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1912 Croft

Posted: 20:04 Sat 17 Dec 2016
by PhilW
After finding the bottle I was intending to bring to the Xmas do was badly ullaged and leaking, I brought a different bottle along, but tonight went back to the ullaged, leaking bottle. Total unknown, bought at auction alongside an 1887 brought to a previous TPF Xmas, and the bottle I brought along this week; this one which was ullaged before I bought it (below low shoulder).

I don’t normally open anything older than ~1970 without company, unless I find a leaker – and even then if only just starting to seep and still with a decent level I might rewax; however this bottle had ullaged to ~65% and cork was clearly unsound; the colour also seemed orange rather than red, so I decided to decant and try it, without too much hope. I took the top off the capsule and the first bit of cork with a knife, and then pushed the cork in, and decanted (through muslin). On decant, a 40% opaque orange/brown colour but very clear, faint nose, taste of oranges still with some strength and a long aftertaste. Reminded me of the Croft ’45, though not as powerful, and there was an odd taste on the finish.

I went out to the garden to smash the bottle and retrieve the cork not expecting there to be anything on it, and that this might be an 1887? unknown but without the year verified - but no – the cork was marked and very readable "Croft vintage 1912".
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My second surprise was that I expected the odd aftertaste to be due to the ullage and for the wine to fall apart. Not so. After about 45mins, the odd aftertaste has completely disappeared, and the port has bloomed. Soft smooth oranges, full in the mouth, a hint of smooth heat, and then gentle orange aftertaste in perfect smooth sweet sharp balance for a long long finish. Superb port and a wonderful surprise (and while I wish I had other TPF-ers here to share it with, somehow I'll just have to cope with around 60% of a bottle by myself - the hardship!).

Rating: ex+

Re: 1912 Croft

Posted: 01:49 Sun 18 Dec 2016
by jdaw1
Well, joy!