2003 Sainsbury

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Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
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DRT
Fonseca 1966
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2003 Sainsbury

Post by DRT »

2003 Sainsbury TTD
Purchased yesterday from Sainsbury in their pre-Christmas offer of ½ price, plus 25% off if you buy 6 or more bottles. The result being a purchase price of £13.12 against a shelf price of £34.99.

Popped and poured in an emergency about midnight last night as I settled down to watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Sky.

This note taken this evening whilst in a more sensible state of mind...

Dark and completely opaque. Very closed on the nose but what fruit there is appears to be red, with a little vanilla. Medium weight on entry but grows in the mouth quite quickly. Big tannins and big acidity, making it hard to taste the fruits in the mid palate. The finish is long with blackcurrant and some cigar coming through.

I am no expert at tasting VP from generally declared vintages at this age but this seems like a wine that needs an awful lot more time than most of it is going to be allowed to get. At this price almost all of this wine will be drunk on 25th Dec 2011 after too much turkey. I think that is a shame as it could turn out to be a fine VP one day.

If this offer is still on tomorrow you should go and buy some and stick it away for 10-20 years, at least.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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DRT
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury "Taste the Difference" VP, bottled by SFE

Post by DRT »

The above TN might give the impression that it is a bad idea to drink this port now. I have found a solution to that problem...

1. Whilst in Sainsbury buying all of the VP on their shelves, pick up an 850g Scottish Beef Easy Carve Roasting Joint for around £10.

2. Cook a Sunday dinner for two with all of the usual trimmings. The beef is best served rare.

3. Eat the dinner whilst drinking this VP. Scrumptious.

:D

WARNING: You will need more beef if one of the two people eating the meal is not vegetarian.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury "Taste the Difference" VP, bottled by SFE

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I opened a bottle of this about 6pm this evening. Expect a separate tasting note tomorrow!
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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DRT
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury "Taste the Difference" VP, bottled by SFE

Post by DRT »

D+3 days
Yummy. The tannins and acidity have integrated beautifully and this is now a very good fruit-packed glass of port. Excellent value.

If you want to enjoy this on Christmas Day open it on 22nd Dec.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Glenn E.
Graham’s 1977
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury "Taste the Difference" VP, bottled by SFE

Post by Glenn E. »

DRT wrote:this seems like a wine that needs an awful lot more time than most of it is going to be allowed to get
...
buy some and stick it away for 10-20 years, at least.
Sound advice for any 2003 VP, really.
Glenn Elliott
Andy Velebil
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury "Taste the Difference" VP, bottled by SFE

Post by Andy Velebil »

Nice tasting note and I'm glad this one didn't get "lost" by the following morning. However...
DRT wrote:
Popped and poured in an emergency about midnight last night as I settled down to watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Sky.
WTF? Someone needs to check on Derek, he's obviously in a state of delirium and needs help.
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DRT
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury "Taste the Difference" VP, bottled by SFE

Post by DRT »

Andy Velebil wrote:
DRT wrote:Popped and poured in an emergency about midnight last night as I settled down to watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Sky.
WTF? Someone needs to check on Derek, he's obviously in a state of delirium and needs help.
All together now....

Chitty Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Oh you pretty Chitty Bang Bang,
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
We love you.
And, in
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
What we'll do.
Near, far, in our motor car Oh what a happy time we'll spend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.
Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Oh you pretty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
We love you.
And, in
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
What we'll do.
Near, far, in our motor car
Oh what a happy time we'll spend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.
Your sleek as a thoroughbred.
Your seats are a feather bed.
You'll turn everybody's head today.
We'll glide on our motor trip
With pride in our ownership
The envy of all we survey.
Oh Chitty You Chitty
Pretty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
We love you.
And Chitty, in Chitty
Pretty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang what we'll do.
Near Chitty, far Chitty, in our motor car Oh what a happy time we'll spend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.....(hold)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Fine four fendered Chitty Chitty friend.

:lol:
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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DRT
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury TTD

Post by DRT »

I opened a bottle of this tonight and had to interrupt the decanting when I heard "chity-chity, chity-chity, chity-chity" very quietly behind me as I poured the wine into the decanter.

:shock:
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
LGTrotter
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury TTD

Post by LGTrotter »

I managed to open 2 bottles of this over the Christmas period without anyone singing Chitty Chitty bang bang to me. But Casino Royale was on when I opened one of them, so perhaps Ian Fleming was looking down on me.
Andy Velebil
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury TTD

Post by Andy Velebil »

And someone still needs to check in on DRT. Lol


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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury TTD

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Will one - or preferably both of you - please post a tasting note on what you thought of this port. I have a few bottles of this stashed away in Seckfords and would be interested to know how it is maturing.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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DRT
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury TTD

Post by DRT »

AHB wrote:Will one - or preferably both of you - please post a tasting note on what you thought of this port. I have a few bottles of this stashed away in Seckfords and would be interested to know how it is maturing.
I posted this on 30th Dec, which prompted me to re-open this previous thread. I should have included a link :oops:
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
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Re: 2003 Sainsbury TTD

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

DRT wrote:
AHB wrote:Will one - or preferably both of you - please post a tasting note on what you thought of this port. I have a few bottles of this stashed away in Seckfords and would be interested to know how it is maturing.
I posted this on 30th Dec, which prompted me to re-open this previous thread. I should have included a link :oops:
Oops. I missed the post. Thanks for pointing me towards it and it's good to read how this port is progressing.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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