ThePortForum.com

An informal pre-Christmas tasting of ports with the theme "A bottle of port which cost you less than £25", as suggested by winesecretary and organised (with plenty of help from others) by richn.

Links:

• Review of the event as a whole
• Tasting notes:
  • 2001 Warre Quinta da Cavadinha
  • 1970 Martinez (CPR) (2 bottles were present)
  • 1970 Martinez (GEAG) (2 bottles were present)
  • 1977 Royal Oporto Quinta Do Corval
  • 1983 Dow
  • 1994 Tesco
  • 1970 Butler Nephew
  • 1997 Gould Campbell
• Placemats (and in the list of placemats);
• Planning and arrangements.

This was Charles' bottle. Not much on the nose and not a big flavour on the palate, subtle and soft fruit with a little redcurrant. Quite spirit heavy and with a heavily acidic citrus cutting through. Good.

Full red colour. Strawberries on the nose. Quite spicy on the palate, and quite long. Not over-sweet. Very good. WOTN. I guessed Malvedos 1992, which just reminds one of how blind tasting is a spur to humility, not least because (i) the first thing I wrote down was 'Dow 1970?' and (ii) I brought another (admittedly rather differently presenting) bottle of the same wine.

A gentle and evolved colour, 50% opaque. Wonderfully fragrant on the nose, plenty of fruit but also with exotic spices which combine to give an amazing nose. Smooth entry with mature fruit with plenty of secondary flavours - rich and extremely flavoursome but with plenty of layers of flavour and development. So fragrant on the aftertaste! With stunning layers of flavour on the finish, a finish ending in a delicious red jelly. This is really very good. Served blind this was guessed to be Dow 1970. 92/100. Tasted 17-Dec-19. Decanted 12 hours.

50% opacity, mature red. Rich christmas cake nose. Lovely rich mouthfeel, drying fruits, cranberries. Dryness late palate.