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1997 Sandeman Vau Vintage Port - tasted Oct 2005

On Decanting
Bright red colour - very much darker in the glass with a pink rim. Not much nose but slightly spirity. Dry taste - made my teeth squeak! Dark chocolate but not much fruit.

+4 Hours
Fruity aroma and starting to show cherry and chocolate flavours. Still not much alcohol but slightly bitter and a very dry finish

Had this port last weekend, and it showed very similar to your bottle Derek. I thought this would have been much softer, and perhaps already losing some fruit, but I was very wrong. This is a youngster, and this may have been approachable when it was young, it is now in a stage where it should be left alone for some more years.

Ronnie.

On the assumption this is a common conclusion to the Vau 10 years from conception, we can presumably suggest the much trumpeted 'Drink Young' experiment failed?

Alan

I guess so. I don't know how this port was when it was really young, but at this stage it behaves very much as a regular VP. For drinking between 10-15 years ports like Burmester and some single quintas (like Bomfim) seem to be a better choice.

This was, BTW, not a bad port at all. I think it will be very enjoyably once it re-emerges from its awkward stage.

A solid Port and one have had several times over the years. It was always a very good value and drank really well young as the tannins and acidity were not as harsh, of course that is what it was designed for. I agree that it has seemed to hit a slight closed down phase, although a little later than most VP's due. I always knew this would last longer than most people thought, as Sandeman touted this as a drink young VP. I've still got a couple and just picked up a mag of it. It won't last forever, but the next 10-15 years, as Ronnie said, is also my estimate.