1966 v 1967: a comparative tasting - London, 13 Nov 09

[DRT]

Organisation thread
TN links will be inserted here in due course

This proved to be an extremely interesting exercise. When AHB first suggested to me that it would be good to compare 1966 and 1967 I thought he had gone mad. My general perception of those vintages led me to the conclusion that 1966 would be the winner by a mile. This tasting proved that conclusion to be very wrong. I will post TNs over the next few days but as a general comment I have to say I was surprised at the consistency in colour and body that the 66 and 67 line-ups had. Looking at the 10 galsses it was impossible to tell them apart. 2 were slightly darker than the others but one of these proved to be a 67.

The standard of this line-up was very high and there was a broad range of views as to which was the best from each shipper and which was best overall. AHB has the scores so I will leave hime to declare the winners.

It was great to have Dom Symington with us again and, as ever, he proved to be thoroughly entertaining company.

Thanks to all who contributed bottles and notes

[Alex Bridgeman]

It was a great night and with some obsessive attention to glasses and decanters, the ports were able to show at their best. I was also very pleased to have been awarded "smug port-head of the night", having been ridiculed for my suggestion that 1967 was worthy of being the subject of a tasting - let alone a vintage which would hold its own against the mighty 1966.

The first flight comprised 5 wines from 1966 and 5 from 1967. The wines were tasted blind and in pairs, with each pair being one wine from 1966 and one from 1967 and (where possible) from the same shipper. A quick poll was then taken of the preferred wines before they were revealed. The wines were:

First Pair - Quinta do Noval
1966 - 4 preferences
1967 - 7 preferences

Second Pair - Sandeman
1967 - 3½ preferences
1966 - 7½ preferences

Third Pair - Quinta do Noval Nacional
1967 - 1½ preferences
1966 - 9½ preferences

Fourth Pair - Warre / Martinez
Martinez 1967 - 6 preferences
Warre 1966 - 5 preferences

Fifth Pair - Taylor / Vargellas
Taylor 1966 - 9 preferences
Vargellas 1967 - 2 preferences

The overall favourite wine of this flight was the Taylor 1966 (5 votes), followed by the Warre 1966 (2 votes) and the Nacional 1966 (2 votes), with the Sandeman 1966 and 1967 also receiving 1 vote each as wine of the flight.

The second half of the tasting comprised "wines to share with other port lovers" and was made up of Martinez 1960, Cockburn 1960, Morgan 1963, Ferreira 1963, Dow 1963, Graham 1963, Graham 1970, Fonseca 1970, Gould Campbell 1970 and Dow 1980. The Fonseca 1970 was generally considered to be the best of these, with the Gould Campbell a very respectable second favourite.

[Axel P]

I guess the results speak for themselfes as all the participants thought the 66 would easily win the fight.

Thanks again, Alex, for this extremely interesting topic and to you Derek, for the Orga.

Axel

[KillerB]

Lovely evening, even though I had to run off early. Great to see Dom again and always good to see the rest of the gang (having now met everybody at least twice, some too many times to bother counting).

Smugalex (as he shall now be known) picked an excellent theme for the night and should quite rightly take his place amongst the great prophets of Port. 1967 is actually a very fine year and grab the bottles where you can, as long as nobody in the industry has read this thread and upped the prices.

Sadly, I missed out on the proper tasting of the latter Ports but had snifters on the train of the most desirable from an advanced mini-taste. I picked Fonseca 77 as the most desirable Port, followed by the brutish Dow 80 as a perverse enjoyment. I actually texted Smugalex to let him know that I was drinking the Gould Campbell 1970 and found it very nice, just as he was texting me to say that it achieved second billing. I would say that this was concurrence - good Port.

[Deleted_User_1]

Many thanks for a great evening...it was a great venue...and that was the best Steak and Kidney Pudding I have ever tasted.. Two helpings as well ...The Port was'nt bad either.

But seriously I agree with Alex and Derek in that the much maligned 67's held up extremely well against the 66's. The significant difference being how much fruitier the 67's were. Delicious!!

All in all great evening and many thanks for you expert organising.

[DRT]

Some, particularly AHB, might be amused by the following quote that I came across today:

1967
It is very difficult, in fact impossible for me to be impartial about this year, as Cockburn so very definitely preferred it to the '66. The wines are firm, with 'grip' and very great breed and style; it is not undue flattery to say they are reminicent of the 1927s. They should be beautiful drinking when ready, and for many years to come. When our friends Taylor and Croft, after shipping the '66s, brought out their single quinta '67s, Vargellas and Roeda, we were very happy to say "We told you so".

Old Wyndham knew what he was talking about

[jdaw1]

The RAF Club on 13th November 2009. Links:

• Arrangements and planning;
• Review of the evening as a whole;
• First session, a 1966 versus 1967 semi-blind double-horizontal:
  • Placemats;
  • 1966 Noval Nacional;
  • 1967 Noval Nacional;
  • 1966 Sandeman;
  • 1967 Sandeman;
  • 1966 Noval;
  • 1967 Noval;
  • 1966 Warre;
  • 1967 Martinez;
  • 1966 Taylor;
  • 1967 Taylor Vargellas.
• Second session, bring-a-bottle to share:
  • Placemats;
  • 1960 Cockburn;
  • 1963 Dow;
  • 1980 Dow;
  • 1963 Ferreira;
  • 1970 Fonseca;
  • 1970 Gould Campbell;
  • 1963 Graham;
  • 1970 Graham;
  • 1960 Martinez;
  • 1963 Morgan.