1963 Royal Oporto

[Alex Bridgeman]

A bottle opened on the spur of the moment and filtered through unbleached coffee filter paper, although there was hardly any sediment. The cork was branded Carvalhas Vintage 1963.

This note taken on a pop ’n’ pour basis.

The colour of barley sugar or 20-year tawny. A medicinal, stale nose with some significant VA; the only pleasant elements on the nose being a faint caramel. Quite thick and sweet in the mouth and far more pleasant than the smell would lead you to expect. Lots of barley sugar, brown sugar and burnt toffee over the top of bitter orange. Quite pleasant. A burn on swallowing, but then the long and lingering kiss of the barley sugar. Drink up (and quickly) if you have any of these, but don't sniff it while you drink it. 1/0 or 79/100.