Friday 1st April 2011 - Chez Bridgeman

[DRT]

As a result of a late dash to Southampton to collect the FG64 for the tasting on 4th April, I have sought refuge at Chez Bridgeman for the evening.

Having now been fed, it now turns out to be exactly Port-o'clock.

There are two decanters, both being served blind, one supplied by each person. At this point these wines are know as:

• The Magnum (revealed as SW77), and;
• The Bottle (revealed as GC70).

More to follow...


Late in the evening we were joined, virtually, by JacobH, who was drinking Fonseca 10 year tawny, bottled in 1979

[Alex Bridgeman]

The Bottle

Double decanted this morning and then decanted about 3 hours ago.

This is mid red in colour, young but apparently approaching early maturity. Still 90% opaque and with pigmentation into the rim but the colour has softened slightly from the vibrant magenta of youth.

On the nose it has an odd earthy or burnt rubber smell; perhaps the early stages of bottle stink developing in a bottle. Time in the glass will tell.

Medium-light bodied entry, simple at first but patience allows a lovely crescendo of dry and slightly sour fruit flavours to slowly build up to a really delightful and elegant peak. On swallowing, there is a burst of deep and rich raisin and dried cherry before a flash of heat and then a long finish of dark chocolate.

This is an odd port with the nose and palate being conflicting. I like it; the finish is a real feature. 91/100.

Now to try and guess what this might be. I'm struggling to place the age - it looks quite youthful but the flavours are certainly mature and secondary. Is this from the '70s?

[DRT]

Yes, it is from the 1970's.

[Alex Bridgeman]

You're probably throwing something odd at me, but I don't think so. The quality of the wine, the flavours, tannins and aftertaste all make me think that this is a top wine from a top vintage.

Is this, perhaps, a Dow 1970?

[DRT]

It is a 1970.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Hmm. Perhaps not dry enough to be a Dow. Shows such presence and gravity that I would still guess it to be a major shipper, but not Taylor or Fonseca - but that dark chocolate on the finish is stunning. Fabulous finish.

Is it one of the Symington's secondary labels - perhaps Gould Campbell?

[DRT]

It is Gould Campbell 1970, bottled by Tanners, and I think this is the 4th bottle from the same batch that we have shared in the past 12 months.

[DRT]

The Magnum:

Very dark red but I suspect it is older than it looks. Some dust on the nose which is quite closed. Thick and extremely smooth on entry with lots of chewy tannins and dark fruit. Delicious wine, which is not yet mature. I have a feeling this will become even better with lots of time in the decanter.

The colour makes me want to say that this is a 1985 but I think it is older. Is it from the 1960s?

[DRT]

Having tasted this again I'm struggling to see how it can be older than a 1980's vintage. There is so much tannin and the wine so tight and closed that I would be astonished if it was any older than that, but something tells me it is.

Is this wine older than 1980?

[Alex Bridgeman]

Yes, this wine is older than the 1980 vintage.

[DRT]

Is it from the 1960s?

[Alex Bridgeman]

It is not from the 1960s.

Perhaps it could be Mackenzie 1955

[DRT]

70's?

[Alex Bridgeman]

This is a port from the decade 1970-1979.

[Alex Bridgeman]

He's gone very quiet. Looks like he's thinking hard. He's had to refill his glass...

[DRT]

So, we have a very dark Port from the 1970's that is immature and very dry and tannic.

Dow 1977?

[Alex Bridgeman]

This is not a Dow port, but I do understand why you might say so. It is quite dry and austere.

It is from the odd vintage that is 1977, that produced some tight and brooding (your word, and very accurate) wines and some wines which have already fallen apart.

[DRT]

Smith Woodhouse 1977?

[Alex Bridgeman]

It is, indeed, a magnum of Smith Woodhouse 1977.

And it is extremely impressive.

[benread]

It is, indeed, a magnum of Smith Woodhouse 1977.

And it is extremely impressive.

That conclusion does please me!

[Alex Bridgeman]

It is, indeed, a magnum of Smith Woodhouse 1977.

And it is extremely impressive.

That conclusion does please me!

It does me, as well. I am really pleased that I bought a few of these. It is a gobsmacking wine.

[DRT]

I am also pleased, but for a different reason.

Tonight is the first of six with my Port-drinking buddies doing what comes naturally. This has been a good start.

Roll on tomorrow

[benread]

I am also pleased, but for a different reason.

Tonight is the first of six with my Port-drinking buddies doing what comes naturally. This has been a good start.

Roll on tomorrow

I can tell you don't have young children! I am currently banned from going to bed for fear of waking Jonnie!

[DRT]

I am also pleased, but for a different reason.

Tonight is the first of six with my Port-drinking buddies doing what comes naturally. This has been a good start.

Roll on tomorrow

I can tell you don't have young children! I am currently banned from going to bed for fear of waking Jonnie!

I do have a child, but he's bigger than me and is currently out with his girlfriend painting Edinburgh red. My work is done

[Alex Bridgeman]

I can tell you don't have young children! I am currently banned from going to bed for fear of waking Jonnie!

I think you're going to have to explain that one. Does this mean you're sleeping in the car tonight? If so, how long does it take to drive from Sussex/Kent to just south of Reading?