Providing Port Impressions

[Roy Hersh]

One of the things that struck me most about the Gala Celebration this past weekend, was how nice it was to hear the diverse opinions of all the participants.

I intentionally set up the table to induce the greatest possible interaction and it worked beautifully. I know some at the even had never written a tasting note, but after opening the weekend with a brief discussion on how to write a TN, everyone seemed very comfortable taking notes and more so ... sharing their impressions of the Ports they tasted.

There was a ton of disagreement about the Ports and flights we tasted, but I felt it was always done VERY respectfully. It was fine for folks to have dissenting opinions and some very controversial ones. That was actually one of the great dynamics that kept each event so distinct and pleasurable.

Do you feel it easier to discuss the wines in a forum like that during conversation or easier to post a TN? I am really curious about this.

[Glenn E.]

I think it is easier to discuss a particular Port at a tasting like we had this weekend, mostly because that guarantees that everyone present has tried the same Port from the same bottle. That can be very important considering how much a Port can change from bottle to bottle.

Port is very subjective, and everyone's palate is different. I wouldn't even go so far as to call our discussions this weekend disagreements simply because I think everyone present understood that we could actually be tasting very different things. Just using my own palate as an example, I can only barely detect a corked bottle. Ports that other people will wrinkle their noses at and push aside because they are corked taste just fine to me, and in at least one instance this weekend (the 1970 Ferreira) tasted quite excellent.

That said, I don't have a problem posting a TN either. It's just a snapshot of a single bottle on one particular occasion. I just write what I tasted, and I don't even worry whether or not my TNs are consistent. After all, if the Port isn't even consistent from bottle to bottle, how can I expect my TNs to be consistent? The goal is just to collect an impression so that over time, those impressions can add up to something substantive.

[Roy Hersh]

(the 1970 Ferreira)

There is something about those corked 1970s and people loving them anyway. Reminds me of a great tasting in Brooklyn, NY last Feb. with the same gang you are going to be drinking with .. this weekend Glenn. One participant boldly called the 1970 Taylor "the best wine of the entire horizontal" and others were very perplexed, as it was absolutely horribly corked.

But I love VA in Madeira and know tons of people who hate that. Also, tannins don't almost ever bother me and as you've seen in the other thread, most people can not stand or enjoy the ripe tannins, especially in young VPs. I am almost immune, although I certainly can perceive them, they don't bother me.