ThePortForum.com

My cellar defenders comprise a mix of different things. Currently, I have about 8 bottles of port which I bought either privately from a house clearance or from shops clearing out old stock where I bought the bottles cheaply but they are ullaged down to or below low shoulder. These need to be drunk...

1980 Gould Campbell

That was a fun night. Always humbling trying to guess what something is....at least we got a few vintage years correct.

From the Stateside virtual tasting May 23, 2020. Decanted 5.5 hours. Deep red to mahongany rim--looks youthful but for the brownish hints. Ample nose. Starts our with a sweet black cherry with an earthy element, mid palate has raspberry jam a finish with a dry finish. Elements of chocolate, more in ...

I got two magnums of this about 5 years ago and opened one within the year and I had the same maturity issue---came off like a 15 year old, not 40. Other will sit a long time.

The 1975 Kopke Colheita was easily the best wine of the night--just outstanding.

From a 375 bottle, opened 10 hours before but stoppered most of that.Burnt orange and viscous. Caramelized sugar with a nutty vanilla nose--a robust nose. Layers of flavors here, roasted pralines and creme brulee with just a hint of cooked orange at the end. The finish lingers and morphs to differne...

Pop and pour, faded honey orange color. No real notes but an easy drinker. For $17 for a 375 I would buy again for casual drinking.

90 Points

Pop and pour, not even decanted. Deep brick red-purple. Nose offers a dry dusty rhubarb and plums. Starts out a fruit bomb with dark cherries and plum. Sweet finish yet just a hint of heat.

92 Points

Brownish red color with a small orange sherbet rim. Another tight nose. For the youngest of the bunch its aging compares as accelerated. Light strawberry with a long yet uneventful finish. Overall OK. 89 points

Slightly faded out wine with a dry tight nose. Moderate to light is weight; it has a candyish yet subtle soft finish. 91 points

Another bruiser that is squid ink. Touches of baked dark cherry on the nose. Strawberry and blackberry compote with a candied finish. Quite nice but suffers by following the 1994. 94 points

WOTN for me. Broodingly dark and deep red purple. Aromas of mashed grape and dark berries. Violets and aged blackberry with cassis. Finish has a hint o chocolate. Fruit is still very prominent and should be aged a lot longer--but what a great one. 95 points

Deep red rose color with barely a clear rim. Noise is sweet with a candyish raisin quality. Super soft and subtle, lovely mouth feel. Hints of strawberry and cooked kumquats with an occasional hint of white pepper. Really in a good sport right now. 94 points

Clear rim of faded orange-red. Slightly opaque. Allspice and pepper comes through on nose. A very subtle Port with a lovely soft finish with a candy profile. 92 points

Rose to brownish color and a tawnyish nose. Moderate to light weight for a Port, candied almonds and a hint stewy. 91 points

Rose petal rim, deeper red rose core. Aroma was tawnyish, a little astringent with a plastic note. Lightly sweet but the wine is polluted by a smokey pine resin quality. We discussed how pressed in whole bunches with grape stems. N/R

The fact that your 1989 got votes makes me think we had a flawed bottle.

A very fun night with a few surprises--I've not had many Vesuvios before so welcomed getting to know the house. The 1994, 1992 and 1995 were the stars of the Vertical with the 1989 the clear loser (pine resin flavors in Port not good). I'll let SushiNorth give the official tally. One thing I noted w...

Another consideration -- use them as your ticket to our port tastings. You're in NJ, we're in NJ (and NY too...), and tasting's are generally bring-a-bottle. Some are also "adopt" and others may want to pay you to adopt one of those, or split the cost with you. If you are interested, PM m...

Date??

What is the date, Jeff?

Just circling back---plans changed so I might have been able to make. Keep me posted for January!

I am now very unlikely for this event.

On my calendar! Great!

Where are you located??