1970 Dow
1970 Dow
Decanted at 3pm to accompany this tasting but being consumed at a different location.
Firstly, an unusual feature. The foil capsule looked normal but when it was removed it revealed a dry broken surface on the top of the cork that was 2mm to 5mm below the top of the bottle.
When removed the cork proved to be only half a cork. The side walls were dry and of normal appearance and the bottom surface appropriately stained for a VP of this age. Perhaps the top half of the cork broke off whilst being hammered into the bottle? Or was it removed at some point in the past and the bottom half re-inserted? Is it a fake?
This made me look at the label more closely. It turns out to be a convincing laser-printed facsimile of an original that has subsequently been wet and faded. Intentionally? Who knows.
Decanting went well. The wine was the colour I expected it to be and almost all of the well-formed crust stayed in the bottle.
Now for a quality assurance sample.
The nose was muted and rather dull with a small amount of bottle stink. Very thick and viscous in the mouth with sweet black cherry and a lovely dark chocolate bite. There is a strange dry medicinal note on the end of the mid-palate but then a fabulous long and deliciously sweet finish. The strangeness might be the remnants of some unresolved tannins or spirit but are not enough to spoil the enjoyment of the wine.
Quite splendid, but what is it and is it really what I thought it was?
More to follow.
Firstly, an unusual feature. The foil capsule looked normal but when it was removed it revealed a dry broken surface on the top of the cork that was 2mm to 5mm below the top of the bottle.
When removed the cork proved to be only half a cork. The side walls were dry and of normal appearance and the bottom surface appropriately stained for a VP of this age. Perhaps the top half of the cork broke off whilst being hammered into the bottle? Or was it removed at some point in the past and the bottom half re-inserted? Is it a fake?
This made me look at the label more closely. It turns out to be a convincing laser-printed facsimile of an original that has subsequently been wet and faded. Intentionally? Who knows.
Decanting went well. The wine was the colour I expected it to be and almost all of the well-formed crust stayed in the bottle.
Now for a quality assurance sample.
The nose was muted and rather dull with a small amount of bottle stink. Very thick and viscous in the mouth with sweet black cherry and a lovely dark chocolate bite. There is a strange dry medicinal note on the end of the mid-palate but then a fabulous long and deliciously sweet finish. The strangeness might be the remnants of some unresolved tannins or spirit but are not enough to spoil the enjoyment of the wine.
Quite splendid, but what is it and is it really what I thought it was?
More to follow.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: ???? ? Vintage Port
On DRT’s behalf I have asked the obvious question in One quiz at a time.
Re: ???? ? Vintage Port
Thank you.
D+3 Hours
The nose has opened up and is now of red cherry and vanilla. Very similar mouth-feel and flavours as before, perhaps a bit sweeter and the medicinal flavour is now more pronounced and distracting. There is now strawberry in the finish, which remains long and delicious. The overall profile of this wine is as expected, but some of the flavours are not typical.
D+3 Hours
The nose has opened up and is now of red cherry and vanilla. Very similar mouth-feel and flavours as before, perhaps a bit sweeter and the medicinal flavour is now more pronounced and distracting. There is now strawberry in the finish, which remains long and delicious. The overall profile of this wine is as expected, but some of the flavours are not typical.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: ???? ? Vintage Port
The medicinal flavour seems to be evolving into mint, perhaps eucalyptus.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: ???? ? Vintage Port
The nose now has more power, plummy fruit coming through. Bigger and bolder in the mouth with tannin coming to the fore. Dryness on the cheeks with lovely sweet cherry and mint on the palate. Grade A.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- Alex Bridgeman
- Graham’s 1948
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port
I guess this to be Graham 1970
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Re: ???? ? Vintage Port
Guess posted in appropriate place.AHB wrote:I guess this to be Graham 1970
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: ???? ? Vintage Port
The capsule, cork and label...
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port
Possibly the laser printed label is just a case of a rather nerdy port owner wanting to keep his D70 looking nice?
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Re: ???? ? Vintage Port
Can't imagine anyone would be geeky enough to do that!djewesbury wrote:Possibly the laser printed label is just a case of a rather nerdy port owner wanting to keep his D70 looking nice?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port
no, quite..DRT wrote:Can't imagine anyone would be geeky enough to do that!djewesbury wrote:Possibly the laser printed label is just a case of a rather nerdy port owner wanting to keep his D70 looking nice?
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Re: 1970 Dow
This bottle is rapidly developing a major problem.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
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- Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
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Re: 1970 Dow
Oh no! International crisis, Level II!
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
-
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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Re: 1970 Dow
Go on.... I fear the worst.DRT wrote:This bottle is rapidly developing a major problem.
Re: 1970 Dow
The worst imaginable outcome is imminent. A crisis of international proportions is upon us.LGTrotter wrote:Go on.... I fear the worst.
What to do?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
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- Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
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Re: 1970 Dow
There is only one thing to do - contact your personal trainer for advice.DRT wrote:The worst imaginable outcome is imminent. A crisis of international proportions is upon us.LGTrotter wrote:Go on.... I fear the worst.
What to do?
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
-
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3707
- Joined: 17:45 Fri 19 Oct 2012
- Location: Somerset, UK
Re: 1970 Dow
Open another?
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
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Re: 1970 Dow
could always crack open a Morgan 91...LGTrotter wrote:Open another?
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Re: 1970 Dow
djewesbury wrote:contact your personal trainer for advice.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: 1970 Dow
All at Seckfords.djewesbury wrote:could always crack open a Morgan 91...LGTrotter wrote:Open another?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
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- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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- Location: Somerset, UK
Re: 1970 Dow
Morgan 91? Surely the quality of the wines should increase.
Re: 1970 Dow
But another what?LGTrotter wrote:Open another?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
- Posts: 8165
- Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
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Re: 1970 Dow
Availability is what counts. How good do you think the bottle needs to be when you've already drunk one bottle on your own?LGTrotter wrote:Morgan 91? Surely the quality of the wines should increase.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
- Posts: 8165
- Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
- Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
- Contact:
Re: 1970 Dow
ah. Availability is indeed what counts...LGTrotter wrote:Morgan 91? Surely the quality of the wines should increase.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...