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1994 Paxton and Whitfield

Posted: 22:51 Fri 14 Oct 2016
by LGTrotter
Opened and necked, still a bit left so I might be able to give a more considered view later.

Good and dark, a touch of pink at the rim. Not much on the nose, a bit dusty, a bit plum skins with a sense of tightness. On the palate bitter fruit, plenty of tannin, a slightly hollow feel in the middle, that lovely salty salivating finish which invites another sip. Very primary feel to it and this was a badly handled bottle, before and after I came by it, so no rush to drink it. But not bad value for thirty quid. I can't give it a points rating.

Does anyone know who made this port? I can't find anyone willing to own up to making it on the label, but then I don't have my spectaculars with me.

Re: 1994 Paxton & Whitfield

Posted: 12:53 Mon 17 Oct 2016
by Alex Bridgeman
I'm pretty sure that when I last saw a bottle of this in Leadenhall Market it did have the name of the shipper on it in very small letters at the bottom of the front label.

Any chance of pictures of the front and back labels?

What was the occasion that caused the opening and "necking" of a bottle of such an unusual port?

Re: 1994 Paxton & Whitfield

Posted: 13:08 Tue 18 Oct 2016
by LGTrotter
I drank it because it was the only bottle of port I had in the house. A shocking admission but there it is. My sister was a little morose following a dinner out on her birthday and I opened it to ginger her up a bit, and it worked a treat. I had it hanging around as it had a slightly raised cork and was dithering about whether to stash it or drink it, events rather overtook these deliberations.

The port itself was very fine. I was reflecting on the points made about drinking the 94s being infanticide just now, I would usually agree wholeheartedly, this port certainly has more to offer, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sometimes the zest of youth is just what is needed. Here are the photos.
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Re: 1994 Paxton & Whitfield

Posted: 21:05 Tue 18 Oct 2016
by Alex Bridgeman
'Tis the Skeffington blend, good sir.

If you can find Skeffington 1994 - Davy's also used Skeffington for their 1994 own label port - it is usually excellent value for money. Skeffington tends to be made from the lotes of vintage quality port which are left over once the proper blends of Taylor, Fonseca and Croft have been completed and are the blend which allows the wine-maker to experiment and try things out so there tends to be a lot of vintage variation but never (rarely?) a lack of quality.

And how do I know it's Skeffington - because the small print at the bottom of the front of the it reads "Quinta & Vineyard Bottlers", which is TFP's bottling subsidiary and I have never, ever known TFP to allow anyone to buy Taylor, Fonseca or Croft wines to use for own label sales.

Re: 1994 Paxton & Whitfield

Posted: 09:11 Thu 20 Oct 2016
by PhilW
@Owen - My usual request when someone posts an image of an interesting bottle - May I please add the images of the bottle/label to the VPID please?

Re: 1994 Paxton & Whitfield

Posted: 17:40 Fri 21 Oct 2016
by LGTrotter
PhilW wrote:@Owen - My usual request when someone posts an image of an interesting bottle - May I please add the images of the bottle/label to the VPID please?
Of course, and I extend this offer to include any past or future bottles which may be of interest.