Berry Bros & Rudd Port Walk, 27 Nov 2013

[djewesbury]

Members of the Port Forum attended the annual Berry Bros & Rudd Port Walk, on the 27th November 2013, in the Pickering Cellar. There were 22 ports on offer, and Charles Symington was present.

Ports shown:

Berrys' St James's Finest Reserve Port, Quinta de la Rosa
2008 Berrys' Own Selection LBV, Quinta do Noval
Berrys' Crusted, bottled 2006
2007 Quinta de Roriz
2000 Croft
2000 Niepoort, Quinta do Passodouro
1997 Quinta do Vesuvio
1997 Fonseca
1994 Quinta do Vesuvio
1994 Graham
1985 Taylor
1985 Dow
1983 Gould Campbell
1980 Warre
1977 Smith Woodhouse (Magnum)
1977 Fonseca
1970 Quarles Harris
1970 Graham
1970 Taylor
1966 Gould Campbell
Berrys' William Pickering 20YO Tawny
1982 Graham Single Harvest "Prince George" Tawny

Links to tasting notes added by AHB on 31/1/14

[LGTrotter]

Will there be more than just a list? What did you think of them, I am particularly interested in what you thought of their Graham 70. And the Graham tawny 1982.

[djewesbury]

Will there be more than just a list? What did you think of them, I am particularly interested in what you thought of their Graham 70. And the Graham tawny 1982.

AHB will populate this thread with links to some TNs. I didn't take TNs as I went round, but found the Passadouro very good, the Dow 85 and the Graham 70 excellent, and I was very pleased indeed with the V94 (having just bought some). Others preferred the GC66.
I found the Graham 82 Single Harvest very unconvincing. Thin, short, watery, lacking body. Less good than a 20YO.
The Smith Woodhouse Magnum was unimpressive.

We voted for Wine of the Night, as follows:

1st place ”“ Vesuvio 94 (8 points)
2nd equal - Taylor 85 (7 pts)
2nd equal - GC 66 (7 pts)
4th equal - Fonseca 77 (6 pts)
4th equal - Dow 85 (6 pts)

[DRT]

I recall enjoying the GC66 very much, particularly the second bottle. The three 1970s were excellent, with my order of preference being Graham, Taylor, Quarles Harris (I think).

Other stand-outs were the Dow 1985 and Vesuvio 1994, both of which have a long life ahead.

The 1997s were both closed and dull, raising questions as to whether or not a 1997 horizontal is a good idea next year.

There was something wrong with the G94, which I put down to poor storage.

[LGTrotter]

There was something wrong with the G94, which I put down to poor storage.

Eek! you swine you're just saying that 'cos I bought a case of it from them.

[RAYC]

There was something wrong with the G94, which I put down to poor storage.

Eek! you swine you're just saying that 'cos I bought a case of it from them.

The stock did not necessarily seem to be BBR stock. From speaking to the representative of Fells that was there, many of the bottles came direct from them. For instance, the G70 on show at the PortWalk was not from the recent ex-cellars parcel that BBR are selling, but was earlier stock that had come into the country in 80s / 90s.

[LGTrotter]

The stock did not necessarily seem to be BBR stock. From speaking to the representative of Fells that was there, many of the bottles came direct from them. For instance, the G70 on show at the PortWalk was not from the recent ex-cellars parcel that BBR are selling, but was earlier stock that had come into the country in 80s / 90s.

Worth knowing. I did wonder about the provenance of all that Graham 70. I fear for my Fonseca eighty-five for the same reason.

[DRT]

I was slightly disappointed when I asked one of the more senior BBR representatives "Do you know the provenance of the Graham 1994 bottles?" to simply be told "No, sorry, I don't". Presumably someone at BBR did, but no effort was made to get the answer.

[LGTrotter]

I was slightly disappointed when I asked one of the more senior BBR representatives "Do you know the provenance of the Graham 1994 bottles?" to simply be told "No, sorry, I don't". Presumably someone at BBR did, but no effort was made to get the answer.

I find their manners a little erratic at times; 'Or walk with kings, nor lose the common touch' sort of thing.

[DRT]

I was slightly disappointed when I asked one of the more senior BBR representatives "Do you know the provenance of the Graham 1994 bottles?" to simply be told "No, sorry, I don't". Presumably someone at BBR did, but no effort was made to get the answer.

I find their manners a little erratic at times; 'Or walk with kings, nor lose the common touch' sort of thing.

Are you saying I am riff-raff?

[LGTrotter]

Are you saying I am riff-raff?

I mean Berrys; they treat everyone like they're riff-raff, or at least might be. God knows why a bunch of posh grocers should get so ahead of themselves but there it is. I don't get the same trouble in Waitrose.

[RAYC]

Taylor 85 and Vesuvio 94 were the surprises of the night for me - both showed very well (much better than on any occasion i have had them previously)

Gould 66 was spectacular and Quarles 70 put on a very good show, perhaps edged by G70 and Fonseca 77 (but only slightly). I personally didn't get a huge amount out of joy out of either bottle of Taylor 70. All three of the old Symington wines were oporto-bottled, the Taylor 70 was english-bottled (tatty labels...not BBR, but someone in Bury?)

The 97s were a disappointment, as was 07 Croft (i thought). SW77 magnum was atypical - harshly acidic it seemed to me. G94 was also not as it should be. I found the 80 Warre, 83 Gould and 85 Dow reasonably nondescript, but i'd stop short of calling them flawed (albeit i've certainly had much better bottles of each).

G82 single harvest tawny did not stand up particularly well to the other ports by the time i got round to it at the end of the evening - seemed to lack the concentration you'd want from a good colheita (but perhaps this was a factor of tasting so many other ports before...). Worth another try with an unfatigued palate to see if it can live up to the billing Charles Symington gave it in his speech (i've got 6 bottles to roll out at various friends' birthdays - perhaps i'll suggest they're drunk as aperitifs or with starter...).

Of the BBR own selection blends, I continue to be slightly disappointed by the "William Pickering" 20yr. Not sure if this is the same as the regular Noval 20 or a bespoke blend - either way, there are better options i think. The crusted was rather tasty - for 2006 it is Dow again, i believe. Significantly superior to my taste than the similarly priced 2008 LBV.

According to staff, all wines except the 2 tawnies were apparently decanted in the several hours prior to the event. For some of those on show, that will not have been ideal.

[djewesbury]

I tasted the 82 Single Harvest at the start, so was unjaded. It was lacklustre.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I've just noticed that I haven't yet created links or posted my tasting notes from the Port Walk. Remiss of me, I will try to do this soon.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Links to tasting notes added to the first post.