ThePortForum.com

I see people constantly say that the Fonseca/Taylor 1980 / 83 as examples of a bad port, James suckling rated the fonseca 80 a whopping 80 pts for example.

yet, having drunk through a few bottles of each, I find them to be very decent drinking.

I'm curious as to the out come if we were to pair some of the more venerable names from older vintages that scored very highly in a true black glass blind tasting.

I'd be willing to bet the f/t from 80/83 wouldn't come out last.

When they are dismissed as "bad", to a certain extent I think it is usually meant that they are "bad relative to what could be expected from Fonseca/Taylor". I don't think they are ever meant as "RO82 bad". I have only had three of those wines (T80, T83, F83) and each on one occasion only, but would think twice before buying again at current retail prices (though would be interested in the Fonsecas at auction). That said, whilst i didn't think the examples i had were on the upswing, the T80 and F83 made quite a nice drop. Less convinced by T83, but hard to be definitive after only one bottle i suppose.

But the tasting would be interesting - what venerable names would you suggest?

Broadbent has Dow, Graham, Smith Woodhouse and Warre as 4-star (or potential 4-star) wines for 1980. He actually has Taylor as a potential 4-star as well, with Fonseca 3 stars.

He has Calem, Cockburn, Dow, Gould, Graham, Niepoort, Ramos Pinto, Smith Woodhouse and Warre as 4-star (or potential 4-star) wines for 1983. He has Fonseca as 4 star and Taylor as 2 or 3 stars.

To me that suggests a big Symington v Taylor Fladgate early 80s taste off (why not throw in the Croft Roedas from 80 and 83 as well!)

I was thinking something more like taking a fonseca /taylor 55 and having it next to the fonseca 80/taylor 80.

If there were no label nor color preconceptions, which one would truly score higher.

g-man wrote:If there were no label nor color preconceptions

A black-glasses tasting. Danger danger bear!

This is the kind of fun tasting that I would like to take part in - sadly, not likely to be any time soon if the tasting is held in the US

AHB wrote:This is the kind of fun tasting that I would like to take part in - sadly, not likely to be any time soon if the tasting is held in the US

thoguth you were swinging by around end of nov / decembeR?

g-man wrote:

AHB wrote:This is the kind of fun tasting that I would like to take part in - sadly, not likely to be any time soon if the tasting is held in the US

thoguth you were swinging by around end of nov / decembeR?

I was.

And then that trip got canned.

Never mind - there'll be another time eventually.