the 1994 Broadbent VP, and Roy has told me that it is a single-variety Port. So it's possible that the 1997 is also.

Glenn E. wrote:I have a six-pack of the 1994 Broadbent VP, and Roy has told me that it is a single-variety Port. So it's possible that the 1997 is also.

I asked about that vintage (1994) and was told it was not, even after I pushed her about it (as I know Roy has stated it is). I think she was trying to be politically correct with everyone else there or she really didn't know.

IIRC, the 1997 is a blend but it seemed as though one grape was very predominate in it.

Andy Velebil wrote:

Glenn E. wrote:I have a six-pack of the 1994 Broadbent VP, and Roy has told me that it is a single-variety Port. So it's possible that the 1997 is also.

I asked about that vintage (1994) and was told it was not, even after I pushed her about it (as I know Roy has stated it is). I think she was trying to be politically correct with everyone else there or she really didn't know.

IIRC, the 1997 is a blend but it seemed as though one grape was very predominate in it.

I had a glass of the 1994 Broadbent tonight at a restaurant, and, therefore, found this TN regarding the 1997 vintage while searching for TNs on the 1994 vintage. According to the Broadbent web site, the 1994 vintage consists of two grapes. Here is a snippet off their web site: "Unique custom-blend of Tinta Amarella and Tinta Roriz grapes, from 70-year-old vines."

That is correct, there ARE two grapes in the 1994 and I stand corrected on this matter. The 1997 is a notch above the 1994 and I think the first really fine Broadbent, well worth having in your cellar is the 2000 version. Dirk continues to take the Broadbent up a notch in each successive vintage, as you know I am sure ... Niepoort does the production once Bartholomew agrees to the final blend.

Roy Hersh wrote:That is correct, there ARE two grapes in the 1994 and I stand corrected on this matter. The 1997 is a notch above the 1994 and I think the first really fine Broadbent, well worth having in your cellar is the 2000 version. Dirk continues to take the Broadbent up a notch in each successive vintage, as you know I am sure ... Niepoort does the production once Bartholomew agrees to the final blend.

Roy,

I imagine that this will be the only time between now and 2020 that I am able to provide information that corrects something that you have stated... :o

As to Dirk's involvement with the Broadbent VPs, I was not aware of it. No wonder I enjoyed the 1994 so much! And to think that they have only gotten better with each subsequent vintage... I'll be on the lookout for them!

Jonathan wrote:

I imagine that this will be the only time between now and 2020 that I am able to provide information that corrects something that you have stated...

I would not count on that Jonathan. By that time, I will be nearing my mid-60s and if I think my memory is bad now ...

Roy Hersh wrote:Jonathan wrote:

I imagine that this will be the only time between now and 2020 that I am able to provide information that corrects something that you have stated...

I would not count on that Jonathan. By that time, I will be nearing my mid-60s and if I think my memory is bad now ...