After the NIWSI tasting of wood-aged ports, some friends and their friends gathered around one table with some bottles decanted earlier that day:
Excellent fun, some of the ports were a little reluctant to come out to play but nonetheless much enjoyment had. Unfortunately I lost Justin K's decanting funnel in the Gents of the Belfast School of Art's library. The librarian thought it was one of the best lost property enquiries but regretted that it had not turned up. † was a half-bottle of Ni97 which remained from a few bought a couple of years ago. The others had generally been OK but this one looked fishy.
This was about 90% opaque, really dark ruby. In the nose were great ripe plums, mint and other herbs. There was heat in the mouth, but mint around a chocolatey centre gave way to great big fleshy fruit. Liked this, despite the somewhat hot finish.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
I like this port - even for drinking in the short to mid-term (though perhaps the 98 is more ready right now). Plus it still seems to be available at such a crazy price in the UK - must be one of the best QPR ports in my cellar.
90% opacity, darkest red. Blackberries...all fruit, although buried somewhat. in the mouth, strawberry jam! Little or no tannin, already balanced and BIG, structure and complexity. Joint WOTN for me, this is nice now and likely better in time.
I can confirm that the 6 bottles of V96 in my cellar will indeed provide a good QPR in the future, much like the others that were once there that have already served their purpose.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
