ThePortForum.com

On Tuesday 18th September 2012 some of the obvious suspects gathered in the Bung Hole, for company and entertainment, and to taste some Ports, including several samples of Sandeman Vau.

Links:

• Review of the evenings as a whole;
• 1997 Sandeman Vau (Stevens Garnier, 37½cl);
• 1997 Sandeman Vau (Oporto Airport, 37½cl);
• 1999 Sandeman Vau (Stevens Garnier, 37½cl);
• 2000 Sandeman Vau (Oddbins, 75cl);
• 2000 Sandeman Vau (Stevens Garnier, 37½cl);
• 2003 Sandeman Vau (Stevens Garnier, 75cl);
• 1992 Dow Quinta do Bomfim;
• 1994 Morgan;
• 1994 Tesco;
• 2003 Sainsbury’s;
• Graham Crusted bottled 2004;
• 1986 Niepoort Colheita bottled 2010;
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

SV99: pop-and-pour. Glorious red, pink at edge, 80% opaque. Again, slightly cloudy. Nose had fresh menthol. Again, starts dry. Red cherry fruit. Not complicated. But improved in the glass: with time became rounder, smoother, richer.

Using the new international port-tasting scale ({Excellent, Good, Nice, Tolerable, or Inadequate}), mostly scored N, with one T and one G.

Decant for at least two hours.

Half bottle sourced from Stevens Garnier. Deep red in colour, with a thinning rim. Nosing of candy floss and icing sugar and raspberry coulis. Soft and sweet on the palate, with a smooth satin texture. Deliciously soft and fruity, with nice chalky tanins. Lovely lingering fruit finish. Lightweight, straightforward and enjoyable. 86/100. Decanted 2 hours.

red color, good density, a bit dusty or cloudy as Julian descibed it. Nose a bit bland and short. Red cherry fruit. Simple good port. For a 1999 being a soft year anyway a good effort. Still am of the opinion needs drinking up over the next 5 years.