1970 Dow

Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
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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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1970 Dow

Post by DRT »

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.
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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.
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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
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jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port

Post by jdaw1 »

On DRT’s behalf I have asked the obvious question in One quiz at a time.
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DRT
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port

Post by DRT »

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.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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DRT
Fonseca 1966
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port

Post by DRT »

The medicinal flavour seems to be evolving into mint, perhaps eucalyptus.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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DRT
Fonseca 1966
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port

Post by DRT »

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
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

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.
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DRT
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port

Post by DRT »

AHB wrote:I guess this to be Graham 1970
Guess posted in appropriate place.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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DRT
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port

Post by DRT »

"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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DRT
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port

Post by DRT »

The capsule, cork and label...
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"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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djewesbury
Graham’s 1970
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port

Post by djewesbury »

Possibly the laser printed label is just a case of a rather nerdy port owner wanting to keep his D70 looking nice?
Daniel J.
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DRT
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port

Post by DRT »

djewesbury wrote:Possibly the laser printed label is just a case of a rather nerdy port owner wanting to keep his D70 looking nice?
Can't imagine anyone would be geeky enough to do that! :roll:
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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djewesbury
Graham’s 1970
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Re: ???? ? Vintage Port

Post by djewesbury »

DRT wrote:
djewesbury wrote:Possibly the laser printed label is just a case of a rather nerdy port owner wanting to keep his D70 looking nice?
Can't imagine anyone would be geeky enough to do that! :roll:
no, quite..
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
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DRT
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by DRT »

This bottle is rapidly developing a major problem. :?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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djewesbury
Graham’s 1970
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by djewesbury »

Oh no! International crisis, Level II!
Daniel J.
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LGTrotter
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by LGTrotter »

DRT wrote:This bottle is rapidly developing a major problem. :?
Go on.... I fear the worst.
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DRT
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by DRT »

LGTrotter wrote:Go on.... I fear the worst.
The worst imaginable outcome is imminent. A crisis of international proportions is upon us.

What to do?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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djewesbury
Graham’s 1970
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by djewesbury »

DRT wrote:
LGTrotter wrote:Go on.... I fear the worst.
The worst imaginable outcome is imminent. A crisis of international proportions is upon us.

What to do?
There is only one thing to do - contact your personal trainer for advice.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
LGTrotter
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by LGTrotter »

Open another?
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djewesbury
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by djewesbury »

LGTrotter wrote:Open another?
could always crack open a Morgan 91...
Daniel J.
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DRT
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by DRT »

djewesbury wrote:contact your personal trainer for advice.
:shock:
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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DRT
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by DRT »

djewesbury wrote:
LGTrotter wrote:Open another?
could always crack open a Morgan 91...
All at Seckfords.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
LGTrotter
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by LGTrotter »

Morgan 91? Surely the quality of the wines should increase.
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DRT
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by DRT »

LGTrotter wrote:Open another?
But another what?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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djewesbury
Graham’s 1970
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by djewesbury »

LGTrotter wrote:Morgan 91? Surely the quality of the wines should increase.
Availability is what counts. How good do you think the bottle needs to be when you've already drunk one bottle on your own?
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
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djewesbury
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Re: 1970 Dow

Post by djewesbury »

LGTrotter wrote:Morgan 91? Surely the quality of the wines should increase.
ah. Availability is indeed what counts...
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
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