1970 Ferreira Vintage Port

[David Spriggs]

I just received a case of these from the UK. When I opened up the case of 1970 Ferreira VP I was stunned by what I saw inside:





All of the wines were in their original straws! Wow!






Removing one of them for opening:


The cork isn't dead yet and hadn't leaked, but using an ah-so almost pushed the cork in, so had to use a corckscrew. I extracted the cork, which was soft, but mostly held together. Beautiful clear ruby color with a slight orange/amber rim. This looks much younger than I expected. The nose was heavenly - clearly a complex VP nose. Nothing tawny here. The palate was still obviously fruity, but not cloyingly sweet. There is some unresolved tannin in the finish, but it doesn't interfere at all with the wine, and in fact helps frame it and keep the flavors tight. There is very good acidity in the long finish that keeps this fresh and makes you want to sip it again. The balance is impeccable. Just such a nice and inviting wine. The three of us would have finished the bottle if I had not prevented it I suspect that this is an exceptional example of this port. It showed signs of being stored in very damp conditions. But I have to score it as I see this particular bottle. A stupendous Port! 95 points

After being open for a couple of days, the alcohol is making itself known and the palate is not quite as lush. Still a nice wine, but I'm going to deduct a point from the score. The finish is still nice.... and pretty dry for a Ferreira. 94 points

[David Spriggs]

On another note, I was surprised by the bottle shape. I'm used to Ferreira being in the more squat bottle with the long neck, but this is a standard port bottle. Did Ferreira change to this standard bottle and then back in later years? I see 1963 in the squat bottle and 1982 in the squat bottle as well.

[Miguel Simoes]

Fantastic pics.
Had no idea they packaged them that way back in the day!

[Glenn E.]

Wow, that's awesome! Wish I had a case of that stuff.

[Andy Velebil]

Very cool

[Eric Menchen]

Very cool.

I have 1977 in the squat bottle. Are you sure this was bottled by them in Oporto? I know that for 1970 and prior there are club/estate bottlings (e.g. Cambridge), labeled merchant bottlings (e.g. Berry Bros. & Rudd), as well is importer bottlings that were not done in Oporto, but elsewhere with shipper supplied labels and corks.

[David Spriggs]

Are you sure this was bottled by them in Oporto?

The bottle does not say "Bottled in Oporto", but it does have an IVP selo. I assume that the selo means bottled in Oporto.
The bottle had a tough wax capsule. I wish current producers would bring that back - or make it an option. It makes for a very well sealed bottle for the long haul.

[Marc J.]

Wow!!! I love the straw...that really speaks to an earlier era of Port production. As far as the bottle shape goes, I have some pre-1960 Ferreira in traditional bottles, but l I've also see pre-1960 Ferreira in the squat bottles as well. I don't know if they went back & forth between the different bottle shapes or if the difference is due to the place of bottling. I find it interesting that during the same time period, Niepoort also seemed to go back and forth between bottle shapes as well - sometimes using both bottle shapes for a single vintage.

[Eric Menchen]

Are you sure this was bottled by them in Oporto?

The bottle does not say "Bottled in Oporto", but it does have an IVP selo. I assume that the selo means bottled in Oporto.

I think for this third category, selos may have been supplied as well. But I admit that an Oporto bottling with different bottles is just as likely. There were glass/bottle shortages at various times too, but I don't remember the years.

[David Spriggs]

According to Roy and the IVDP, prior to the outlawing if shipping bulk Port in 1996/1997 ... "the wine shipped in bulk and bottled abroad had no seal. Only the wines bottled and exported form Gaia had neck seals".

This means that the bottles are Oporto bottled.

Here is my guess (as was suggested above). 1970 was a large vintage. They ran out of their branded bottles and rushed out and got some generic Port bottles.

[David Spriggs]

I just noticed that Sean C. has an identical bottling of this Port... even the slip label is that same.
http://www.fortheloveofport.com/ftlopfo ... =12&t=5741

[Moses Botbol]

With Ferreira, the wax seals are the only thing ever holding the cork in. There would be big puddles around the world if it weren't for the wax.

[Bradley Bogdan]

There's always the option to wax them yourself!

[Moses Botbol]

1970 Ferreira is the most "un-Ferreira" vintage I have tried from 1963 on. Shows the strength of the 1970 vintage in general; a house style that lighter and elegant managed to turn out a robust vintage. Served blind, I don't think anyone would guess Ferreira and only a handful may guess if you gave them which Vintage, but not the house.