2004 Croft LBV

Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
Forum rules
Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
Post Reply
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

2004 Croft LBV

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Half bottle; bottled in 2009. What a contrast to the depth, richness and complexity of the Dow 1980 finished shortly before this was opened. Deep red, opaque and with bricking on the rim. Pleasant nose of fruit, but slightly sour fruit; attractive. Sour fruit, plenty of it but straightforward and simple. Some restrained tannins give support and there is a fierce level of acidity that cuts through everything. Great finish of licorice root and bitter fruit. This lacks balance and elegance, but still a decent drink and a very rewarding emergency port. 88/100. Drunk 13-Jun-14. Decanted 24 hours.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
djewesbury
Graham’s 1970
Posts: 8165
Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Contact:

Re: 2004 Croft LBV

Post by djewesbury »

Alex drinks this when he can't bear drinking any more Graham 52 SHT or Noval 1931. The palate can get so jaded.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 2004 Croft LBV

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Or - as said above - an emergency port. When everyone is clamouring for more Noval 1931 you can quickly decant a half of Croft 2004 LBV into the empty Noval 1931 bottle and then pass it round. The result is lots of happy people who manage to get themselves a second glass of the famous and rare Noval 1931.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
djewesbury
Graham’s 1970
Posts: 8165
Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Contact:

Re: 2004 Croft LBV

Post by djewesbury »

AHB wrote:Or - as said above - an emergency port. When everyone is clamouring for more Noval 1931 you can quickly decant a half of Croft 2004 LBV into the empty Noval 1931 bottle and then pass it round. The result is lots of happy people who manage to get themselves a second glass of the famous and rare Noval 1931.
I'm telling!
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 2004 Croft LBV

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Shhh! It's our little secret.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 2004 Croft LBV

Post by jdaw1 »

How does “emergency port” reconcile with “Decanted 24 hours”?
User avatar
djewesbury
Graham’s 1970
Posts: 8165
Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Contact:

Re: 2004 Croft LBV

Post by djewesbury »

One can anticipate an emergency.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 2004 Croft LBV

Post by jdaw1 »

I am currently at KidSpace in Croydon, anticipating a very similar emergency.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 2004 Croft LBV

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I failed to finish the half bottle at the time of the emergency. The following day some port remained, was drunk and a tasting note written.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
djewesbury
Graham’s 1970
Posts: 8165
Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Contact:

Re: 2004 Croft LBV

Post by djewesbury »

jdaw1 wrote:I am currently at KidSpace in Croydon, anticipating a very similar emergency.
Croydon! As someone who went to school there, even the name induces a shudder in me. Let alone the thought of what 'KidSpace' might be.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 2004 Croft LBV

Post by jdaw1 »

djewesbury wrote:the thought of what 'KidSpace' might be.
An indoor padded cell, several hundred feet each side, filled with screaming children and overweight parents. None of my children were particularly injured, and they ran and screamed and bounced and climbed with the best of them. They are now asleep, and some of a Graham Crusted bottled 1998 is in me.
AHB wrote:I failed to finish the half bottle at the time of the emergency.
Not the gravest of emergencies, then.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 2004 Croft LBV

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:I failed to finish the half bottle at the time of the emergency.
Not the gravest of emergencies, then.
The immediate emergency was dealt with and followed rather unexpectedly by a period of deep sleep lasting about 8 hours.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Post Reply