For The Love Of Port

'77 Fonseca for after Thanksgiving dinner...corked

Did the bottle have it's original cork - or was it a re-corked ex cellars bottle?

Tom Archer wrote:

'77 Fonseca for after Thanksgiving dinner...corked

Did the bottle have it's original cork - or was it a re-corked ex cellars bottle?

I couldn't tell you. When I used the ah-so to extract the cork it immediately slid into the bottle. There was no sign of seepage, but the cork was dark brown and a little shriveled. I got a strange whiff when I decanted, but I was hoping it would blow off with decanting. No such luck.

When I used the ah-so to extract the cork it immediately slid into the bottle.

Probably the original cork then.

I got a strange whiff when I decanted, but I was hoping it would blow off with decanting.

Sounds like an evolved VA/varnish issue rather than cork taint. Unlucky to find it on a Fonseca 77 - the Dow 77 is much more prone to that..

Given the "slight shrivel" that sounds to me more likely that the cork has dried out more than it should have at some stage in its life, perhaps not ideally stored, and as a consequence the seal has been poor, hence issues.

Given the "slight shrivel" that sounds to me more likely that the cork has dried out more than it should have at some stage in its life, perhaps not ideally stored, and as a consequence the seal has been poor, hence issues.

There are a couple of common wine faults, one wine related and the other cork related, but there are also other issues that don't seem to fit either camp and to date are not well documented. One of these I tentatively describe as 'rotten cork' syndrome - in younger wines this is characterised by a cork that shreds when you try to pull it - in older bottles the cork shrinks and causes seepage. The effect on the wine, whilst generally negative, is not consistent though..

Krohn 30 year old.

1991 Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas.


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A bottle of Yeatman 1992 Vintage Port - really rather nice.

A perfect bottle of Fonseca 1992, fresh, pure, vibrant, sexy and fruity like only Fonseca can do!

Martinez Eira Velha 92 - sound bottle, but rather simple and uninspiring, more time might help - 3-4

Feuerheerd 63 - nice enough but way over the hill and really needs to be drunk through now 2-1

Rozes Over 40 years old Tawny. I had bought this for the price (under $100) and out of curiosity more so than anything else, but this is surprisingly good.
It has a medium brown color with plenty of alcohol and yet the alcohol never gets in the way. It smells and tastes like a sweet varnish. Lots of acidity, but everything balances out nicely. It's certainly not a top of the line 40 year-old, but it's very, very solid. If you stumble across one at a good price I would recommend you try it.

Niepoort Vintage 1978: fully mature, light amber color, great complexy, freshness, pure and smooth. Lack the depth of a great Vintage but it was drunk extremely fast, a good sign normally!

Dow,s Vintage 1970: A classic 1970, still young and primary. Much less complex than the Niepoort served before but it has the grip and depth of what a vintage should be! 1970's are simply unkillable.

At the weekend I opened a bottle of Yeatman 1992 Vintage Port that I bought at the hotel shop a couple of years ago. Dark and still quite primary it was a well made and enjoyable medium bodied Port that will improve for another decade or two and last a decade or two beyond that. I think I paid about €35 for the bottle, which was fair value.

Al B. wrote:A bottle of Yeatman 1992 Vintage Port - really rather nice.

What do you think this is underneath that label?

a 2001 Warre's Cavadinha drunk over 2 days at an old quinta owned by a friend close to Tabua. In between planting olive trees, cutting down burnt pines (still loads and loads to cut after the 2017 wildfires) and enjoying nature we take our time to relax with port, pasteis and other food

Bert VD wrote:a 2001 Warre's Cavadinha drunk over 2 days at an old quinta owned by a friend close to Tabua. In between planting olive trees, cutting down burnt pines (still loads and loads to cut after the 2017 wildfires) and enjoying nature we take our time to relax with port, pasteis and other food

That’s a great plan!


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Portal 20 year old.

Eric Menchen wrote:

Al B. wrote:A bottle of Yeatman 1992 Vintage Port - really rather nice.

What do you think this is underneath that label?

Shush. Don't tell anyone, but the cork was branded Osborne. Let's keep it as our secret.

Warre Bottle Matured LBV 1984 - some VA on the nose but very drinkable and delicious

1994 Graham's VP
1934 Sandeman's VP