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We gathered at The Boot & Flogger to taste Port of the 1994 Vintage.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1994 Graham;
• 1994 Dow;
• 1994 Warre;
• 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio;
• 1994 Smith Woodhouse;
• 1994 Gould Campbell;
• 1994 Tesco;
• 1994 Eira Velha;
• 1994 Taylor;
• 1994 Fonseca;
• 1994 Croft;
• 1994 Skeffington;
• 1994 Quinta do Noval;
• 1994 Churchill;
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

55% opaque, pale in this young company. On the nose, a slightly bitter tang. Really quite bitter in the mouth. Possibly not a representative bottle.

Second lightest. Similar story. I drank the last of a full case several years back (it really changed quite dramatically 7-8 years back from one of the darkest to the lightest). But this difference here is the early maturity still leaves a moderately attractive mature port. Note of dates, figs, and a lighter smoky spirity palate with little direct fruit remaining. A little grip on finish but overall a bit attenuated. This was definitely better 5-10 years ago for me.

40% opacity, red core, orange rim. Complex nose. Mid-weight, fruit is quite crisp, late palate has some heat. Fruit has citrus, notes, lemon. Much more mature and evolved than the other '94s on show.

EV94, decanted 07:30. Glorious red, 45% opaque. Palate bacterial, with sweetness and length behind.

Replacement glass? Still not right.