Wed 2nd Feb 2022 - BB&R Vertical

What happened?
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: Wednesday 2nd Feb 2022 - BB&R Vertical

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Lid eased
Lid eased
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This morning I made the trip to Basingstoke to collect the magnum of Berry’s Own Selection 1997 for tomorrow night. This is the first bottle out of a case of six magnums.

Card sleeves
Card sleeves
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The magnums came wrapped in card sleeves. I like these sleeves because they quickly show whether there has been any leakage - none was seen.

Pristine appearance
Pristine appearance
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The magnum looks immaculate. It will be opened this evening around 8pm and then double decanted tomorrow morning around 8am.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: Wednesday 2nd Feb 2022 - BB&R Vertical

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

High fill, good colour
High fill, good colour
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I should add that the contents of the bottle appear to be in perfect condition.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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nac
Fonseca 1980
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Re: Wednesday 2nd Feb 2022 - BB&R Vertical

Post by nac »

75 decanted at 1900. Think it's fine.

Bottle was base of neck.
Cork was pretty much saturated and disintegrated on removal - or rather part removal.
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: Wednesday 2nd Feb 2022 - BB&R Vertical

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Berry’s branded cork
Berry’s branded cork
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The cork from the magnum came out cleanly and in one piece - perhaps due to the first proper use of the JDAW patented cork pusher set to 5mm.

Cork is branded “Berry’s Own Selection 1997 Vintage”.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
PhilW
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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Re: Wednesday 2nd Feb 2022 - BB&R Vertical

Post by PhilW »

Much thanks to everyone who helped organise last night; it was a great location for a port tasting, with excellent facilities and fascinating surroundings. Our hosts were good company, and managing to provide an RV60 at the last minute (which I thought showed very well too) was much appreciated; good cheese-board too!

The wines spanned the range from the fabulous ('66) to the undrinkable ('83); we had three clearly faulty bottles from the fourteen, being the '70 (light TCA), the '75 (weird, see below) and the '83 (terrible). Much discussion was had regarding the 75, with the suggestion that a poor aguadente could have been used rather than this being a single-bottle fault; whatever the reason it was grim - when I first smelled the '75 I thought someone nearby had just been and had a cigarette and then breathed in my direction... but no, it was the port; some did not taste it, but I took the risk - it tasted no better than it smelled; terrible, if not quite as bad as the '83 - there being no merit in that statement! I left both.

At the top end the '66 was glorious, and I really enjoyed the '60 (Rebello Valente) with softer style but delicious mature port, and doff hat for BBR locating and bringing this bottle, thank you! The '97 also stood out for me amongst the younger wines as well; I probably want another 5-10yrs on it, but was very impressed by it (now I need to see whether I feel the same when the bottle isn't a magnum, since I expect that would then be slightly more mature already).

Overall a very enjoyable evening, and great to be back in good company as well as in such lovely surroundings after so long.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
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Re: Wednesday 2nd Feb 2022 - BB&R Vertical

Post by winesecretary »

Many thanks to IDJ for organising, and to everyone who brought wines, and to Tom and Sebastian for hosting so charmingly. It was enormous fun.

The left hand group (60,63,66) and right hand group (97,00,03) were clearly the best with those in between less consistent. The 70 (TCA) and 83 (heat damage) were flawed. I was not sure about the 1991, it had an acrid note on the finish, but it may have been representative - previous notes on the main blend on this forum are 80% uncomplimentary. I enjoyed the 1977 which is still developing on this showing, and the lush 1994. The 1975 divided opinion - I quite enjoyed it but I agree it has a very different character, perhaps some aguardiente de cana had made its way in.
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flash_uk
Graham’s 1977
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Re: Wednesday 2nd Feb 2022 - BB&R Vertical

Post by flash_uk »

Many thanks to Ian for making this happen, and to Tom, Sebastian and BBR for their kind hosting and hospitality. Very enjoyable evening with great company and a special setting!
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: Wed 2nd Feb 2022 - BB&R Vertical

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Tom Cave wrote a blog article on our tasting on the BBR website. It’s a nice read.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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