ThePortForum.com

On Tuesday 18th September 2012 some of the obvious suspects gathered in the Bung Hole, for company and entertainment, and to taste some Ports, including several samples of Sandeman Vau.

Links:

• Review of the evenings as a whole;
• 1997 Sandeman Vau (Stevens Garnier, 37½cl);
• 1997 Sandeman Vau (Oporto Airport, 37½cl);
• 1999 Sandeman Vau (Stevens Garnier, 37½cl);
• 2000 Sandeman Vau (Oddbins, 75cl);
• 2000 Sandeman Vau (Stevens Garnier, 37½cl);
• 2003 Sandeman Vau (Stevens Garnier, 75cl);
• 1992 Dow Quinta do Bomfim;
• 1994 Morgan;
• 1994 Tesco;
• 2003 Sainsbury’s;
• Graham Crusted bottled 2004;
• 1986 Niepoort Colheita bottled 2010;
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

SV00: from Oddbins London Bridge, for £26. Pop-and-pour. Cloudy, dark red. Nose had mint and dark cherry. Tannic grit, and as with one of the ’97s, acidity prominent. Later much more rounded, medium-rich.

Using the new international port-tasting scale ({Excellent, Good, Nice, Tolerable, or Inadequate}), three N’s, two G’s and an N+.

Decant for at least two hours.

A full bottle sourced from Oddbins. Deep red and opaque centre, just thinning on the rim. Raspberry nose, quite sharp and vibrant. (The sharp raspberries seems to be a distinctive signature flavour and scent of the Vau.) Youthful and vigorous on the palate, with plenty of fruit, an acidic core but a distracting artificial sweetness mixed in with the raspberry. Slightly harsh aftertaste, and a long fruity finish. Rather tasty port. 87/100. Decanted 2 hours.

very tasty port and that feels more like a wine than a port; very nice and drinking nicely now. Dark red clear color, no dust or clouds. Good length and mouthfeel; overall a good port.