Decanted cleanly from a modest amount of sediment. Well coloured red, deep in tone but with a transparent centre and just a hint of bricking on the rim. Nosing of sweet dusty strawberries; nicely balanced entry with sweetness and acidity at first well matched, but the acidity grows and dominates. Good levels of sweet strawberry fruit and a vibrant pepperiness—almost curry-like—in the mid-palate. Very pleasant development and surprising complexity. Perhaps a little light bodied. Slightly harsh on the initial aftertaste, but leaves a dry and very pleasant length with the tannins giving plenty of dry cocoa flavour to go with the slightly jammy strawberries. A very pleasant wine, perfect to share with another port lover. 86/100. Drunk 28 January 2010 after 3 hours' decanting.
A couple more hours in the glass allowed some cedar wood and tobacco flavours to come through the wine, and a flavour which was captured well as ‘cola cubes’. An extra point was generated for the improvement. 87/100.
1963 Rebello Valente
- Alex Bridgeman
- Graham’s 1948
- Posts: 14880
- Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
1963 Rebello Valente
Last edited by Alex Bridgeman on 00:07 Fri 29 Jan 2010, edited 1 time in total.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Re: 1963 Rebello Valente vintage port
By strange coincidence I also happen to be drinking Rebello Valente 1963 with a fellow port lover this evening
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- JacobH
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
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Re: 1963 Rebello Valente vintage port
Not often you read a good review about a Rebello Valente; nice to hear that this one is doing well...