Virtual tasting #3, Tuesday 21 April

[jdaw1]

MPM: 50% opacity nice dark red. Nose very open, lovely rich fruits, not overripe, they are just opening up. Maybe a little black fruit — plums? — rich lovely scent . Nice balance, a little heat mid palate, tannins soft and almost integrated. Fruit most prominent feature of palate, nicely ripe, neither too early nor overripe. Nice sweetness, but not too much.

Actually F85.

[jdaw1]

JDAW, decanted 14:00. Dark red. Palate early sweet dark plum, slightly dry mid. Big, rounded and full, lovely. Late palate is long, dry, plums again. Very long, This showing very well. Me like.

Actually M&S 2007 made by David Guimaraens.

[jdaw1]

CPR: beautifully 50% opaque glorious red colour. A little rosehip on nose. Palate has integrated tannins, some rosehip, some gentle strawberry, good length.

Actually QH77.

[Glenn E.]

GEE:

Opened for the FTLOP April/May Virtual Tasting and also the 3rd Port Forum VT

Color: medium dark garnet, kind of a black cherry color. Some brick.

Nose: semi-tart black cherry, some very faint sour VA, some blackberry and some black currant

Palate: rich, ripe black cherry seems to be the theme here, with some faint prune backing it up. Also some purple bramble flavors like mulberry or huckleberry. Rich and mellow, but also fairly tart. Good body and texture. Some nice chocolate on the back end. Excellent showing.

Finish: good length, with a tart and somewhat pleasantly sour tail.

Score: 93 points. This is a nicer example than usual, but still within the expected range.

Reveal: 1987 Porto Souza Vintage Port

[jdaw1]

TC

It’s a fairly dark tawny colour, looks older than its actual age. On nose a bit spicy, almost smells like rum-and-coke, but with an oxidised edge. On the palate a lot of heat, a lot of spice, some burnt spice, and still that sort-of not-faulty on-edge quality. Some pepper, medium bodied, little tannin, little fruit. The main component of this vintage is from a vineyard between Pinhão and Pesqueira.

Actually: B80.

[jdaw1]

AHB2: darker red, younger in appearance, blackish red to appearance. Maybe 95% opaque. Nose has a little bottle stink, sweet bramble underneath. Bottle stink spoils palate on entry; mid-palate dry, bruised. Moderate aftertaste, short finish, which does open up to a bit of green woodiness that does have a good length. Has been open three days. Not very impressed. Has had it before — this is the sixth time — and the bottle stink doesn’t seem to be typical.

Actually FG88.

[jdaw1]

WHW: I’d show you the glass but I’ve quaffed the decanter. Largely translucent. The nose is sour cherry, green apple, maybe a bit of linden, not a sweet nose, but lovely, maybe wood or lacquered wood. Palate sweeter than the nose had suggested, some gentle citrus on fore-palate, mid-way through the sweetness starts to come, some strawberry and hint of caramel, and the barest hint of tannins and even a touch of wood. So the tannins are almost fully integrated, longish, warming. Well that’s it. Very much in balance, medium weight, the sweetness a touch on the light side, little to medium finish. really really nice, Stellar, no; 91 points. After four hours in the decanter, beautiful balance; modest acidity, modest sweetness level.

Actually: Taylor 1980.

[jdaw1]

NAC: leaves into neck, sore came out easily. 30% opaque, very pale red, not browning, not tawny. Not a great deal not he one, maybe like a 10yo tawny. Dried fruits, figs maybe, apricots and orangey dried fruits. Nose better than when opened. On palate fruit, dried, orange, slight sourness. Not partially sweet. medium-plus length. Conclusion: much improved from when opened, a pleasant drink, maybe a duff bottle. At peak, or just past, Need to try another bottle.

Actually: Sandeman 1977.

[jdaw1]

Best guesser was Tony, with four points.

[nac]

"What is it?" scores:

Scores Snip.JPG (82.42 KiB) Viewed 6130 times

As mentioned, Tony came top with 4 points, but on a "points per guess" basis he was shaded by Glenn (who had to leave early).