For The Love Of Port

Decanted three hours ago. First glass

Bouquet light, spiritous.

Orange/red in colour with violet edge.

Bit tart - jammy - undistinguished.

Hope this one pulls together - not very impressive at this stage

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Decanter was one I recently bought on ebay - postage cost twice as much as the decanter!

Strange how looks can be deceptive - it looks like a regular decanter, but after I'd emptied the bottle, I realised it can probably hold a magnum!

Tom

Tom,

i just had an 83 Taylors VP last night and I just posted a TN on it. The Taylors was much like what you just described and it never pulled together.

Although I have only once purchased a single bottle (early on!) of the 1985 Noval, I have had it enough times now to know it well. I agree that it is not anything more than an average, "serviceable" VP. Even as a youngster it was an 85-86 point wine without the guts or grip to age well. It will make for a better tawny in another decade, but that is saying very little.

Re-visited the decanter a couple more times last evening, but still not overly impressed.

Now nearly 24hrs on:

Looking much more ruby in the glass, little bit of fruit on the nose, but not much.

A little less tart now and better on the palate, but I'd echo Roy's word: Serviceable.

Not bad, but no wow factor.

It might become more interesting with age - I have another seven bottles in the cellar. Maybe one to re-visit every five years or so.

This wine looks overpriced in the market place - For a dozen at auction I would suggest £180-£200

Tom

Not to pile on, but the 85 Noval was a big let-down for me when I bought a couple of bottles a year or so back.

This VP will never be better than it was five years ago. Drink up, sell 'em or give 'em away as gifts or cook with them. They won't be recognizable as Vintage Ports in 2015 when they hit 30.

Over 30 hours after decanting now, and the wine is developing some depth and integrity - where it was tart, it now has grip. Really quite elegant now.

I'll beg to differ with you Roy - I don't think this wine is the premature geriatric on the slippery slide to obscurity - more the spotty teenager crawling out of bed..

I don't think this is going to emerge as a classic, but I think another decade will pay dividends.

Tom

I've had a couple bottles of this over the past year and with about 6-8 hours of "air time" my experience more reflects Uncle Tom's at the 30 hour mark......no wow, but enough pow(!) to make smile!

I've let this one run longer than usual.

Now 80 hours after decanting - last glass

Bouquet still not mega, but fruity - pleasant

Almost opaque now - full ruby!

Chewey on the palate - no off notes. Makes you lick your lips as it slides down.

This last glass is a large one

I'm typing this as I drink, the tannins are still in the background, this is not over the hill - tooth grinding stuff!

Lacks finish though - a little fruit but should be better.

I'm going to retreat from the 'puter and enjoy the last of this!

Not to be written off, but one to decant long before you drink it.

Tom

PS: Note line below!