A half-bottle which had lain in a private cellar since being bottled.
A pale reddish-brown, 30% opaque. Soft on the nose giving little away other than some gentle orange toffee. A lovely balance on entry, smooth and rounded. Reluctant at first but the texture rewards patience and air. Together these release burnt matches and juniper - a strangely delicious combination. The juniper dominates the aftertaste and finish, giving a lovely residue to the sides of the mouth. This was clearly an old port, possibly drying out slightly, and did not last well in the glass but will still give pleasure for many years yet. Served blind this was guessed to be Dow Bomfim 1948. 95/100. Drunk 25-Sep-16.
1920 Dow
1920 Dow
Top Ports in 2018 (so far): Niepoort VV (1960's Bottling), Quinta do Noval Nacional 1994 and San Leonardo Very Old White (Bottled 2018)
2017 Ports of the year: Fonseca 1927 and Quinta do Noval 1927
2017 Ports of the year: Fonseca 1927 and Quinta do Noval 1927