1863 Ferreira

[Tyee]

1863 Ferreira VP:

The tasting was hosted by Ferreira with winemaker Jose Maria Soares Franco giving the 3 hour presentation on Barca Velha and of course, the 3 centuries of Ferreira Port.

That's right...this is no typo...1863!
This juice was produced 4 years before Canada was born (confederation), and the year of Lincoln's emancipation of slavery.
Light brown - amber in color with some sediment.
Had a wonderful nose of caramel, honey, and pipe tobacco.
The first thing that struck me was how much acidity this still had. Caramel, raisons, honey, coffee-mocha, nuts, brandy, and vanilla...and the finish, though more subtle than the 1927, was equally long and concentrated.

Notes from Vancouver Wine Festival
KWB March 2003

[Roy Hersh]

I was at this tasting too. However it actually took place on April 22, 2002. I penned an article on it and remember it well because it was during that week that I got to spend time with Bruce Guimaraens for the last time as he passed away just a few months later.

Here is the article if you have any desire to revisit the moment:
http://www.fortheloveofport.com/article ... turies.htm

[Conky]

Tyee,

Amazing bottle. The mind boggles at its age! Thank goodness it was drinkable, and actually sounds very enjoyable.

Dont worry about the date being slightly out, I recently posted here that I would like to taste a 55VP, as its such a great vintage, and a large gap in my Tasting experiences. Only to be told by FOUR people that I drunk a 55 in their company on at least 4 separate occasions.

You have of course, entered Roy's area of expertise. It is his chosen profession and has all the records and articles easily to hand. He is an oracle when it comes to Port, and always worth listening to. But if you wish, you can gently tease back. For example he rightly posts links to his marvelous site, including the above one to that fascinating tasting. But try and Post a link on his site back to here, you will not have much success.

Having enjoyed Roys article, on top of your recollections, two things struck me, one is that I would not like to attend such a huge commercial tasting, although I can understand how it appeals to some. And secondly, what a character Bruce looks. I bet he could tell a Port tale or two,

Alan

[DRT]

Tyee,

What a fantastic wine to have as your first TN here. Like Alan, I couldn't care less whether it was tasted in 2002 or 2003 - after all, the 1 year difference is only 1/145th of it's age

Thanks for sharing the experience and please stick around to post more TN's.

Derek

PS: I am secretly hoping that you come back and tell us this was served at a second KWB tasing 11 months on from the one Roy attended

[Tyee]

Thanks for the comments...

Roy,
This tasting was in 2003!
I couldn't get tickets for the truly Premier 2002 tasting event you attended.
I was lucky Vancouver Wine Festival was able to offer this tasting the following year.
This tasting was hosted by Ferreira with winemaker Jose Maria Soares Franco giving the 3 hour presentation on Barca Velha and of course, the 3 centuries of Ferreira Port.