On Tuesday 11th October 2017, at the Boot and Flogger we held the long-planned much-procrastinated Gould Campbell vertical, its final and most splendid organiser being IDJ.
65% opacity, dark, muted red, slightly cloudy. Muted nose. Full mouthfeel, tannic, red fruits, bitterness in the finish. Not being so sensitive to TCA I am never that sure, but I did wonder if this bottle had just a smidgeon showing. If there was, it nevertheless remained highly drinkable for me.
Deep red, very dark — looking as dark and the same tone as the 1997. Restrained nose showing a little redcurrant fruit, gentle and very soft. Fruit led entry, with the entry full of dark cherry and bramble with fine grained tannins supporting the fruit and carrying the hot summer dust of the Douro. The flavours develop into a big mouthful and generate a fierce peppery aftertaste, a huge burst of flavours of dark fruits like wild bilberry and sloes. The finish is massive and never ending. This port is big and burly, but is nothing like a 40 year old port should be. A real oddity. 91/100. Decanted 3 hours.
Top Ports in 2022: Quinta do Noval Nacional 1931. I have never drunk such a wonderful bottle of Port. I cried with joy.
2023: Fonseca 1966. There are not many better Ports.
