On Thursday 6th April 2017 we gathered at The Boot & Flogger to taste 1955s, partly for the 55th birthday of James Maitland of Seckford Wines.
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1955 Gonzalez Byass
Re: 1955 Gonzalez Byass
GB55. Pink-edge, 35% opaque. Lovely nose — one of the best. Palate soft and mature. Mocha bitterness mid palate. Wonderful soft mature Port, still with fruit. My favourite.
Re: 1955 Gonzalez Byass
30% opacity mature red, amber rim. Took a while for the nose to develop, then it was complex and fruity. Smooth, heat mid to late palate, gentle acidity. Sweetness, lovely oranges, thick and syrupy.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Graham’s 1948
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- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: 1955 Gonzalez Byass
UK bottled by an unknown bottler. Bought in July 2010 from an Oxford College cellar.
Bronzed red colour, 50% opque. Little showing on the nose other than some faint brown sugar - but the palate makes up for the lack of smell. An elegant and balanced entry of a port combining tertiary brown fruit sugar flavours with smoky mature fruit. Slightly thickened in texture as seems to be typical of the vintage, there is a delicate fragrance to the wine on the palate that is very fine; elegant and very well balanced. The palate builds up to amazing levels with the typical 1955 concentrated orange reduction. The aftertaste is delicious, long and very sugary with hints of orange flowers before a burst of dryness right at the end of the finish. Just delicious! 94/100. Drunk 06-Apr-17. Decanted 3 hours.
Bronzed red colour, 50% opque. Little showing on the nose other than some faint brown sugar - but the palate makes up for the lack of smell. An elegant and balanced entry of a port combining tertiary brown fruit sugar flavours with smoky mature fruit. Slightly thickened in texture as seems to be typical of the vintage, there is a delicate fragrance to the wine on the palate that is very fine; elegant and very well balanced. The palate builds up to amazing levels with the typical 1955 concentrated orange reduction. The aftertaste is delicious, long and very sugary with hints of orange flowers before a burst of dryness right at the end of the finish. Just delicious! 94/100. Drunk 06-Apr-17. Decanted 3 hours.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.