I just returned from the tasting. The store was quite busy as they had 10-12 wine producers on hand pouring samples of their wines. We grazed for a while and found several bottles that were to my wife's liking, so we started a box at the counter.
The importer for Kopke/Rocha was there with a fine lineup:
2001 LBV (Rocha, as I recall)
Kopke 10-yr old Tawny
1994 Kopke Colheita
1983 Kopke Colheita
Porto Rocha Three Centuries
I have had the three Kopke Ports before and wasn't all that impressed with any of them at the time. At this event, though, all three were showing very nicely. The 10-yr old seemed noticeably smoother than one would normally expect for that age, and when I mentioned it the importer explained that it is actually closer to 15 years old. The 1994 had a very nice nose and was devoid of the sharp note that I remember from my last encounter with it - a vast improvement. The 1983 had a rather spirity nose, but that didn't carry over into the mouth which was smooth and elegant with notes of honey and almonds.
The LBV was quaffable, but to me wasn't anything special. It was better than a ruby reserve, but not sufficiently better to make it worth the price. I'll still be buying Broadbent Auction Reserve or Graham's Six Grapes to fill what few ruby cravings I have.
The king of the event, though, was easily the Porto Rocha Three Centuries. The nose was elegant though a bit faded. In the mouth, though, it exploded with flavors. Blood orange, apricot, toasted marshmallow, almond, vanilla, and something honey-like that reminded me of a good mead were all wrapped up in one silky smooth package. I already have a bottle in my fridge awaiting the right occasion, but had to pick up another bottle for good measure. The price has gone up $25 since I bought the last one.
I also picked up a bottle of the 1964 Porto Rocha Colheita to add to my birth year collection, and a bottle of the 1985 Kopke Vintage Port to add to my slowly growing 1985 horizontal.
Fun fun!
