Experiences with Blackett ports?

[slateshalehead]

Blackett seems to barely be mentioned on TPF, but hopefully someone has some experiences with this brand. My state’s wine and spirits store just announced a special order availability for Blackett’s 10Y and 20Y white ports at $28 and $68 respectively. Thinking about taking a plunge and trying the 10Y, but I had never heard of it until two minutes ago…

[Glenn E.]

Blackett is Quinta de Brunheda's commercial brand. They sell a very large amount of Port to TFP, presumably to make the Taylor 10-20-30-40 (but I do not know that for sure). The Blackett brand isn't well distributed because they don't really want to compete with Taylor, but they're working on it.

They are good Ports, but for me they are not among the very best. I'm probably jaded because I've had the opportunity to taste so many of their raw components. Blackett tends to be a little too acidic for me, so I'd prefer a little more sugar to help balance that out. But if you like bright, acidic tawnies (i.e. Kopke), you'll probably love them!

I have 1 bottle of the 30YO left at the moment. It's very good, but also kind of expensive for a 30 though I do not recall the list price off the top of my head. IIRC their 40 usually lists for 200 EUR.

The 10YO White is totally worth $28 to give it a try. Is that a 500 or a 750?

[Mike J. W.]

The State Store in PA (Fine Wine & Good Spirits) are listing all of them as 750 Ml. bottles. They're also carrying the Blackett 40 y.o. Tawny for $157.49 which is a decent price for a 40 y.o. They also have Blackett's 2017 VP for sale as well as a few other items. All are special order, you can't walk into a store and buy them.

[Glenn E.]

The State Store in PA (Fine Wine & Good Spirits) are listing all of them as 750 Ml. bottles. They're also carrying the Blackett 40 y.o. Tawny for $157.49 which is a decent price for a 40 y.o.

Yes, that's a pretty good retail price for a 40, especially the Blackett 40. My price came from the last time I saw it at the quinta... that's the price that they offered us at the time. 2021, I think. I don't remember it being on the list during my birthday tour.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I haven’t tasted much from Blackett, but at the prices you’ve listed I’d by a couple of each - maybe more of the 40YO - just to have them as cellar defenders and to see if I liked them.

I rather like high acidity in my tawny and colheita Ports though.

[Mike J. W.]

The State Store in PA (Fine Wine & Good Spirits) are listing all of them as 750 Ml. bottles. They're also carrying the Blackett 40 y.o. Tawny for $157.49 which is a decent price for a 40 y.o.

Yes, that's a pretty good retail price for a 40, especially the Blackett 40. My price came from the last time I saw it at the quinta... that's the price that they offered us at the time. 2021, I think. I don't remember it being on the list during my birthday tour.

I picked up a 40 y.o. Brunheda on your birthday tour. I don't know what the stylistic difference would be between that and the Blackett 40 y.o.

[Glenn E.]

The State Store in PA (Fine Wine & Good Spirits) are listing all of them as 750 Ml. bottles. They're also carrying the Blackett 40 y.o. Tawny for $157.49 which is a decent price for a 40 y.o.

Yes, that's a pretty good retail price for a 40, especially the Blackett 40. My price came from the last time I saw it at the quinta... that's the price that they offered us at the time. 2021, I think. I don't remember it being on the list during my birthday tour.

I picked up a 40 y.o. Brunheda on your birthday tour. I don't know what the stylistic difference would be between that and the Blackett 40 y.o.

Heh. Well, Blackett is an actual product and they make it much like other producers - they try to keep the style consistent from year to year so that you know what you're getting. I think the style is closer to Kopke than Graham, just to name 2 at far ends of the spectrum. Bright acidity and powerful Ports.

The Brunheda cask samples that we get are different every time. I don't believe they have an official blend for them, but rather just bottle up whatever they have handy whenever we ask to get more. Also what they bottle for us after a tour and what they serve during the tour may not be the same. The bottles vary quite a bit stylistically year-to-year, with (in my opinion) the older "Simples not for sale" bottles being among the best. The labels vary as much as the contents! 40 Year Old, 40+ Year Old, +40 Year Old, some say "amostra" (sample) some don't... it's kind of funny and helps us keep track of when the bottles were purchased.

In general, the Brunheda cask samples have been softer and smoother than Blackett. They also tend to show more white grape content.

[mosesbotbol]

Blackett I put in the same category as Maynard; a good value tawny brand. They taste older than the indication on the label.