ThePortForum.com

Part of The 1970 Horizontal (the definite article being most appropriate all hail organiser Axel P), in The RAF Club, 128 Piccadilly, London W1J 7PY, on Friday 30th January 2009.

Links:

• Review of the tasting as a whole;
• Placemats;
• Afternoon session:
  • ♣ Unknown or Baixa Corgo:
    • J. H. Andresen 1970;
    • Butler Nephew 1970;
    • da Silva 1970;
    • Dalva 1970;
    • González Byass 1970;
  • ♦ Bank of the Douro in Cima Corgo:
    • Barros 1970;
    • Kopke 1970;
    • Robertson’s Rebello Valente 1970;
    • Royal Oporto 1970;
  • ♥ Rios Torto and Roncão Valleys:
    • Borges & Irmão 1970;
    • Delaforce 1970;
    • Quinta do Sibio 1970;
  • â™  Rio Pinhão Valley:
    • Cálem 1970;
    • Cálem Quinta da Foz 1970;
    • Hutcheson 1970;
    • Martinez 1970;
  • ”¡ Douro Superior:
    • Messias 1970;
• Evening session:
  • ♦ Bank of the Douro in Cima Corgo:
    • Croft 1970;
    • Dow 1970;
    • Graham’s 1970;
    • Offley Boa Vista 1970;
  • ♥ Rios Torto and Roncão Valleys:
    • Morgan 1970;
    • Quarles Harris 1970;
    • Ramos-Pinto 1970;
    • Sandeman 1970;
    • Smith Woodhouse 1970;
  • â™  Rio Pinhão Valley:
    • Fonseca 1970;
    • Gould Campbell 1970;
    • Niepoort 1970;
    • Quinta do Noval 1970;
    • Quinta do Noval Nacional 1970;
    • Warre 1970;
  • ”¡ Douro Superior:
    • Cockburn 1970;
    • Ferreira 1970;
    • Taylor 1970;
• Announcement and some planning.

My notes from this session were lost. This had the typical VA signature of Niepoort VP. Not enough to put me off but that meant I had to drink AHB's glass as he didn't like it. I remember this to have been cloudy and nowhere near as good as the bottle I had in late 2008.

A pity. From a good bottle this is a spectacular port. I can't recall any VA the one time I had it. I know StevieCage recently tasted this and rated it 98 points. I guess he was lucky to find a good bottle as well.

RonnieRoots wrote:A pity. From a good bottle this is a spectacular port.

Absolutely. The bottle that Tom, Fred and I tasted with Dirk at Napoles in Oct 08 was simply stunning.

1970 Niepoort: slight bitterness but lots of soft fruit. Good, but definitely junior to the Gould Campbell 1970.