1878 Martinez
Posted: 22:42 Tue 24 May 2016
Dark orange in colour with a few beeswing tannins floating in the glass; 30% opaque. Mineral nose, lots of dust and little fruit. Sweet and dusty on the palate, ethereal and remote with a good dose of acidity providing a stern backbone. Little by way of sweet fruit but lots of flavour nevertheless with bitter lime, grapefruit and pomelo nuances to the acidity. The bitterness carries through to the aftertaste, which is like biting into an under-ripe quince and leads into a long finish that is dry and austere but of very long duration.
Drinking this was a majestic experience. The port is regal with no desire to charm the drinker or to compromise in any way, but so impressive for a wine 138 years of age. A port which awes the drinker. Scored purely on the taste, but if scored for the history and regal poise this would be awarded 96/100. On the actual taste only 76/100.
Drinking this was a majestic experience. The port is regal with no desire to charm the drinker or to compromise in any way, but so impressive for a wine 138 years of age. A port which awes the drinker. Scored purely on the taste, but if scored for the history and regal poise this would be awarded 96/100. On the actual taste only 76/100.