Ramos Pinto, Tuesday 21 October 2014

[jdaw1]

On Tuesday 21^st October 2014 we gathered in Davy’s at Woolgate for a vertical of Ramos Pinto, in the presence of João Nicolau de Almeida, Mark Bingley M.W. and Ana Rato.

Links:

• Review of the event as a whole;
• 1909 Ramos Pinto;
• 1924 Ramos Pinto;
• 1931 Ramos Pinto;
• 1960 Ramos Pinto;
• 1964 Ramos Pinto;
• 1970 Ramos Pinto;
• 1980 Ramos Pinto;
• 1982 Ramos Pinto;
• 1983 Ramos Pinto;
• 1985 Ramos Pinto;
• 1991 Ramos Pinto;
• 1994 Ramos Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira;
• 1994 Ramos Pinto;
• 1997 Ramos Pinto;
• 2005 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape;
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Planning and arrangements.

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Eight days before the tasting, most of the bottles gathered chez JDAW: And photographs of the individual bottles have been added to their TN threads.

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João Nicolau de Almeida of Ramos Pinto.

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João Nicolau de Almeida speaks animatedly with his hands.

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The top three places were taken by the delicate Portuguese-style vintages: 1931, then 1909, then 1970. Mentioned in despatches were 1983 and 1997, points also being won by 1994 (full declaration), 1985, 1982, 1980, and 1964.

(Ana’s score was submitted as a ranking, which I mis-converted to points that added to 6, and which Phil then re-converted to points adding to 5. SNAFU.)

[flash_uk]

Thank you Julian for organising this, and thank you to all those who contributed such wonderful bottles three of which allowed me to break my "oldest port tasted" record three times in the evening, tasting first the 31, then the 24 then the 1909. And thank you also to João for sharing some great insights into the Ramos Pinto history and winemaking, which certainly added another dimension to the ports being tasted.

Overall, a great showing of Ramos Pinto, the delicate oldies were in excellent shape. The 60s and 70 a mixed bag, the 80s I liked a lot and look forward to seeing how they develop in the next decade. The 90s have a clear superstar in the 1997. I shall have to buy some of that and put it aside for a long time...

[jdaw1]

Ramos Pinto’s reputation isn’t really in Vintage Port. Hence, before this tasting, my curiosity exceeded my optimism. But my, that was a fine showing of RP VPs, and very educational.

Generalising, those ≤1970 were Portuguese-style, evolved and delicate, with lovely texture. Those ≥1980 were opaque and dark, full of big fruit. There was a big change in the 1970s. João Nicolau de Almeida attributed it to two causes. There was a deliberate change in the wine-making style, from Portuguese-style to British-style. Also, none of the ≤1970s contained Quinta da Ervamoira. Apparently Ervamoira produces very dark wine: Mark Bingley said that it takes 13ish years for the Ervamoira tawnies to fade to a 10-year colour.

Going backwards, we know that ’31 was a great year, albeit with newly-poor customers. But 1909?! Who made a worthwhile 1909? Really, who did? Really, Ramos Pinto did. At 105 years old, showing very well. The flavour had presumably lessened over time, but the texture was divine.

Finally, for pedants: yes, Ramos Pinto has been Ramos-Pinto. Their preference is now for no hyphen, the previous inconsistencies being regretted.

[Axel P]

Thank you, Julian, for the great organisation and all the work involved. I really enjoyed the tasting.

Ýou are perfectly correct. Although there is a quality gap from 1945 to 1970 (due to Joao's info) all other Ports that I have tasted so far, are very well on track. A remarkeably change occured from 1980 where all Ports beginn to really be darker and stronger (more UK-stylish) and will need much longer to evolve. I believe RP is a strong candidate for the Vintage Port of the year in 1982 and 1983. Even the 85 was somewhat closed (alike the Fonseca) and will need time to really come around.

I have had some weird Vintages with Joao, such as 1911, which I did not believe that it was any good and it definitely stayed much longer than the 2 years in casks, but it was still a Port which was alive.

So guys, look out for Ramos Pinto in the future and dont forget to also stock up with 2011 which we havent tasted here, but I believe this to be a great Port with a long life ahead.

Axel

[jdaw1]

All the bottles had labels that were of matching design, and modern. Presumably all bottles had been recently released. (The ’31 was bought at auction in NY, circa 2005.)

This might be the first deep vertical in which all bottles had been released late. Previous vertical have included a mixture of old English bottled, mid-20C Oporto-bottled, both types up to 1970, and from then on OP bottles that had been in the UK since soon after declaration.

So this was unusual.

[WS1]

Hi,

sorry for may late post. The tasting was great and showed excellent consitency among the vintages. The supposed gap beetween 1945 and 1970 I would still want to elaborate more and feel only based on the two ports 1960 and 1964 in the tasting I am not keen to follow this statement. I accept Joao and Axel having already elaborated this in more depth but based on the strength of Ramos Pinto in "so called" off vintages I would still give it a try.
From 1980 onwards Ramos Pinto is following very much the "style of ethe English houses" but still in my view in a very elegant application. Really great Ports with excellent consitency and quality but not so easy to get.
Great evening out in excellent company and food. Also would go back to the Woolgate Davies for such tastings if we get the room we had for this tasting. Sadly the Bunghole is no more what it used to be.

regards

WS1