For The Love Of Port

Trying desperately to retain continuity despite multiple hijacking ....

3rd bottle from a case of 6 purchased 2 years ago - 1st note I have taken on this wine.

Cork broke in half - not even Alex could have saved this one as the bottom half shattered into a million pieces

Decanted very easily off surprisingly little crust. A deep purple colour in the decanter. The nose was initially very spirity.

+1 Hour Still some spirit on the nose but now some black cherry breaking through. The entry is very smooth but quite light in the mouth. A huge burst of black fruits developed into a small amount of heat and then came a nice long mouthwatering finish. A very promising start.

+4 Hours The nose is now very sweet and the spirit has almost gone. Mouthfeel is much thicker than before and the initial fruit burst is quickly replaced by some big tannins that linger into the finish. This is a far more robust proposition than at opening so I am back on the dry red for a couple of hours to see where it's going 8)

+6 Hours The tannins have softened a litte but still dominating as they did at 4 hours. Now a nice big chewy mouthfull of dark chocloate cherry truffle - yummy 8)

I give this a 6-7 on Tom's scale at this stage. One of the better drinking ports I have had recently and the robustness sugests to me it has more to offer in future than it does today.

+24 Hours All of the things from before but now some mint in the finish. Less tannic as you would expect at 24 hours and now a lovely drinking port. Score stays the same as before.

Luckily I fell asleep just after the 6 hour note so there is 3/4 of a bottle left. It will not see 48 Hours

Derek

Too narrow to be a croquet lawn, alas.

jdaw1 wrote:Too narrow to be a croquet lawn, alas.

Julian,

Are you on the correct website?

Derek

See this picture within this post.

Ahh, I hadn't related it to the hijacking and thought you had joined Tanker in another dimension :?

Derek

Now at 29 hours and not much change from the 24 hour note. Still got half a decanter left and watching Blazing Saddles - life is good 8)

Derek

Edit: I also just remembered that this is the first VP I ever purchased in an OWC - I have placed the label damaged bottle in my historic port bottle collection in recognition of this fact 8)

OK, I have a small turf free garden. Each year I give the whole garden a spring spraying of Roundup (which turns it nicely brown) and then plant a dozen or so Triffids (as my neighbour calls them) aka Pumpkins and Trailing Marrows - which covers my garden in big green leaves, and with minimal effort.

I then stack the Pumpkins on the roadside on Oct 31st with a sign that says 'Free' - and they all vanish in ten minutes.

The Marrows I either eat or give away - Pumpkin (steamed with a little black pepper) is an excellent vegetable.

Tom

Good Try Tom,

But NO, its not a Pumpkin Tree or a Marrow Tree.

I have a garden which is quite regularly mentioned my my partner Jo. I am trying very hard to ignore all references to it in the hope that one day the fairy's will stop making shoes and come along and cut my grass.

Derek

PS: No, Alan, don't do it

Derek,

I'm gonna get a case of this drink you've been interupting this Gardeners World Thread!

I have a garden which is quite regularly mentioned my my partner Jo

I presume that should have been 'Maintained by', hence bring on this powerful Port, just give me a minute to get my finances in order before we blow our heads off!

Alan

Derek,
The holiday is over, now get off your duff and mow the lawn before Jo takes the decanter away from you

Alan,

Jo maintains the garden once per year as some sort of protest against my persistant disinterest - on these days I like to feign injury and retire to bed in the afternoon to watch the Grand Prix in peace 8) - obviously I return to full fitness in time for dinner and the opening of a nice bottle of port.

Derek

PS: Maintains in this context = cut the grass very badly and not touch anything that stings, crawls, jumps or gets under your highly polished nails