Someone took me, very generously, to lunch at
Hide on Piccadilly recently.
Their assistant Sommelier, Martin Kleveta, is described as the
first-ever UK Master of Port. I did think this might be a Port-specific version of the MW qualification but perhaps thankfully for my bank balance, it seems to be more like a competition run by the IVDP for professionals.
(Apparently the first time the competition was first run, it was for French wine professionals, on the basis that France is the largest Port market, although anyone who has looked at the IVDP’s own data for what gets sold there will realise that doesn’t tell the whole story...)
Anyway, in addition to a fairly deep list of sweet wines by the glass, they now also offer the following Port flights:
“Tawny vs White” — £39
Sandeman 20 YOT
Kopke 30 YO White
Graham 40 YOT
Kopke 50 YO White
“Vinha Velha” — £49
Taylor VVV 2017
Qd Vesuvio Capela 2016
Niepoort Bioma 2015
Graham Stone Terraces 2015
“Fladgate vs Symington” — £59
Taylor 2017
Fonseca 1980
Dow 1975
Graham 1955
The flights were described as being 100ml, although I think i got a touch more. They had been Coravin’ed into decent glasses.
A long time since I have seen a Port tasting suggestion which I could not fault. I’d have been more than happy to try the lot. The price is, obviously, high but it’s quite a pricey place generally (the 5 course set menu is £120 with wine options being £90, £245, £475 & £1,795!)
I went for the Vinha Velha on the basis that I’ve never had a chance to try four super-premium Ports from different shippers together before. I didn’t take notes but the best for me was probably the Qd Vesuvio Capela by a whisker over the Graham’s ST. The Niepoort is a bit sulky and tannic: really does need another 30 years. The Taylor VVV was also a bit young but didn’t quite have the complexity that I think the Niepoort will grow into.