1997 Calem Quinta da Foz Vintage Port

[Claus R]

Decanted: 12 hours

Appearance: Dark red table wine, cloudy, medium fast tears on the glass

Nose: A hit of rotten fruits, some sour notes with underlying crushed grapes and a slightly baked note

Taste: Easy arrival, but then medium sour grapes across the palate, slight unclean feel to it. Something's just not completely in sync here...

Finish: Tannins and the grape sourness lingers

Comments: My first port that I didn’t fancy right away, It’s drinkable but different. At present I wouldn’t score it more than 78/100

Regards,
Claus

[Michael M.]

Claus,
imo 12hours decanting is much too extended. I would suggest a pop and pour situation or give it maximum an hour of aeration. This 1997 Cálem Foz is certainly not a cracker but nevertheless nice drinking. It certainly arrived its peak. 1997 Cálem VP is another story. It's a decent drinking over four days. I like it a lot.
Michael

[Claus R]

Hi Michael,

Yeah, well - I had some the other day at a friends house from another bottle, but found it to be alomost the same, although I didn't take notes back then - that particular bottle had only been in the decanter for 4 hours.
I'm thinking maybe this supermarket offer had seen the best of these bottlings, but who knows?

IMHO a 97' VP can take 12 hours in a decanter with a stopper on top without any problem, but then

I'm just thinking maybe a bad batch?

Regards,
Claus