ThePortForum.com

Some of the usual suspects gathered at the White Horse in Newport, Essex for the traditional Port Forum Christmas gathering to which were brought the traditional ‘Unknown shippers and their peculiar friends’. Delights of the evening included the very fine fillet steaks, the sparkling company of Jo (pub manager), Mel (on duty for the evening) and Jane the chef.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1950 Croft;
• 1887 Unknown;
• 1935 Croft;
• 1942 Graham;
• 1927 Graham;
• ???? Unknown;
• 1917 Martinez;
• 1912 Sandeman;
• 1958 Quinta do Noval;
• 1955 Sandeman;
• 1958 Martinez;
• 1955 Offley;
• 1940 Souza Guedes colheita;
• Organisation and planning.

Identified from the branded cork. Deep bronze colour, 70% opaque. A well developed nose, quite sharp and aromatic; fragrant with lots of furniture polish. Soft honey flavours arrive on the palate, but they are slightly dry with some unexpected tannins providing a core to the port. Sweet, with lovely delicate honey flavours on the mid and late palate. The aftertaste is big, slightly hot and very flavoursome, with lots of coffee and orange oil. A great length, which fades to a low but persistent level.

Two hours later it had a lovely acidity bestowing a freshness to the fragrance that gave the port lots of life and vigour. 89/100. Decanted 3 hours. 21-Dec-17.

30% opacity, brown orange. Lively nose, Christmas cake. Smooth, syrupy, rich, cranberries.

Superb, fabulous, dark, spicy, red cherry; originally believed Fonseca, which I could have believed, but clearly not from cork; understood to have been later decoded as Martinez.
rating: ex