No more holy grail VPs - I can now die happy and fulfilled!

[Roy Hersh]

Thanks to Uncle Tom, the one Vintage Port that I have been dying to try for many years and which has always escaped me, was brought to a blind tasting last night at The Bell in Essex, England not too far from Cambridge. It was a lovely country pub that has spectacular food and the most friendly staff you can possibly imagine, in a rural English countryside setting, which is something out of All Creatures Great and Small.

Seriously, this place epitomizes charm. We had just 7 of us with over a dozen Ports, many of which were old and in great shape. But the star of the night was the 1927 Fonseca Vintage Port which Tom generously included in this tasting as he knew it was was one that I had been dying to try. I was asked to guess what it was. It was not a knock out wine and the color which showed some age, reminded me of a very sound bottle I had at Ferreira last week. I guessed the Ferreira 1975 because it looked so much younger than just about any 1927 I've ever had and because it was an elegant and feminine wine in profile. The others roared with laughter at my guess when the bottle was uncovered as they couldn't believe how far off I really was. Honestly, I did not care at all and was not really embarrassed, because in retrospect, I probably would guess something similar if I had to do it all over again. I scored the wine 93 points and truly enjoyed it. However, it was not the blockbuster I had thought the '27 Fonseca might be.

participant Shawn Denkler, had told me about six months ago that he's had this VP on several occasions and told me that it was not a top 1927 in his opinion and from other '27 bottlings I have had, I'd have to agree. That said, it was delicious and a great treat to try the Fonseca. Nonetheless, it was one of the kindest and most generous gestures ANYONE has ever made with Port on my behalf and I will never forget Tom's willingness to share this with me. He has one of the largest Port collections known to mankind and has many true gems. Having this last of the Mohicans, actually it was truly the last remaining great Port from the 20th century which I had not yet tried. I am now without any real "holy grail" Ports left and will have to think of what specific VP to replace that moniker with now, for the future.

Thanks Tom, I won't forget this act of generosity!

[Shawn Denkler]

Roy your story reminds me of the first time I had the 1931 Noval. I was in England on my first buying trip for my wine shop. One of my suppliers took me to an out of the way pub. They had the 31 on their port list for about fifty pounds (in 1984). I was very excited of course to try this famous port, but when I tried it I thought something was wrong. It was so young and fresh that there was no way it was a fifty year old port. I was sure that they were fooling me since the bottle was decanted in the back bar. I was confused and it took a long time before I was convinced that it was the 31. I probably wasn't truly convinced until I had it a second time and realized how young and how well port can hold up.

One of the things I love about wine is how it makes you humble. In spite of all I know about wine I have much to learn and can be easily fooled at blind tastings. I would feel that it is just my own stupidity except that I have seen many experts fooled as well. Living in Napa Valley I have been to many wine tastings. Nothing can be more humbling than a winemaker bashing a wine in a blind tasting, then when the wine is exposed it turns out that he made it and did not recognize it.

[Tom Archer]

It was a pleasure to share it with you Roy.

Not a true Titan, I agree, but I couldn't help thinking that it would last another 80 years with ease.

Tom

[Mitch H]

Hey only about 50 years off, not too bad Bro

[Todd Pettinger]

Roy,

Glad to hear the F27 "Everest" has finally been climbed. That was indeed a very kind thing for Tom to do.

Todd

[Andy Velebil]

That was a great time and the perfect way to end my stay in England. It's been mentioned before that The Bell has some huge steaks, and yes they do . Very tasty indeed.

The 1963 Fonseca VP was superb as always, 1970 Taylor's was one of the best bottlings I've had in a while. As almost all wines were served blind, it was a fun way for a small group of friends to try and fool each other. As there were many more surprises of the evening, some good and some not as good. All in all, it was a fabulous evening and I was greatful to finally be able to visit The Bell.

[Roy Hersh]

A fun time had by all. Both the 1963 and especially the 1960 Sandeman Vintage Ports blew me away as the former is a benchmark VP for me and the '60 was a great example of the best of the vintage, alongside the Cockburn's we had the previous evening. Both were very special bottles!