I would agree with Roy that the 2003 is showing better than at any time previously, but another 15 years might well see it on the down slope..
Other than that, this week a rather splendid line up of Offley VPs from 1910 to 1985 on Tuesday, with both Dirk and George S. on parade, then Wolfgang's elegant luncheon with Champagne and '48 VPs on Wednesday and then an eclectic mix of odd bottles on Thursday, the oldest probably close to 150 yrs old, complete with fine fillet steaks, ice cream drizzled with Pedro Ximinez sherry, and a mysterious unlabelled magnum of wine that Dirk brought along..
I started the week with a re-set of Tesco ruby, and am finishing it with a semi re-set of an old bottle of The Wine Society's port - described simply as that.. - curiously light and semi tawny in appearance, it slips down a treat..
Tom Archer wrote:When best to drink the Taylor LBVs?
I would agree with Roy that the 2003 is showing better than at any time previously, but another 15 years might well see it on the down slope..
Other than that, this week a rather splendid line up of Offley VPs from 1910 to 1985 on Tuesday, with both Dirk and George S. on parade, then Wolfgang's elegant luncheon with Champagne and '48 VPs on Wednesday and then an eclectic mix of odd bottles on Thursday, the oldest probably close to 150 yrs old, complete with fine fillet steaks, ice cream drizzled with Pedro Ximinez sherry, and a mysterious unlabelled magnum of wine that Dirk brought along..
I started the week with a re-set of Tesco ruby, and am finishing it with a semi re-set of an old bottle of The Wine Society's port - described simply as that.. - curiously light and semi tawny in appearance, it slips down a treat..
Last week for a few tastings I opened bottles of Taylor 1948 (corked!), Graham 1948 (fabulous) and an unknown 1920 Vintage Port whose cork only read "Vintage Port 1920" but which was very tasty.
Delaforce 1977 VP (Magnum) as part of my birthday dinner. Quite light in colour, very nice in taste. 2 people thought it to be (ever so slightly) corked, but the others (14, including me) didn't notice it.
Last year I bought a half dozen mixed lot of unknowns with varying degrees of ullage. Most had suffered beetle damage to the corks, tainting the wine, and they became known as the 'weevily stash'
With just one bottle left, I decided to drink it through. No label, level high mid shoulder, and the cork had at some point had a crude attempt made to seal it with sealing wax.
Pulling the cork revealed it to be an Offley, with the vintage numbers 19 -?-1 clearly visible. The third digit is very indistinct, but I think it must be 3..
The wine is free of beetle taint, dark, rich, and drinking more like a 50 year old than an 87 yr old - very nice indeed..
Another in a long line of 1987 Souza Vintage Ports. I really love this Port, at this moment in time. Secondary characters and really showing extremely well in its early-mid maturity. This bottle seemed a bit fresher than ones that I decant for a few hours. Just pop and pour magic last night with my wife and our niece.