1970 Dow

[jdaw1]

In honour of the visit of Ronnie Roots, a few regulars gathered in The Bung Hole to sample some 1970 ports.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1970 Dow;
• 1970 Fonseca;
• 1970 Graham;
• 1970 Sandeman;
• 1970 Taylor;
• 1970 Warre;
• 1970 Cockburn;
• 1970 Offley Boa Vista;
• 1970 Royal Oporto;
• 1970 Royal Oporto Carvalhas;
• Placemats;
• Planning and organisation.

[AHB]

Mature red colour, but still intense colour in the centre. Pronounced nose, a bit soapy and not hugely attractive. Grippy, dusty tannins are immediately apparent on the palate. Lots of purple damson fruit show very quickly, then big violet / purple fruit - this has a great palate presence. Modest, rather light body. Lovely dry finish, with lots of dry charcoal and fruit. A long, long finish. 91/100. 6 hour decant.

[RonnieRoots]

Lovely garnet colour with a youthful ruby core. Still some fresh fruit on the nose, red cherry and plum, but overall rather stringent: a bit dusty and hard. Quite firm on the palate, with red fruit, cherry syrup, linear with dry tannins. More youthful than previous examples I tasted of this and very much liked. My No. 2 of the night.

[jdaw1]

D70. Glorious red, 40% opaque. Nose had dark cherry. Taste big full dark red fruit. Mid-sweetness. Plums. RLC: “proper juice”. Quietly rich. Needs time.