For The Love Of Port

On 5/31/08 a small group of wine drinkers near me got together at Three Forks restuarant in Claremont for one members (Leslie's) birthday. It was a great time, the food was just great and I highly recommend the place, and the wines were outstanding. Besides this VP, we also had an unknown champagne (I didn't write it down), N/V Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose, 2004 Shafer one-point-five, 1991 Ridge Santa Cruz Mtn. Cab. Sauv., 2004 Miner "The Oracle", 2000 Pier Barbaresco Vila Riserva, 1994 Dunn Howell Mtn. Cab. Sauv., 2003 Cht. Suduirant, and this VP.

I brought this VP as it was Leslie's birthyear. Decanted about 6 hours prior, the color was a light ruby, but a bit hard to tell due to the lighting. A fully mature nose of cranberries and anise with some major heat overpowering it. My inital impression was this VP is past its prime, as I've had it before and this bottle was showing a little more evolution than the last. A medium weight with white cherries, flowers, and some just noticable toffee, starting to show its slow turn to a tawny. The medium finish was just as hot as the palate, and a major distraction that everyone noticed. I would say start drinking these if you got 'em, I suspect its best days are falling behind it. 87 points
05/31/08

Nice note Andy. I typically avoid Martinez except when others are opening them but have tried a few over the years. Your wine dinner sounds great, especially the 1994 Dunn Howell (I adore the 1990 version) which is a real beauty. However, that 2003 Suduiraut is one Sauternes that I will avoid in the future. A great nose and it even tastes good, but there is a total lack of acidity to balance the sweetness. Acidity does not improve with age, so I'd make sure not to buy any, then again I'd avoid that vintage entirely for Sauternes.

Back to Port talk though.

yeah I wasn't to thrilled with the Martinez. The Ridge on the other hand was the WOTN for everyone, just stunning. The Dunn was very good and my #2 WOTN, but just not up to level of the Ridge.

1991 is my favorite vintage of the 1990s for CA Cabs and if you liked that one you really need to try the Monte Bello by Ridge from 1991 which is fantastic. Also in my top 5 CA Cabs from that vintage are:

#1 Seavey
#2 Dominus
#3 Shafer Hillside Select
#4 Ridge Monte Bello
#5 Mondavi Napa Reserve

I apologize for hijacking your thread and I promise no more talk here besides Port.

I think that was my first 1991 Cali Cab. Ive had lots of 1994's, 95, 97, 99, but I can't recall ever a '91...I must find more from that year....ok sorry for the non-port stuff....but avoid the Martinez, ok that was port related

I had this port two summers ago at my cousin's house and thought it turned quite tawny-like. Don't keep this one on the bottom of the pile... Drink now.

I've got a few of these that came out of a cold, damp English cellar (and that's just the summer time temperature!). I might open one soon to see how these bottles compare with your recent experiences.

Alex,
I'd love to get your impression of it to see if my bottles just suffered from poor storage prior to me aquiring them or if they are representative of that bottling.