Two Bizarre Tasting Notes
Posted: 13:54 Mon 13 Apr 2009
I know that strictly speaking these are in the wrong place, but over the weekend I was helping my mum clear out my recently deceased grandmother's flat and came across two samples of port - one in a decanter that hadn't been touched probably for several years, and one in a small 5cl bottle that had been kept upright in a cupboard. I tried both, thinking only of the team at TPF, and this is what I found.
Unknown Port
Likely to have been LBV or ruby, stood in decanter for many years in full view but out of direct sunlight. Considerable sludgy deposit thrown in the base of the decanter. Very pale in colour, the colour of orange barley sugar and full of dark red precipitate swirling around in the glass. Strongly alcoholic on the nose; medicinal ”“ like the taste of a Fisherman’s Friend but with a strong lime marmalade presence. Virtually no flavour in the mouth. The texture is pleasant enough, if a little oily. After working with plenty of air some very tertiary and oxidized flavours come through but with a bitterness of blackened sugar and a completely unintegrated streak of alcohol. The aftertaste is strong, bitter and alcoholic but very long. Still just about drinkable, but only just. 75/100. 10 April 2009.
Taylors 1987 LBV
Filtered style, from a 5cl bottle stored upright and tasted on a ‟pop ‘n’ pour” basis. Heavy layer of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Very pale, barely a light straw colour in the centre ”“ some white ports have more colour! Strong bouquet, a nose full of candy floss and barley sugar. Unpleasant and woody, tasting of pine sap, in the mouth. A bitterness coats the cheeks and tongue, like biting into a bar of soap. The aftertaste is of pine sawdust, dry and bitter, but does evolve to a more pleasant bitter orange that lasts a long time. Unfortunately this is not drinkable and should be avoided. 68/100. 10 April 2009.
Has anyone else ever had the opportunity and courage to try anything like these? If so, did you find my experience roughly in line with yours?
Alex
Unknown Port
Likely to have been LBV or ruby, stood in decanter for many years in full view but out of direct sunlight. Considerable sludgy deposit thrown in the base of the decanter. Very pale in colour, the colour of orange barley sugar and full of dark red precipitate swirling around in the glass. Strongly alcoholic on the nose; medicinal ”“ like the taste of a Fisherman’s Friend but with a strong lime marmalade presence. Virtually no flavour in the mouth. The texture is pleasant enough, if a little oily. After working with plenty of air some very tertiary and oxidized flavours come through but with a bitterness of blackened sugar and a completely unintegrated streak of alcohol. The aftertaste is strong, bitter and alcoholic but very long. Still just about drinkable, but only just. 75/100. 10 April 2009.
Taylors 1987 LBV
Filtered style, from a 5cl bottle stored upright and tasted on a ‟pop ‘n’ pour” basis. Heavy layer of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Very pale, barely a light straw colour in the centre ”“ some white ports have more colour! Strong bouquet, a nose full of candy floss and barley sugar. Unpleasant and woody, tasting of pine sap, in the mouth. A bitterness coats the cheeks and tongue, like biting into a bar of soap. The aftertaste is of pine sawdust, dry and bitter, but does evolve to a more pleasant bitter orange that lasts a long time. Unfortunately this is not drinkable and should be avoided. 68/100. 10 April 2009.
Has anyone else ever had the opportunity and courage to try anything like these? If so, did you find my experience roughly in line with yours?
Alex
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