For The Love Of Port

From a half bottle. Just opened and decanted a couple of hours ago. A little dusty but nicely sweet and rich, though still a bit hot. Perhaps this will dissipate which more time in the decanter? The colour goes right to the rim, suggesting that it is not fully mature, which is borne out on the tasting.

Maybe it's the time of year, but I'm getting treacle, dark Christmas fruitcake (especially candied marschino cherries), toffee, black cherry, some smokiness, expresso, and subtle menthol on the quite long finish.

Nicely mouthcoating and medium full-bodied. This is the third 88 I've had, the other being Taylor Vargellas and Graham Malvedos (the latter I've had more than any other port I think). I didn't expect to like this port as much as I do, perhaps because I couldn't find a single TN on it, which often means that the usual critics didn't like it enough to bother. Hard to believe that neither WS nor Parker tasted this, though.

I score this a solid 91 today, and expect that I'll score it a bit more tomorrow (if there's any left! ) and/or in another 5 or more years.

Great TN and fine impressions Bob. You brought back a descriptor which has slipped out of my lexicon and now I will reincorporate ... Maraschino Cherry. Thanks for that! :)

I organized a Malvedos vertical for our group on the HARVEST TOUR this year and we got to try a pretty cool lineup on Oct. 5th:

1965, 1976, 1986, 1992, 1996, 2001, 2005 (just bottled but not released) and then some crazy 2006 samples (but I won't say more about those until my article is drafted). Malvedos is a very solid SQVP producer, not to mention a stunning property to visit.

I know I have had a handful of the 1988 (in a mini vertical flight) Symington Ports but would have to check to make sure if it was the '88 Malvedos.

I got a lot of 88 Malvedos because my son was born that year and that seemed to be the best of the vintage. Also the only one available here up to a couple of years ago. Since it was less thatn $50 a bottle I got lots, so we've had it often over the past few years.

And yes, I still have the three bottles I originally got for my son.