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We gathered at The Boot & Flogger to taste Port of the 1994 Vintage.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1994 Graham;
• 1994 Dow;
• 1994 Warre;
• 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio;
• 1994 Smith Woodhouse;
• 1994 Gould Campbell;
• 1994 Tesco;
• 1994 Eira Velha;
• 1994 Taylor;
• 1994 Fonseca;
• 1994 Croft;
• 1994 Skeffington;
• 1994 Quinta do Noval;
• 1994 Churchill;
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

Nice and dark, 85% opaque. Nose a little dumb, with a hint of liquorice, but promises lots of stuffing. Lots of dark fruit and chocolate in the mouth. Gorgeous, increasingly 'Dow' as the evening went on, but needs much more time. My WOTN.

80% opacity, very dark red. REd fruit, violets and some mint/menthol on the nose. Smooth, full, rich, sweet, and, spicy! What a combination! Damsons and spice, dryness only right at the finish and not as dry as the Dow might usually be. Really complex port this one, and while drinking very nicely now, many years more development to come, and a long life too.

One of the darkest on show; a reserved, deep plummy nose. Smooth on palate but not really developed. Initially the concentrated fruit came with some drying tannin but air help enormously to balance and soften where the fruit is joined with rich chocolaty notes. While neither fully open or quite ready to start drinking in earnest, the materials were too obvious to ignore and I rated this second on the night. Truly excellent port in the making and probably heading towards the top of the vintage.

D94. Dark red, 80% opaque. Spearmint; dryness; plum.