Sadly for these Ruby Reserves, we then had some fabulous mature vintage ports immediately afterwards which showed the difference in class that exists between a well made and enjoyable Ruby Reserve and a well made and exquisite mature vintage port - they are completely different wines (and price bands!).
The birthday ports we enjoyed were a fine Croft '66, a very youthful Fonseca '77, a monumental Graham '70, a splendid Warre '55, a respectable Rebello Valente '63, a delicious Malvedos '65 and a brown coloured Niepoort '59 colheita bottled in 1978. Splendid port indeed.
Links:
- Review of the evening of 29th March 2012 (The Birthday Boys' Tasting) as a whole;
- Cockburn Special Reserve;
- Fonseca Terra Prima;
- Graham's Finest Reserve;
- Graham's Six Grapes;
- Noval Black;
- Port Society Finest Reserve;
- Ramos Pinto Collector's Reserve;
- Quinta de la Rosa Reserve Ruby;
- 1966 Croft;
- 1977 Fonseca;
- 1970 Graham;
- 1965 Malvedos;
- 1959 Niepoort colheita;
- 1963 Rebello Valente;
- 1955 Warre;
- Placemats;
- Planning and arrangements.