TN: Delaforce 1950

[Tom Archer]

I was very pleased to find a date on the cork of this bottle (which otherwise told me only that it was Delaforce) - the more so because I have a second identical bottle (but with slightly higher level) whose full identity is now revealed.

1950 is a bit of a forgotten vintage - more it seems due to dire market conditions than poor harvest, although no-one seems to sing its praises very highly.

In the decanter, this wine has that slightly dull appearance that says 'over the hill', and in the glass it is a pale, even, but very slightly hazy tawny.

A little sweeter and more viscous than most - light, smooth and very drinkable, but no huge wow factor. You could easily mistake it for a 20yr old tawny.

In the drink up category for sure, but a perfect demonstration of why it's never too late to drink a VP.

Still this bottle is good practice - my birthday is ten days away, and I've promised myself a '45 - but which one? - I have Sandeman, Graham and Croft to choose from

Tom

[Al B.]

Thanks for letting us know what the mystery bottle was. How did you manage to get the cork out semi-intact? I have a couple of bottles where the corks might help me a lot to identify the wine so any hints from experience would be appreciated.

I might be able to help with your decision on which '45 to open. I have a leaky Croft '45 which I have had standing up for a couple of days now and will open tonight. What I can say so far is that the sticky residue where the wine has leaked out and dried off does smell and taste astonishingly good.

I'll try and post a tasting note over the next couple of days. Then you can choose whether to replicate the experience or go for something different....unless you plan to be in the London / Berkshire area over the next 10 days and want to try two different '45s for your birthday...

Alex

[Tom Archer]

My method for removing corks is very traditional - rather than rely on lever forces, I prefer to use a very old corkscrew with a wooden (walnut?) handle and a relatively thick, but open spiral.

After inserting the corkscrew to full depth, I put the bottle between my legs and take the strain very gently and slowly, trying to maintain control throughout.

It usually works well...

.. But, thinking about the physics of the job, I reckon that the optimum corkscrew for old corks should have a wide spiral - perhaps 3mm less than the diameter of the cork - a teflon coated wire with a well sharpened point - and a shallow angle of attack, so that in a typical long port cork, some ten turns would be made before the base of the cork was reached.

That should (I think) give optimal traction against a decayed cork..

Are there any specialty corkscrew manufacturers??

^^^^^^^^^^^^

For an old bottle, this one is unusual in that I've been hogging it almost entirely for myself

The evolution is interesting..

After a day, it was showing the classic symptoms of an old port being left undrunk - it was getting sharp.

Now, as I type this, over three days after decanting, I am pleasantly surprised - the sharpness has gone, the wine is clearer (and much darker)and now tastes a little more youthful, yet fully composed - a noticeable rebound.

I'm not going to rush to finish this one - I want to see where it goes from here!

Tom

[Al B.]

Very interesting evolution of the wine. Not what I would have expected. It will be interesting to see how it develops from here.

Alex

[Tom Archer]

I revisited the decanter after four days. In every respect it had the characteristics of a fine, full bodied and ancient Tawny - fine in colour, moderate in bouquet and luxurious on the palate.

I then left about two glassfuls in the decanter while I went walking in Cornwall.

Now it is well over a week since I decanted. The glass I have just poured is a little hazy - but that is probably due to a little sediment in the decanter.

It lacks lustre now, and while it has lost some of its luxuriance, it is still very drinkable.

This wine was at its best at the four day mark, so the thought occurs to me that 'lesser' VP's that are in decline may benefit from extended aeration.

When I get a moment, I'll open another Dalva '70, but give it much longer to prove itself. Curiously, this is the only other port in my cellar that I would rate as 'over the hill' with any certainty.

Tom