ThePortForum.com

DRT wrote: ↑

16:45 Fri 12 Oct 2018

AHB wrote: ↑

14:19 Fri 12 Oct 2018

Theme: Mature Single Quinta (or Second Label) Ports (mature >20 years since the vintage)

Blind?

Blind or sighted at the bringer’s option.

We appear to have nothing in the diary now until our Offley vertical on 11th December. Is this too long to go without drinking Port? "Of course not!" I hear you cry. "We're all abstaining until Christmas." Well I'm not! Work brings me to London on Tuesday 30th October and I plan to stay a little aft...

I don't often buy Decanter, normally browsing the articles I'm interested in at my local library. However, I did buy a copy of the November issue as the Decanter Wine Legend this month is Sandeman 1945.

I've just finished creating threads for all of the 2016 wines we tasted last month and links to each of the tasting notes from the first post in this review thread. Please post your notes and your thoughts in the appropriate place. The more we discuss the wines we tasted and the more tasting notes w...

Opaque. Esteva nose, lightly fruity and very floral. Sweet balanced entry with round fruit that has a lovely intensity. Slightly deeper than some ports with sweet ripe fruit, round smooth blackcurrant. Nicely balanced aftertaste and a great intensely fruity finish. A very good Warre with the refined...

Another intense and deep wine at the tasting showing little on the nose. Less intense on the palate than the full Vesuvio blend but with much more grip and greater complexity. The tannins show up very strongly on the late palate, which demonstrates a great balance. The finish is intense; deep, sweet...

Inky black in colour, an incredible density of colour compared to most other ports from this vintage. Dense nose full of violets and black plums. A sparkle on entry from the acidity delivers a good dense palate that is full of concentrated flavour with fruit and acidity emerging in just the right pr...

Transparent centre to the wine, in contrast to the Symington wines. Fragrant nose with generous sweet fruit. A wine which is poised on entry, with intense black licorice dominating the huge levels of acidity and a wonderful underlying cedar wood essence. The fruit overwhelms the tannins, but there a...

Opaque centre. Fragrant nose, elegant and full of fruit. The fruit on the palate is smooth and lovely, dominating the palate experience but there are terrific ripe tannins giving support. Smooth black cherry and tannins provide a finish that is a little shorter than some, but very nice. This is a gr...

Fragrant and perfumed nose, elegant with a dose of sloe and a promise of acidity. Modest body with high levels of acidity and good bramble fruit that is sweet and refined. The fruit leads on the aftertaste and slowly changes to a lovely chocolate and blackcurrant finish. This is a very nice, medium-...

Opaque centre with a wide rim. Rather closed on the nose showing a little blackcurrant and some sous bois vegetal complexity (in a good way). A swirl releases a little more astringent acidity. Smooth in texture on the palate, silky and rounded. Deep bramble appears on the palate, sweet but with an i...

Another wine from the 2016 vintage that is dark and opaque. More fragrant and elevated on the nose than most others at this tasting, sweet and fresh. Smooth on the palate with the fruit fresh and well rounded. Plenty of tannins showing against the typical Roriz minerality. Fresh and pleasant across ...

Transparent centre, but only just. A wonderful nose of ripe blackcurrant over a core of lime acidity — very inviting. Smooth and rounded fruit on entry then a massive wave of tannins grabs and holds the palate. This is a port which takes no prisoners. One of the bigger and more powerful ports of the...

Deep and opaque. Slightly dirty on the nose, but under this it is sweet and intense with a twist of orange peel. Intense fruit on the palate then a powerful tannic core. Very big on the palate, full of juicy purple fruit; quite possibly the biggest palate of the 20 wines at this tasting. A delicious...

Cask sample. Opaque centre with a wide rim. An astonishing nose of cedar and tobacco - no fruit of any description! The cedar comes through on entry, followed by an amazing passion fruit and Canteloupe melon. Huge tannins grab the palate but never overwhelm the fruit, which is persistently over-ripe...

A port which is just opaque at the centre. Smelling slightly of vanilla biscuits and the hint of blue cheese seen on some ports before the spirit fully integrates. The nose is a little off-putting. Gentle and smooth entry with restrained fruit at first and then the huge tannins and immense acidity t...

Deep dark red. A nose which is more assertive than the Graham shown alongside and certainly more complete. Beautifully balanced with pure and elegant fruit. The tannins are gently wrapped in their cocoon of fruit and the whole is focused by the gentle but persistent acidity. There is some dryness fr...

Opaque and dark. Little showing on the nose except some faint fruit. The texture is wonderful, satin smooth initially and then extremely gripping, but always with the fruit nicely balancing everything else going on in the palate. The fruit leads on the finish. A lobely Graham, full of puppy fat for ...

Lighter in tone than the Taylor shown alongside this port. Nosing of rock rose and wine gums, slightly sour as seems to be a characteristic of the vintage. Purple fruit and a good dose of tannin on the palate, tannins which quickly vanish behind the plummy fruit that is focused nicely by the acidity...

Blackhouse on the Square in Leeds has three ports on their list, all available by the glass or bottle. They are: Quinto do Vallado 10YO Tawny @ £6.50 for a 100ml glass or £30 for a 500ml bottle Warre’s Warrior @ £5.00 for a glass or £31 for a 750ml bottle Warre 2013 Filtered LBV @ £5.50 or £36 for a...

Barros also made a late bottled vintage port from grapes grown in 1993. Wine Searcher shows a couple of retailers, but they want significant amounts of money for a bottle.

I’ve got Gould Campbell

Anyone looking for a bargain could take a look at Berry’s warehouse shop in Basingstoke. Magnums of Taylor 1977 @ £400 and of BBR Own Blend 2011 for £88. Both duty paid.

I managed to resist. It wasn’t hard.

I’ll also aim to be there as soon after 5pm as I can manage.

I’m currently in the Douro working on the b.f.t. and helping Julian sell his book. I thought it might be worth mentioning a couple of places we stayed and / or eaten - although none are new to people who have read travel posts on this forum. The Holiday Inn in Gaia is clean, not too expensive and wi...