For The Love Of Port

I bought 8 bottles of this very cheap earlier this year. Storage conditions are dubious to say the least so prossibly not a fair representation of this wine.

I opened a bottle for a family dinner last weekend. I did not make a tasting note at the time but did observe a distinct decanting time preference that I will use for the other 7 bottles.

On opening the wine there was very little on the nose - not fruit or alchohol evident. The cork came out clean and intact and had not dried out or absorbed much liquid. I took this as a good sign but happy to be told otherwise for a wine of this age. The colour was that of an aged tawny although slightly pink rahter than brown.

I tasted the wine immediately after decanting and all I could taste was spirit. Not good.

After 2 hours I got a rich caramel aroma and a fabulous delicate taste. I really, really enjoyed this glass.

After 4 hours I served the bottle to the table. Everyone loved it - especially as it was only the second bottle of anything that they had tasted that was more than 10 years old! - I thought it tasted like paint stripper.

Lesson learned for remaining 7 bottles is - drink entire bottle between 1hr 55 mins and 2 hrs 5 mins after opening 8)

Derek

I am not at home this week (in Michigan at my wife's family for Christmas) so I don't have access to some of my TNs that are not published here (actually that would be lots of them). I have had this wine although not in the past five years, and can't give an accurate representation without my notes.

I did have the '67 Sandeman last month and a '67 Nacional ten days ago (that I opened) and both were very enjoyable albeit one was a very nice wine while the latter was profound. When I get back to Washington State, I will look up my handwritten TNs for this bottling.

Derek Turnbull wrote:Lesson learned for remaining 7 bottles is - drink entire bottle between 1hr 55 mins and 2 hrs 5 mins after openingDerek

Now that's what I call a drinking window! I look forward to the tasting notes that you write immediately after your next bottle

Alex

I'm willing to try it out in the name of reseach and for the benefit of the Forum 8)

This bad start, short but fantastic drinking window, instant decay seems more like a really unstable very old bottle than a 67! Maybe the storage was a bit dubious. In general, I've had better results when the cork is really wet - but not quite along the whole length, and spongy.

Was the cork branded and the original foil in place? Could it have been re-corked? Was it one of those narrow-necked opaque Oporto bottles or one of the UK/Bordeaux/green style ones?

Interesting note - I don't recall ever having had a 67.

Stuart,

The foil and corks are original and the bottles all have soiled labels that are still visible. The bottles are green but not very dark.

I think storage is the issue here. For at least a short part of their life I understand these bottles were kept in a garage. To be honest, I got them very cheap and expected nothing from them. In my view it's worked out OK as I know they are drinkable and, in the right decanting window, can be very enjoyable.

Derek

bridgema wrote:

Derek Turnbull wrote:Lesson learned for remaining 7 bottles is - drink entire bottle between 1hr 55 mins and 2 hrs 5 mins after openingDerek

Now that's what I call a drinking window! I look forward to the tasting notes that you write immediately after your next bottle

Alex

I guess a 10 minute window to drink would be like those old University days of beer bongs

The last time I had this port was fifteen years ago, Then it was mediocre at best.I have one left and I'm very interested in how its aged