QH77. By drinking time this had acquired a horrible vegetable stink. I imagine dread? that cabbage might smell this bad, but as I am careful to avoid cabbage, I can’t be quite sure. With time and swirling this lessened. When the taste starts with red fruit, though dry mid-palate. Ending was pleasant. Later, the body and sweetness improved further.
Needed time in decanter rather than in resealed bottle.
I had this down as a Gould Campbell 1977. Can anyone confirm what the port was please?
Slightly cloudy, early maturity in appearance; 70% opaque. Harsh and aggressive nose of cranberries, not really knitted together and still quite herbaceous - perhaps needing more time in the decanter. Balanced entry, a nice combination of sweetness and a little VA on the palate before a dry woodiness. Quite a hot palate, leading to a burst of acidity on the aftertaste that was dry and hot, before fading to a huge finish of cedar and tobacco. Served blind, this was guessed to be Taylor 1985 and was a delight to find to have been an untainted bottle of GC77. 88/100. Drunk 26-Feb-13. Decanted 9½ hours.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.