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2000 Tesco (Symington)
In anticipation of a forthcoming Croft tasting in The Bunghole, 57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DT, we thought that it might be a good idea for three of us to test the location. The trial run grew to six people, and was held in the larger room. Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1980 Offley Boa Vista;
• 1970 Cockburn;
• 1968 Graham Malvedos;
• 1983 Graham;
• 1985 Fonseca;
• 2000 Tesco (Symington);
• 1996 Niepoort LBV;
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

Very young nose - powdery tannins - liquorice flavours

I guessed: "not VP, possibly an LBV or Reserve Ruby"

Not good.

Tesco’s 2000 VP made by the Symingtons (originally ‘NT’): decanted 09:00. Very pruney, a fruit I usually associate with Vesuvio. Could there be Vesuvio grapes in this? Probably, we shall never know.

Much darker than the others at the tasting but going red around the edge. Good stewed fruits on the nose. In the mouth, some red cherries and lots of tannins. Not quite as complex as might be expected. Guessed as a Niepoort LBV bottled by Fortnums.

I believe that the 2000 vintage is shutting down. The notes posted above simply reinforce that belief.

Perhaps a vintage to steer away from (other than for academic and monitoring purposes) for 5-10 years?

AHB wrote:Perhaps a vintage to steer away from (other than for academic and monitoring purposes) for 5-10 years?

Hmm...I hadn't thought about that but that's possibly true; I haven't tried any other 2000s recently but the dullness of this Port could have been caused by being in that phase.