2007 Martinez Vintage Port -- (Cask Sample)

[Glenn E.]

Tasted blind at Roy's house, June 16-19, 2009. Preliminary report here.

Bottle #1: 2007 Croft Vintage Port (Cask Sample)
Bottle #2: 2007 Martinez Vintage Port (Cask Sample)
Bottle #3: 2007 Quinta do Vale Meão Vintage Port (Cask Sample)

Day 1
Color: inky dark, with purple and lavender tones, fading evenly to pink near the rim. Slightly richer reds than Bottle #1, making it the prettiest of the three in the glass.
Nose: some alcohol followed by medium-rich fruits. With a big inhale, some soil and mineral with a dusty tone to it.
Palate: red toward purple fruits with a much softer entry than either Bottle #1 or Bottle #3. Good grip from the tannins. Easily the sweetest of the three. Reminded me of the sweetness of a Graham's 20-yr Old Tawny that I had at a 20-yr old tasting in NYC. Very pleasant for drinking now, which reminded me of the first couple of bottles of 2003 Noval VP that I had about a year ago.
Finish: fruit, some heat, more fruit, some tannins, and then an even fade to nothingness.

Initial score: 91-93 points.

Day 2
Color: no change
Nose: medium weight fruits. very faint/short impression of cotton candy which is quickly overwhelmed.
Palate: not as sweet as Day 1 - richer and less soft. Tannins are thick and very present.

New score: 92-93 points.

Day 3
I didn't taste on Day 3, but thought I should make note of it so the timeline is correct.

Day 4 My initial posting refered to this as Day 3.
Color: no change.
Nose: paper (but not corked), blackberry, white pepper, blueberry, and a very short/faint impression of Raisinets candy (chocoloate covered raisins).
Palate: very solid fruits, slightly heavier than prior days. Medium++ body weight. Sensuous mouth feel. Mellowed tannins and acidity (compared to day 2, but not quite back down to the level of day 1). A rough impression of milk chocolate, but one that has to struggle to show through the fruits.
Finish: dark fruits, tannins, and a short impression of cotton candy.

Final comments: Still my favorite of the three for drinking now, and that probably isn't going to change for at least 5-10 years. I commented to Roy several times that this reminds me of the first couple of bottles of the 2003 Noval that I had about a year ago. It has the structure, fruits, and acidity to carry it for a long time, though, and isn't going to rush to maturity. My score remained pretty consistent over the three days.

Final score: 92-93 points.
Anticipated peak maturity: 2033-2041.

Reveal: 2007 Martinez Vintage Port (Cask Sample). A bit of a surprise for me, but a good one. Makes me want to open my 1970 Martinez soon!

[Eric Menchen]

Interesting Glenn. In beer, paper or cardboard flavor is often an effect of oxidation, so I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case with 4 day old VP. But I don't know wine like I know beer, so that's just my guess.

Glad this was a good one. I have some 1994 Martinez on order with EWR, and I'm a little more tempted to try one when it gets here.

[Glenn E.]

I have the last glass from the bottle with me now, and it's still beautiful. I think we're past its prime now, though, so I'm glad I'm finishing it up tonight.