NV Cockburn White (Light Dry White)
Posted: 01:35 Tue 07 May 2013
We (DJ+RB) have decided to taste as many white ports as we can find locally in the next little while. Obviously white port often has a fairly poor reputation amongst drinkers of VP and it's not surprising; it's not a drink most producers take at all seriously. We tasted some really excellent aged whites at the BFT (first three entries listed below) and found them very different to what are often very insipid drinks. We thought it was time to see whether the non-aged market has improved at all.
Niepoort 10-year-old White
2003 Kopke White Colheita
Kopke 20-year-old White
Quinta de la Rosa Extra Dry White
Cockburn Light Dry White
Niepoort Dry White
1971 Dalva White Colheita
Sainsburys; ≈ £6.50 / 50cl.
This is peculiarly dark for a non-aged white - either it sits on the skins for a long time or something is added to colour it. Golden honey colour. Rather musty on the nose; no fruit. In the mouth it's quite sweet, with citrus notes (after writing that, I read the label: 'zesty with citrus notes'). This is very, very thin, rather one-dimensional. It's smooth and round but has no finish. Rather expect that this is supposed to be drowned in tonic water.
Niepoort 10-year-old White
2003 Kopke White Colheita
Kopke 20-year-old White
Quinta de la Rosa Extra Dry White
Cockburn Light Dry White
Niepoort Dry White
1971 Dalva White Colheita
Sainsburys; ≈ £6.50 / 50cl.
This is peculiarly dark for a non-aged white - either it sits on the skins for a long time or something is added to colour it. Golden honey colour. Rather musty on the nose; no fruit. In the mouth it's quite sweet, with citrus notes (after writing that, I read the label: 'zesty with citrus notes'). This is very, very thin, rather one-dimensional. It's smooth and round but has no finish. Rather expect that this is supposed to be drowned in tonic water.