1975 Rovalley Vintage Port

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 05, 2006 3:46 am

This bottle of possum juice came as part of a job lot.

Having indulged a Croft '45 a couple of days ago, it seemed timely to come back down to earth and get this one drunk up.

Cheap gold plastic capsule topped a green glass bottle that was of similar shape to a Hennessy brandy. Rather pretentious label, declaring the contents to be 'Vintage Port'. On removing the capsule I found the cork was well raised - I could actually turn it with thumb and forefinger!

Difficult to decant, as the red/brown liquor was distinctly murky.

First sip - very unattractive colour, bit of bottle stink. On the palate a touch sharp, but otherwise better than I expected - full bodied and actually quite drinkable.

Will give it a few hours in the decanter and revisit this evening!

Tom

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Fri May 05, 2006 11:01 am

OK, a glass proper

It looks pretty awful - a cloudy red brown soup - near opaque.

In fact it bears a closer resemblance to prune juice than it does wine.

- Come to that, the bouquet is pretty similar to prune juice too :?

It actually doesn't taste that bad - very smooth, though rather syrupy. It has an overtone of coffee that is not displeasing, but totally different to anything I've experienced from Portugal.

However, this is not a bottle I would recommend...

Tom

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Fri May 05, 2006 11:53 pm

Does the label give any clue as to who Rovalley are? Neither Mayson nor Liddel mention the name in their books and I'm intrigued - not that I would rush out and buy any of their wines based on your tasting note

- just academic interest, you understand.

Alex

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Sat May 06, 2006 3:28 am

Does the label give any clue as to who Rovalley are?

'Made & bottled by B. Liebich & Sons. Rowland Flat South Australia'

Tom