1963 Croft Vintage Port

[Eric Menchen]

Disclaimer 1: While I originally planned on taking detailed notes on this after a 4-6 hour decant, this wasn't evaluated in depth until the following day.
Disclaimer 2: This was a half bottle, so aging may be different from a full bottle.

D (noon, 9 May 09): Cork showed obvious signs of seepage, as there was some liquid on top the cork after I removed the seal. Could it be corked? Aroma wasn't perfect, so I wondered.

D + 6 hours: A pleasant drink. It didn't stand out above others tasted at the same time, but it definitely wasn't a bad bottle either. It wasn't corked. What I smelled before must have just been some bottle stink that went away.

D + 31 hours: This is still holding up for some careful evaluation. Color is brick red to amber, and very uniform without any real difference on the edge. I'm surprised by how red this is through the glass given the age. There is an ever so slight haze. Nose is a bit hot with some VA, tending to rubbing alcohol. There is a small sweet tang in the aroma. At first I wonder if it is fig, but then it tends to dark cherry. Near the end of the glass, there is a slight floral aroma, and a lot more cherry. In the mouth, this was not nearly as hot as the aroma led me to believe. Medium body. There is a tang and sweetness tending to tawny flavors. There a little cherry as well as apricot. The finish is really nice, with a touch of heat, but integrated. There is a little grape in the mouth too.

I've read a bit about the 1963s being on their way out, so I was a little worried that this bottle, in particular this half bottle, might not be all that good. Well, I can see that it might be past its prime, but it definitely isn't over the hill yet. "I'm not quite dead yet!"

[Andy Velebil]

On the rare ocassion I've had this, I've enjoyed it quite a bit. A good bottle of 63 for sure and one rarely mentioned.

[Moses Botbol]

On the rare ocassion I've had this, I've enjoyed it quite a bit. A good bottle of 63 for sure and one rarely mentioned.

Probably the best Croft since '63 until the '91, beating out the even the '70... '77 is not a big one for Croft either.

Buy all the '63 Croft you can if the price is good.

[Roy Hersh]

Eric,

I am very glad to see you had good fortune with your 1963 Croft from 375. It must have been stored very solidly to offer so much pleasure. I love when that happens, albeit less often then one would like. Then again, it is a rarity that I get to drink oldies from 375. The oldest one I have in that size is from 1955.

[Andy Velebil]

Probably the best Croft since '63 until the '91, .

Ahh the 1991...a hidden gem from that year! I've got one on death row right now. As soon as I stop working 7 days a week I'll crack it open and post a TN on it.