For The Love Of Port

Tom Archer wrote:

Opened an '85 Gould Campbell last night. Hoping to make the bottle last a few days. So far so good. Been several years since I tried this. Still going strong!

My experience of GC85 is of a very robust wine that needs at least another decade before it enters mainstream drinking.

I can see that... It's also in a nice place where there is age with real fruit in the body. Just behind Fonseca '85 in that respect. I was torn between GC80 and CG85 last night. I figured if this bottle were to make it until the weekend, the GC85 would fare better than the '80.

I just decant what I want for the night and keep bottle in the fridge.

Noval 20 year old.

1965 Kopke Colheita (375ml) and 1967 Kopke Colheita (750ml)
Both excellent. I hope Roy can work a deal with the east coast importer now that Wineworth is gone.

Calem '83

A year ago I had a run of very good VPs for my home consumption, but had to remind myself that is was just that, and not to moderate my scoring. This summer the reverse has been true with a run of lacklustre bottles. Thus when faced with a pleasant bottle like this one, I have to remind myself not to overrate it.

However when I pulled the cork, a distinct whiff of VA made me fear the worst. However it was just that - it vanished thereafter. The wine was a little unsettled on day one but afforded a very agreeable quaff over the following two days. As we are in the midst of a heatwave, I took care to deliver the decanted back to the cellar when not in use.

Good juice, probably has just a little more to offer with time - score 6-7

Last night we had a get-together in London. My contribution was a magnum of Smith Woodhouse 1977 - still very tight and closed.

Al B. wrote:Last night we had a get-together in London. My contribution was a magnum of Smith Woodhouse 1977 - still very tight and closed.

As I have a number of these mag's, this is really good to know. I'll leave them alone for a few more years before cracking one.

As I have a number of these mag's

So have I - in fact they crop up fairly often.

- I wonder if someone got a bit carried away on the bottling line 39 years ago?

Tom Archer wrote:

As I have a number of these mag's

So have I - in fact they crop up fairly often.

- I wonder if someone got a bit carried away on the bottling line 39 years ago?

Someone really like large formats around that time as they have or had a large amount of the Tapit Hens from ‘77 as well. They aren’t too common here in the markets though.

Last night I opened a 1995 Quinta do Tedo VP. A lovely mature Port that’s drinking well right now.


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Vasques de Carvalho 30yo
IMO the sweet spot in their tawny lineup.

Comparing quite favorably to the Sandeman 30 I was drinking earlier tonight. Tasting notes will follow as I get into the bottle.

I like their packaging.

Noval '70

This has always been a bit of a lame duck VP on my previous encounters - the weakling of a great vintage.

But this bottle is dark, elegant and really very nice. The last bottle from a small stash that previously didn't blow my socks off.

But.. how times flies! - I last sampled this case back in 2007 and my last home encounter with N70 was back in November '12..

Edit: Little evolution over two days, scored 6-6

1991 Croft VP
The aroma was hot after a ~2 hour decant, but it tasted much better, and was nice when finished off the next day.
This will probably be fine for another 5-15 years, but this bottle didn't indicate a long life after that. I pulled two other bottles from the case to drink in the next year or so.

1994 Quinta do Vesuvio VP
1963 Graham's VP
1963 Burmester VP
1976 Krohn Colheita

1960 Graham's VP
1980 Kopke Colheita
a few Douro wines.

1977 Gould Campbell (magnum)
NV S. Leonardo 30 yrs tawny
1976 Krohn Colheita

1994 Broadbent VP. Tasting note posted.

I opened a Calem 2015 last night. In 85F / 30C temperatures, this was quite tasty from the fridge. Lots of acidity, modest bramble fruit and not much tannin - and elegant ager rather than a powerhouse.

Thursday night I was very thirsty and opened a very well chilled bottle of Sandeman 30 year old Tawny Port. It was 96 F. here yesterday and after melting, I drank most of the bottle over a five hour typing. Now I am on a break from doing the edits.

Warre '66

A wine that has rather gone under my radar in recent years.

Kinloch bottled, the bottle was fitted with one of the thick plastic capsules that found favour between '63 & '70. I realised that what I once regarded as a tiresome device (until I worked out how to get them off..) is now becoming something of a rarity. Just over 10% of my stocks from this era are fitted with these.

Anyway, after 30 seconds of steam from a kettle, the plastic was soft enough to be popped off with the blunt side of a knife, and the capsule went scurrying across the kitchen floor.

Wine was reassuringly dark and delightfully fragrant on the nose. Expecting then a great treat on the palate I was rather disappointed. It seemed hollow and characterless, bereft of complexity. Moreover it failed to find composure over the next couple of days, despite keeping the decanter cool in the recent heat.

Lights on, but no-one home.. 4-3

S. Leonardo 60.
O ... M ... G

Even if you’ve had it before, you are NOT prepared for what is coming. Stunning.

Mike,
Fill that glass up