On Thursday 19th December 2013 a subset of the obvious suspects gathered at The Bell in Wendens Ambo to taste old, peculiar and unknown bottles.
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1858 Hatch Mansfield
- Alex Bridgeman
- Graham’s 1948
- Posts: 14906
- Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: 1858 Hatch Mansfield
Described on the label as ""Matured in Wood"". From the age of the bottle, I would estimate this to have been bottled in the early 1900s.
Golden amber colour, with a straw coloured rim. Gentle floral perfume and a little VA. Dry palate, little fruit and lots of pine resin, birch sap and grapefruit skins. Powerful grapefruit bitterness and rosemary, which I have learned are signs of an ancient port. Dry rosemary and bitter grapefruit on the modest volume but lengthy finish. 83/100. Decanted 2 hours.
Golden amber colour, with a straw coloured rim. Gentle floral perfume and a little VA. Dry palate, little fruit and lots of pine resin, birch sap and grapefruit skins. Powerful grapefruit bitterness and rosemary, which I have learned are signs of an ancient port. Dry rosemary and bitter grapefruit on the modest volume but lengthy finish. 83/100. Decanted 2 hours.
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: 1858 Hatch Mansfield
Quite remarkable freshness, lovely dry citric flavour profile - nice balance to this port even if does not show particular complexity. Lovely - 89
Rob C.
Re: 1858 Hatch Mansfield
‘HM’58. Colour apricot, 15% opaque. Palate soft, with marmalade, but dried out. (Would have been better most of a century before.)