2003 Offley Boa Vista Vintage Port

Otto Nieminen · Post by **Otto Nieminen** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:09 pm

This is a port I've long wanted to try again. I see on the main site of FTLOP that Roy isn't enamoured of it. Generally I guess I am a bit of a Roy-lemming as we seem to like the same ports, but here we seem to disagree. I like this port very much.

With a 12h decanting the nose has lost the spirit, but is very primary and fruity. It does have lots of darker tones amidst the exuberant berryish sweetness. The palate is exuberant, fruity, fairly tannic yet balanced, more noticeably acidic than most Ports from this year. I like this very much: there is admirable depth for such a young port. De gustibus non est disputandum.

-Otto-

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:38 pm

Otto,

Thanks for the note and believe me, I enjoy seeing varying opinions here. If we all agreed all the time, there would be no reason to have this Forum.

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:04 am

One thing is certain too, the wine are evolving. I remember last year when I tasted 3 times in 2 months the 2003 VP of Niepoort. At that time I found the tannins a bit too harsh giving me hard time to really have fun drinking this wine. Well... This year the fruit has taking over the tannins and it is just a great fruit bomb VP. Still it is very very young but it is amazing how in one year this wine have changed.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:46 am

Fred,

That happens way too often when trying wines way young. I come across it very frequently when doing cask samples. It is not an easy game to read into a crystal ball with VP and I am sure Bordeaux is every bit as tough and Burgundy, may be the toughest of all.

Seeing the fruit through the tannins or equally difficult, sensing the tannins through massive fruit of a youngster is something that takes lots of practice. At best, it is an imperfect art (not even close to a science).

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 5:27 pm

Drinking the 2003's?.. patience dear boy, patience....!

I'm halfway through an OBV '77, which I should (and thought..) i'd written up - still, events, dear boy, events.....

Anyway..

From the outset I suspected that this was not a perfect bottle - at first sip I detected some notes of TCA, but not of great proportion.

A couple of days down it has a metallic edge, which I put down to it being slightly tainted, but it remains very drinkable, indeed very good.

For those lookng for QPR, Offley is a star turn. Despite it's faults, this bottle merits a 7 for immediate gratification, with no evidence of decline.

So my score is:

(7-7)

Tom

Otto Nieminen · Post by **Otto Nieminen** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:19 pm

Roy, I quite understand that differences in opinion are not only tolerated but endorsed. But what I found strange is how much I have enjoyed this port both times I've tried it and how little you seem to have enjoyed it. Sure we both have our tastes, but based on reading your notes I never thought they would diverge quite this much. I am seriously thinking of buying a bottle or two for long time storage.

Tom, I would of course prefer to drink older Ports, but it's just not always possible. Besides, I like to taste for myself rather than blindly trust someone else. Did you have any of that 83 that you once said you could sell? I'd still be interested!

-O-

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:22 pm

Did you have any of that 83 that you once said you could sell? I'd still be interested

Loads - how many do you want?

Tom

Otto Nieminen · Post by **Otto Nieminen** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:23 pm

uncle tom wrote:
Did you have any of that 83 that you once said you could sell? I'd still be interested
Loads - how many do you want?

Tom

I'll send a PM, just a sec.