Who would like to join another virtual tasting on Tuesday 21 April. I’m going to limit slots to 9 people, based on learnings from the first two tastings.
The format will otherwise be the same, although this time, we will combine the verbal delivery of a tasting note, with guesses from the others. This should allow us to cycle quickly through the guesses and spend more time chatting.
Glenn E. wrote: ↑18:47 Tue 14 Apr 2020
Gah, looks like I'm the unlucky #10. Well, put me on the wait list if there is one!
Glenn, I’ll send you the invite anyway, and feel free to drop in with some port. I know you’ll likely not be able to spend the whole time with us as it’s work time for you.
Glenn E. wrote: ↑18:47 Tue 14 Apr 2020
Gah, looks like I'm the unlucky #10. Well, put me on the wait list if there is one!
Glenn, I’ll send you the invite anyway, and feel free to drop in with some port. I know you’ll likely not be able to spend the whole time with us as it’s work time for you.
SDC: young enough to be decanted yesterday at 10pm, really thick tannins last night. Over the day — decanter open since lunchtime — very opaque, slight ruby rim, nose ripe fruit, palate sweet entry, but not overripe, strawberries raspberries blackberries, big tannins weighty, good acidity, lovely balance. Will definitely last a generation or two. 91–92 points. Much nicer than expected. Thought it would be closed. Actually very nice.
MPM: 50% opacity nice dark red. Nose very open, lovely rich fruits, not overripe, they are just opening up. Maybe a little black fruit — plums? — rich lovely scent . Nice balance, a little heat mid palate, tannins soft and almost integrated. Fruit most prominent feature of palate, nicely ripe, neither too early nor overripe. Nice sweetness, but not too much.
JDAW, decanted 14:00. Dark red. Palate early sweet dark plum, slightly dry mid. Big, rounded and full, lovely. Late palate is long, dry, plums again. Very long, This showing very well. Me like.
CPR: beautifully 50% opaque glorious red colour. A little rosehip on nose. Palate has integrated tannins, some rosehip, some gentle strawberry, good length.
Opened for the FTLOP April/May Virtual Tasting and also the 3rd Port Forum VT
Color: medium dark garnet, kind of a black cherry color. Some brick.
Nose: semi-tart black cherry, some very faint sour VA, some blackberry and some black currant
Palate: rich, ripe black cherry seems to be the theme here, with some faint prune backing it up. Also some purple bramble flavors like mulberry or huckleberry. Rich and mellow, but also fairly tart. Good body and texture. Some nice chocolate on the back end. Excellent showing.
Finish: good length, with a tart and somewhat pleasantly sour tail.
Score: 93 points. This is a nicer example than usual, but still within the expected range.
It’s a fairly dark tawny colour, looks older than its actual age. On nose a bit spicy, almost smells like rum-and-coke, but with an oxidised edge. On the palate a lot of heat, a lot of spice, some burnt spice, and still that sort-of not-faulty on-edge quality. Some pepper, medium bodied, little tannin, little fruit. The main component of this vintage is from a vineyard between Pinhão and Pesqueira.
AHB2: darker red, younger in appearance, blackish red to appearance. Maybe 95% opaque. Nose has a little bottle stink, sweet bramble underneath. Bottle stink spoils palate on entry; mid-palate dry, bruised. Moderate aftertaste, short finish, which does open up to a bit of green woodiness that does have a good length. Has been open three days. Not very impressed. Has had it before — this is the sixth time — and the bottle stink doesn’t seem to be typical.
WHW: I’d show you the glass but I’ve quaffed the decanter. Largely translucent. The nose is sour cherry, green apple, maybe a bit of linden, not a sweet nose, but lovely, maybe wood or lacquered wood. Palate sweeter than the nose had suggested, some gentle citrus on fore-palate, mid-way through the sweetness starts to come, some strawberry and hint of caramel, and the barest hint of tannins and even a touch of wood. So the tannins are almost fully integrated, longish, warming. Well that’s it. Very much in balance, medium weight, the sweetness a touch on the light side, little to medium finish. really really nice, Stellar, no; 91 points. After four hours in the decanter, beautiful balance; modest acidity, modest sweetness level.
NAC: leaves into neck, sore came out easily. 30% opaque, very pale red, not browning, not tawny. Not a great deal not he one, maybe like a 10yo tawny. Dried fruits, figs maybe, apricots and orangey dried fruits. Nose better than when opened. On palate fruit, dried, orange, slight sourness. Not partially sweet. medium-plus length. Conclusion: much improved from when opened, a pleasant drink, maybe a duff bottle. At peak, or just past, Need to try another bottle.
