1967 Cockburn Vintage Port

[Derek T.]

I bought 8 bottles of this very cheap earlier this year. Storage conditions are dubious to say the least so prossibly not a fair representation of this wine.

I opened a bottle for a family dinner last weekend. I did not make a tasting note at the time but did observe a distinct decanting time preference that I will use for the other 7 bottles.

On opening the wine there was very little on the nose - not fruit or alchohol evident. The cork came out clean and intact and had not dried out or absorbed much liquid. I took this as a good sign but happy to be told otherwise for a wine of this age. The colour was that of an aged tawny although slightly pink rahter than brown.

I tasted the wine immediately after decanting and all I could taste was spirit. Not good.

After 2 hours I got a rich caramel aroma and a fabulous delicate taste. I really, really enjoyed this glass.

After 4 hours I served the bottle to the table. Everyone loved it - especially as it was only the second bottle of anything that they had tasted that was more than 10 years old! - I thought it tasted like paint stripper.

Lesson learned for remaining 7 bottles is - drink entire bottle between 1hr 55 mins and 2 hrs 5 mins after opening 8)

Derek

[Roy Hersh]

I am not at home this week (in Michigan at my wife's family for Christmas) so I don't have access to some of my TNs that are not published here (actually that would be lots of them). I have had this wine although not in the past five years, and can't give an accurate representation without my notes.

I did have the '67 Sandeman last month and a '67 Nacional ten days ago (that I opened) and both were very enjoyable albeit one was a very nice wine while the latter was profound. When I get back to Washington State, I will look up my handwritten TNs for this bottling.

[Al B.]

Lesson learned for remaining 7 bottles is - drink entire bottle between 1hr 55 mins and 2 hrs 5 mins after openingDerek

Now that's what I call a drinking window! I look forward to the tasting notes that you write immediately after your next bottle

Alex

[Derek T.]

I'm willing to try it out in the name of reseach and for the benefit of the Forum 8)

[Stuart Chatfield]

This bad start, short but fantastic drinking window, instant decay seems more like a really unstable very old bottle than a 67! Maybe the storage was a bit dubious. In general, I've had better results when the cork is really wet - but not quite along the whole length, and spongy.

Was the cork branded and the original foil in place? Could it have been re-corked? Was it one of those narrow-necked opaque Oporto bottles or one of the UK/Bordeaux/green style ones?

Interesting note - I don't recall ever having had a 67.

[Derek T.]

Stuart,

The foil and corks are original and the bottles all have soiled labels that are still visible. The bottles are green but not very dark.

I think storage is the issue here. For at least a short part of their life I understand these bottles were kept in a garage. To be honest, I got them very cheap and expected nothing from them. In my view it's worked out OK as I know they are drinkable and, in the right decanting window, can be very enjoyable.

Derek

[Andy Velebil]

Lesson learned for remaining 7 bottles is - drink entire bottle between 1hr 55 mins and 2 hrs 5 mins after openingDerek

Now that's what I call a drinking window! I look forward to the tasting notes that you write immediately after your next bottle

Alex

I guess a 10 minute window to drink would be like those old University days of beer bongs

[simon Lisle]

The last time I had this port was fifteen years ago, Then it was mediocre at best.I have one left and I'm very interested in how its aged