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On Thursday 26th November a number of TPF members joined others at the annual Berry Brothers Port Walk. The ports shown were:

• Quinta de la Rosa White Port
• Berry Brothers & Rudd Finest St James' Reserve Ruby Port
• Berry Brothers & Rudd 2009 LBV from Quinta do Noval
• Berry Brothers & Rudd Crusted Port bottled 2004 from Dow
• 2013 Quinta do Vesuvio
• 2012 Quinta de la Rosa
• 2011 Berry Brothers & Rudd
• 2003 Quinta do Noval
• 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio
• 1992 Fonseca
• 1992 Taylor
• 1991 Churchill
• 1985 Dow
• 1985 Graham
• 1983 Fonseca
• 1980 Smith Woodhouse
• 1980 Gould Campbell
• 1977 Graham (magnum)
• 1970 Dow
• Berry Brothers & Rudd William Pickering 20 year old tawny
• 1972 Graham single harvest tawny

Amongst several excellent Ports, the GC80 was my favourite. The SW80 will surpass it, but not yet.

I also enjoyed the GC80 and had it as my favourite from the mature ports. It is drinking beautifully at the moment.

However, my wine of the tasting was the Taylor 1992, which was just fabulous. Just a point behind was the Vesuvio 1994 with the Noval 2003 and the Gould Campbell 1980 sharing third spot for overall wine of the night.

The surprise of the night for me was how nicely the Churchill 1991 was drinking.

I have typed up my tasting notes for the vintage ports and will post them in due course, with links from the first post in this thread. If anyone took notes on any of the other ports then please post them and I'll create links for those too.

I am interested to know what the predominant aroma on the Noval 2003 was.

Please share.

DRT wrote:I am interested to know what the predominant aroma on the Noval 2003 was.

Please share.

Have you been peeking at my notes? Are you taking the pee?

My notes - when posted - will read "Lovely nose of boysenberries and blackcurrants..."

AHB wrote:

DRT wrote:I am interested to know what the predominant aroma on the Noval 2003 was.

Please share.

Have you been peeking at my notes? Are you taking the pee?

My notes - when posted - will read "Lovely nose of boysenberries and blackcurrants..."

What happened to the lemon zest?

Thanks to Javier of BBR for getting me an 11th hour space - !

What an excellent tasting! I thought they did a fabulous job, with a really great lineup showcasing some of the best ports from 1970 to today. If I had to curate such an event, aside from adding Quevedo, not sure I would change much at all.

Hard to choose a favorite. In terms of which I'd most like to own, 1992 Taylor has to be on top. Such a complete, youthful wine. Will be extraordinary for 50+ years yet. the 2011 BBR also impressed me. So hard to go wrong in that vintage. No longer available in 375, i'm told : (

Then it's neighbors on that table were 2003 Noval, 1994 Vesuvio, and 1992 Fonseca! That the laggard was the 92F was inconsequential - you did not go wrong in any direction. Still years from optimal drinking, but looking well on track.

I have generally sworn off the 1980 vintage, but thought these two were showing very well. 80GC has always been one of my hidden 80s treasures, though now i'm low on stock. I haven't had much experience w 80SW but thought it was holding its own against stiff competition. Similar in that respect to Churchill 1991. Respectable but not something I am going to make an effort for.

The 1977 Graham, from magnum, was showing just like a 1977 graham - hahah!! no. it is tough to see that from a big bottle. A real heart breaker. And, like several 77G I've had, not at all undrinkable, but it my view, not correct. Though Charles had the wine and he seems to have Ok'd it, so who knows.

1970 Dow is a personal favorite, and I bought several of this stash (bottled by Courtenay) recently from BBR. Consistent with my bottles earlier, but not in my view the best 1970 Dow, this was still showing textbook mature VP character and was a joy to drink

I reached my limit and called for the check. Having had a happy filling of worldclass juice.

And of course, great to see so many TPF chums in attendance !