ThePortForum.com

Consumed at the Old, Odd & Great Off-line at the Portal Restaurant in London on 11th July 2008.

• Links:
  • Arrangements;
  • Placemats;
  • Review of the evening as a whole.
  Wines:
  • 1830 Ferriera vintage port;
  • 1890 Uknown Shipper vintage port;
  • 1890 Unknown Shipper vintage port;
  • 1927 Croft;
  • 1936 Ukranian Massandra;
  • 1963 Warre;
  • 1964 Krohn colhieta branco;
  • 1987 Prager (Napa USA) port;
  • 1989 Skeffington vintage port.

The reconstructed Warre 1963 cork, showing the bottler and explaining why this may have been mis-identified from the cork through the glass as Taylor.

Mid translucency, brick red. Nosing of soft red fruit. My notes of the taste say only “Lovely red fruit; good length; great length†.

Undoubtedly the best drinking wine of the night - but it wasn't it's night

I didn't take any notes but I do recall this being an extremely smooth and satisfying mouthful of port.

UK bottled by Mayor & Sword of London, the branding on the cork probably explaining why this port was thought to be Taylor 1963. Red in colour, but with a pale centre and very transparent orange rim. Lovely fragrant nose of raspberries and cranberry juice. Lovely and delicate in the mouth with lots of body. Some sweetness among the fruit but there is a nice balancing acidity. Lots of ripe redcurrants in the mouth lead to a fabulous, sweet, red licorice aftertaste that is pronounced initially, drops off rapidly but does not fade any further for a very long time. Very elegant indeed. This was the best wine for drinking on the night. 93/100.

A shame a lot of people don't give Warre's the respect it deserves. I've always loved their house style and glad they sorta fly under the radar price wise.