Tue 03 June 2014, Blind 1958s for Oscar Quevedo

[jdaw1]

Oscar Quevedo was in London, so we opened some 1958s.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1958 Burmester (δ delta);
• 1958 Constantino (θ theta);
• 1958 Delaforce (ε epsilon);
• 1958 Dow (η eta);
• 1958 Fonseca Guimaraens (α alpha);
• 1958 Martinez (β beta);
• 1958 Quinta do Noval (γ gamma);
• 1958 Warre (ζ zeta);
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Blinding technique;
• Planning and arrangements.

[jdaw1]

From the Spring 1963 catalogue of The Wine Society.

(My picture #00924.)

For those not skilled in pre-decimalisation British money, 17/6 = £⅞ = £0.87½, and 20/0 = £1.

[jdaw1]

From the April 1961 catalogue of Berry Bros & Rudd.

(My picture #00171.)

[jdaw1]

From the 1963/64 catalogue of Justerini & Brooks.


(My pictures #04606-7.)

[djewesbury]

From the 1963/64 catalogue of Justerini & Brooks.


(My pictures #04606-7.)

Pictures not legible here...

[jdaw1]

The 1960 Vintage has fulfilled our high expectations and we stress the importance of an early investment in this vintage, in view of the present, and equally certainly the future, scarcity of Vintage Port. 1958 produced lighter wines that will be ready to drink in five years’ time. The merit of the 1955 vintage is emphasized by universally dwindling stocks. In view of the shortage, and the price of Vintage Ports ready to drink today, we draw your attention to and recommend our Ferreira 1952, bottled in Oporto in 1956, which is now ready to drink.

[jdaw1]

In summary, the 1958s were 25% to 30% opaque, with burnt bouquet. In the palate light, heat showing, some structure remaining, but significantly past prime. If very cheap, entirely adequate mature house Port. However, if as expensive as 1958 Vintage Port, then not so much.

However, it was a splendid evening (well, all-day session). Thank you to those whose bottles made it happen.

Pictures to follow in this thread. To follow elsewhere, an explanation of the blinding technique, which worked well, was really robust, and could have been done by me with only a brief mite of unskilled assistance perhaps from bar staff.

Edit: explanation of the blinding technique.

[jdaw1]

α=FG58, β=Mz58, γ=N58, δ=B58;
ε=Df58, ζ=W58, η=D58, θ=Cn58.

[jdaw1]

α=FG58, β=Mz58, γ=N58, δ=B58;
ε=Df58, ζ=W58, η=D58, θ=Cn58.

[jdaw1]

α=FG58, β=Mz58, γ=N58, δ=B58;
ε=Df58, ζ=W58, η=D58, θ=Cn58.

[jdaw1]

α=FG58, β=Mz58, γ=N58, δ=B58;
ε=Df58, ζ=W58, η=D58, θ=Cn58.

[jdaw1]

α=FG58, β=Mz58, γ=N58, δ=B58;
ε=Df58, ζ=W58, η=D58, θ=Cn58.

[jdaw1]

α=FG58, β=Mz58, γ=N58, δ=B58;
ε=Df58, ζ=W58, η=D58, θ=Cn58.

[jdaw1]

DRT’s surprise arrival changed the medal table.

[jdaw1]

Random guessing should be one in eight, a total score of eight. We totalled nine. We were, as ever, rubbish.

Further, the decanting team knew that Martinez was the darkest. Without that foreknowledge we might have been worse than random.

[LGTrotter]

Further to the dark Martinez: The only time I have had a Martinez 55 I was struck by how dark it was. Were all Martinez wines of this era darker? If so I wonder why. If it was the second wine of Cockburn at this time perhaps all the darker pipes went in the Martinez to keep Cockburns medium style going. The 63 Martinez looks washed out though...

[jdaw1]

To follow elsewhere, an explanation of the blinding technique, which worked well, was really robust, and could have been done by me with only a brief mite of unskilled assistance perhaps from bar staff.

Done.

[oscar quevedo]

Great evening, as it always is when I'm in London with you. Those 1958 Ports that we tasted were in general smooth, sometimes light and almost all reached the pick a couple of decades ago, I would say. However, it was a lovely experience, thank you all for keeping these bottles and allowing friends to taste. Cheers!

[Alex Bridgeman]

A thoroughly enjoyable evening with good company and some tasty ports - none of the ports were blcokbusters, but the company more than made up for that!

[jdaw1]

Commendation for Oscar for posting TNs. (Suppressing comment about the other slackers.)

• 1958 Burmester (δ delta);
• 1958 Constantino (θ theta);
• 1958 Delaforce (ε epsilon);
• 1958 Dow (η eta);
• 1958 Fonseca Guimaraens (α alpha);
• 1958 Martinez (β beta);
• 1958 Quinta do Noval (γ gamma);
• 1958 Warre (ζ zeta);

[idj123]

A wonderful evening of 58s (a vintage I hadn't tasted before and given their apparent scarcity may not do so again). With one exception, these were all elegant, delicate and genteel wines probably in their twilight years but getting there gracefully. The exception to this being the WOTN-the Mz, which seemed to be exhibiting a 'Norman Wisdom' like character being boyish and belieing its years. My TNs were (probably deliberately!) left at the TBH although, even for me, the majority read the same. Good to see Oscar again and the evening also included an appearance from DRT although I forget which of the evening's offerings he felt smelt of nappy-and I should currently be familiar with this smell!

[PhilW]

Having done a number of larger tastings recently, the more informal (though precisely managed - thank you to the decanting team) smaller tasting with a group of friends was very enjoyable, and good to meet Oscar again. I had not tried any '58s previously (with exception of a '58 Calem colheita), so it was also very interesting, with a diverse set of producers.

Overall, my impression was that of a good, but not blockbuster year, but now mostly past its prime. Four wines stood out clearly to me, and looking at my tasting notes my scoring should really have been FG top, Df second, D and Mz third-equal; not that this would have altered the results. Notably for me, this is the fourth time in a row where I have scored Fonseca top in a blind horizontal, yet I don't seem to learn and did not guess it as Fonseca.

My only minor disappointment was a relatively poor showing by the W58, a wine I had been wanting to try for a long time (due to a combination of my love of Warre, and other people's tasting notes), but which my notes somewhat confusing describe as "old, tired, lightly oxidised" but also "freshness underneath" - perhaps a hint of what it can be. It will just have to stay on my list to be tried again one day!

Overall, an interesting tasting, and very enjoyable company. Thanks to all for arranging and managing.