1950 Cockburn's Vintage Port

[Paul Eddy]

I finally broached this bottle bought at auction having had to wait until my wife had succesfully completed her dental treatment and was able to enjoy and fully appreciate the experience!

The label states that it was bottled in the Autumn of 1952 by J.G.Thomson & Co LTD , The Vaults, Leith.

TN: Pale garnet with a touch of browning at the rim. It is clear and bright. On the nose there is a lovely mixture of alcohol and redcurrant fruit which made my mouth water. On the palate there was the alcohol, a touch of honey(my wife disagreed) and lovely red fruit. It was sweet but not cloying, quite fresh and with a finish that went on for over 30 seconds!

This was a delightful and unexpected pleasure as my research showed that M.Broadbent described it as lean and spirity. I would not describe it as lean; spirity perhaps but a lovely drop all the same. This now goes to the top of my list as my best port experience of 2006.

We have a couple or so of glasses left in the decanter so if there is any change I will report back.

Cheers Paul.

[Tom Archer]

After a run of great years - '45, '47 & '48 - and not helped by a feeble market - the '50's got left in the shadows, even though many shippers declared.

Having recently drunk both a '50 and a '60 (Delaforce and Taylor respectively) I have been struck by the similarities. Neither great, and both showing the march of age - but both lasting well (and improving) in the decanter.

After a tawny interlude, my next victim will be much younger - an early Vesuvio I think - probably a '90

Tom

[Bjørn Tore Aastorp Ruud]

Hello.
Is Cockburns now out of business??
I visited them in 2002 but I heard that they now were bankrupt.

Any truth in this?

BTW we tasted a lot of great wines from Cocburns, but it seemed like the wines form later years are commercialized a lot until not so good quality?!

Bjørn Tore

[Andy Velebil]

No, Cockburns is still in business. Here is there USA web site http://www.cockburns-usa.com/