1997 Maturity Evaluation, TBH, Mon 16 June 2014

[flash_uk]

This thread was started by DRT. But DRT has asked flash_uk to take over the planning and arrangement of this tasting. So authorship of the first post has been changed by jdaw1 to allow the new organiser to edit the first post. Yes, the date of this first post is before the date of flash_uk joining ThePortForum.

1997 was widely declared and has now reached an age where it would traditionally have been considered old enough to drink. We do not have much experience of this vintage here but I suspect many of us have cases from various shippers and have no idea how they are maturing. Should we do the Port world a service and taste a representative selection from this vintage?

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Date: Monday 16 June 2014
Place: The Bung Hole at 57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DT, +44 20 7831 8365 (streetmap.co.uk, maps.google.co.uk, bing.com).

Attendees confirmed:

1. MPM — Cockburn, Gould Campbell, Infantado, Morgan, Smith Woodhouse, Warre;
2. JDAW — Offley, Sandeman, Sandeman Vau Double Magnum, Sandeman Vau Single;
3. AWGH = Anthony Habert of Stevens Garnier;
4. DJ;
5. IJ (DJ Snr);
6. THRA — Vesuvio & Croft Roeda;
7. CPR1 — Graham;
8. IDJ — Dow, Ferreira & Ramos Pinto;
9. CMAG — Noval;
10. AHB — Martinez;
11. DaveRL — Fonseca & Taylor;
12. RDA (cedars28).

Waiting list:

1. AA (RDA Snr).

Ports likely to be present:

1. Cockburn — MPM;
2. Croft Roeda — THRA;
3. Dow — IDJ;
4. Ferreira — IDJ;
5. Fonseca — DaveRL;
6. Gould Campbell — MPM;
7. Graham — CPR1;
8. Quinta do Infantado — MPM;
9. Martinez — AHB;
10. Morgan — MPM;
11. Quinta do Noval — CMAG;
12. Offley — JDAW from Stevens Garnier;
13. Quinta do Passadouro — Kindly donated by VintageWineAndPort.co.uk;
14. Ramos Pinto — IDJ;
15. Sandeman — JDAW from Stevens Garnier;
16. Sandeman Vau, Double Magnum — JDAW;
17. Sandeman Vau, Single — JDAW from Stevens Garnier;
18. Smith Woodhouse — MPM;
19. Taylor — DaveRL;
20. Quinta do Vesuvio — THRA;
21. Warre — MPM

Current draft of the placemats.

[jdaw1]

Please include me.

[djewesbury]

I misread this as 1977 initially and was confused. I'd happily take part if I can.

[Andy Velebil]

If not in a hurry. Would like to join in this tasting. At some point in 2014 I'll be back in the UK.

[TLW]

Just tried a 1997 Graham, and it is definitely nowhere near ready. That being said, if I am in London at the time you hold the tasting, will happily contribute a bottle or three from the major houses.

[DRT]

OK - we have enough interest so I have updated the first post.

I only have the Roeda to hand and do not intend removing cases from storage for this so might pick up some others over the next few months.

Please declare what you have.

[Deleted_User_1]

Include me please...I have Fonseca and Barros.

[djewesbury]

might pick up some others over the next few months.

If it's generally thought that this is OK for such a young tasting then I will probably do likewise. Will advise.

[DRT]

Include me please...I have Fonseca and Barros.

Done.

[DRT]

might pick up some others over the next few months.

If it's generally thought that this is OK for such a young tasting then I will probably do likewise. Will advise.

Good boy.

[CPR 1]

Count me in please (dates permitting) - I will bring a bottle of Graham

[DRT]

Count me in please (dates permitting) - I will bring a bottle of Graham

First post updated.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Depending on when, count me in too - even if only so I can sit in the corner and lecture everyone at the pointlessness of trying to drink Vintage Port at under 21 years of age (new release port excluded). I'm not wholly sure what we'll get out of a 1997 horizontal, but I haven't tried many recently so it's worth a go and the few I have tried this year were surprisingly approachable.

[djewesbury]

Depending on when, count me in too - even if only so I can sit ion the corner and lecture everyone at the pointlessness of trying to drink Vintage Port at under 21 years of age (new release port excluded). I'm not wholly sure what we'll get out of a 1997 horizontal, but I haven't tried many recently so it's worth a go and the few I have tried this year were surprisingly approachable.

Perhaps the thing about 97 will be that it's maturing early. Maybe we'll have to drink up soon..? Worth checking. Just to be on the safe side.

[RAYC]

I'm in the AHB camp!

Ramos Pinto was very nice earlier this year and - of the usual big established names - the best "current drinker" from the vintage that i have had (albeit i have not yet had Noval 97). Sandeman 97 was also drinking nicely at BFT 2012, and Taylor 97 surprisingly approachable at BBR Walkaround 2011.

I've made my way through most of these over the last couple of years and don't have a burning desire to repeat, so will leave places at this tasting for others to use. However, happy to join in nearer the time if there's still space and extra people are wanted to enable a broader selection.

[idj123]

Please include me-I can put up Dow,Ferreira and QdV

Ian

[DRT]

I'm not wholly sure what we'll get out of a 1997 horizontal, but I haven't tried many recently so it's worth a go and the few I have tried this year were surprisingly approachable.

You have described the point of this tasting perfectly. There is nothing to be gained in leaving this or any other vintage to sail past its prime drinking window. Periodic evaluation allows as to identify shippers that should be drunk-up sooner rather than later and those who should be left to sleep for a decade or more.

[DRT]

I'm in the AHB camp!

Excellent. That means that, like AHB, you completely understand the point of doing this.

[TLW]

If able to attend, I can bring any of Dow, Fonseca, Graham, Niepoort, Taylor, or Warre. Could also bring a 1996 Guimarens for comparison.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I don't have much 1997 on hand - most of it being in storage until its 21st birthday, of course.

What I do have is Martinez, Vesuvio and Warre. (I also have Sandeman Vau, but that bottle is too big.)

[jdaw1]

(I also have Sandeman Vau, but that bottle is too big.)

I have two of the ’97 Vau double magnums to hand, which were at risk of being drunk at Christmas. Derek: if one is wanted for this tasting, speak soon. There could be decanting variations.

[Axel P]

My suggestion would be to compare 94 and 97. Dont you think that this might make sense? As the 94s turn 20years next year. Since they are not too expensive even a comparateable tasting should be somewhat reasoneable.

Please put me in

Axel

[Andy Velebil]

I have a variety of 1997's in the cellar to add to this tasting.

[jdaw1]

My suggestion would be to compare 94 and 97. Dont you think that this might make sense? As the 94s turn 20years next year. Since they are not too expensive even a comparateable tasting should be somewhat reasoneable.

Part of DRT’s stated purpose is to test which shippers, perhaps minor shippers, need to be drunk soon, and which shippers need patience. Including the minor shippers means this event might have 20+ bottles. Doubling that to include the ’94s might be, well, fabulous, but also hard work.

If that is correct DRT to comment then this should be just ’97s. I like the idea of 1994-versus-1997, but on a different day.

[DRT]

(I also have Sandeman Vau, but that bottle is too big.)

I have two of the ’97 Vau double magnums to hand, which were at risk of being drunk at Christmas. Derek: if one is wanted for this tasting, speak soon. There could be decanting variations.

Yes, please. One decanted into various bottle sizes using various methods of filtration and one decanted into various bottle sizes Audouze.

I also have Sandeman Vau, but that bottle is too big

No, it isn't. Please decant freehand into a single container.