Deep UK VP Offering - a long read!

[Roy Hersh]

George Rhys

Southwick Court Fine Wines Ltd

Southwick Court (London) Fine Wines Ltd

DDI +44 (0)20 7801 2432

Fax +44 (0)20 7228 6677

www.es-finewines.com



March 2010 Vintage Port offer:



We are pleased to be able to offer our selection of Vintage Ports.



All Ports are lying in bond London. World wide delivery can be arranged from our warehouse.



Fonseca: Price per case/bottle Score

Under Bond.



1963 5 cases £2200:00 98/100

A grand slam. Deep ruby with a slightly red edge, intense black cherry and raspberry nose, full-bodied, with masses of fruit, full tannins and an extremely long finish. This can age indefinitely.98/100 JS

1970 5 cases £1295:00 96/100

Deeply colored, with smoky mint, tar and fruit aromas, full-bodied, with concentrated fruit flavors and plenty of tannins.96/100 WS

1983 10 cases £590:00 90/100

1985 5 cases £650:00 90/100



1977 5 cases £1395:00 100/100

What a Vintage Port. Dark ruby center, with a dark garnet edge. Aromas of flowers, blackberry and licorice. Subtle and complex. Wow. What a palate. Full, concentrated and rich, yet balanced and beautiful. Solid and sleepy. Still not giving all it has to give. This is just coming around. Gorgeous and classy. Love it 100/100 WS



1992 10 cases £695:00 97/100



1994 5 cases £1250:00 100/100

Hold on to your hat. This is the best Fonseca since 1977, and it's probably even better than that classic vintage--more like the breathtaking 1948. Mind-blowing, with masses of color, aroma and fruit flavor. Smells like fermenting berries, boasting loads of crushed grape, violet and berry character. Big, full-bodied and very sweet, with tons of tannins and a sweet finish. Tannic and huge, it's a long-term, great Port. Best after 2012. 8,000 cases made.100/100 WS

1997 10 cases £595:00 95/100

2000 10 cases £595:00 95+/100

2000 1 case Magnums £650:00 95+/100

2003 10 cases £655:00 97/100



Fonseca 2007

2007 20 cases £440:00

2007 10 cases Magnums £450:00

2007 5 cases Halves £460:00

Cooked raspberry, with hints of lemon peel and leaf. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a beautiful density and a sweet fruity and tannic aftertaste. Balanced yet muscular.Clearly outstanding. Score range: 92-95 WS



Taylor

1924 4 bottles £495:00 **** MB

1927 2 bottles £595:00 ***** MB

1935 5 bottles £695:00 ***** MB

1945 1 bottle £995:00 97/100

1948 7 bottles £895:00 99/100

1950 4 bottles £295:00 N/A



1955 1 case £2950:00 ***** MB

This is still very good indeed. It is a racy wine with a fruit bowl of flavors. Medium red with a garnet edge, chocolate and vanilla aromas, medium-bodied, with sweet berry flavors and a lovely finish.Wine Spectator.

A vast deep,high toned,spicy nose:fairly sweet,full bodied,packed with fruit,extract,tannin and acidity ,still retaining its backbone and a good classic bouquet & flavour **** Michael Broadbent.

1963 5 cases £1795:00 97/100

A big wine with superb balance, a shining example of this exuberantly fruity vintage. Deep ruby, with violets and coffee on the nose, full-bodied, with dried cherry flavors and plenty of tannin, balanced and long on the finish. 97/100 JS

1966 15 cases £1250:00 ***** MB

Lovely flavour rich,fully evolved,good flesh and flavour.



1970 10 cases £1150:00 98/100

Clearly lives up to Taylor's superb reputation. Deep ruby, with intense violet and chocolate aromas, full-bodied, with gorgeous fruit flavors, full but well-integrated tannins and an extremely long finish. Amazing balance and finesse. Still needs time.98/100 JS

1977 10 cases £980:00 98/100

There is an explosion of fruit and tannins in the mouth but at the same time this wine is in total harmony. Deep dark ruby, with blackberries and violets on the nose, full-bodied, with masses of blackberry flavors, full, hard tannins and a very long finish. Will age for decades. 98/100 JS

1983 5 cases £595:00 89/100

1985 25 cases £640:00 90/100

1992 5 cases £1295:00 100/100

Taylor's 1992 Vintage Port is unquestionably the greatest young port I have ever tasted. It represents the essence of what vintage port can achieve. The color is an opaque black/purple, and the nose offers up fabulously intense aromas of minerals, cassis, blackberries, licorice, and spices, as well as extraordinary purity and penetration. Yet this is still an unformed and infantile wine. If Chateau Latour made a late-harvest Cabernet Sauvignon, I suspect it might smell like this. In the mouth, the wine is out of this world, displaying layer upon layer of concentrated black fruits backed by well-integrated tannin and structure. This is a massive, magnificently rich, full-bodied port that will be far more flattering in its youth than were such Taylors as the 1983, 1977, or 1970. It possesses awesome fruit, marvelous intensity, and lavish opulence, all brilliantly well-delineated by the wine's formidable structure. This monumental 30-50 year port is a must purchase for port aficionados.! Also noteworthy is the fact that the 1992 Taylor commemorates the 300th anniversary of this firm, as evidenced by the special bottle Taylor used for this port. 100/100 RP
1994 5 cases £1250:00 100/100

When tasting young vintage ports, Taylor is always the most backward. Yet potentially, it has the capability to be the most majestic. This classically made, opaque purple-colored wine is crammed with black fruits (blueberries and cassis). It reveals high tannin and a reserved style, but it is enormously constituted with massive body, a formidable mid-palate, and exceptional length. It is a young, rich, powerful Taylor that will require 10-15 years of aging. Compared to the more flashy, forward style of the 1992, the 1994 has more in common with such vintages as 1977 and 1970. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2045. 97/100 RP
1997 5 cases £595:00 94/100

2000 5 cases £795:00 98+/100

Among the most saturated blue/purple/black-colored examples of the vintage, Taylor's 2000 tastes like a young vintage of Chateau Latour on steroids. Aromas of graphite, blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis and smoke jump from the glass. Spectacularly concentrated and enormously endowed, with sweetness allied to ripe tannin, decent acidity, and layer upon layer of fruit and extract, this is the leading candidate for the port of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040.98+/100 RP
2003 10 cases £795:00 100/100

The 2003 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port improved each time I raised it to my nose or mouth. It displays a black color and a salty, graphite-laced nose packed with sweet black fruits that is reminiscent of a stellar vintage of Chateau Latour. With air, notes of molasses, burnt sugar, spices, and jammy plums emanate from the glass. Full-bodied, hugely dense, immensely rich, as well as thick, this behemoth is also amazingly balanced and harmonious. Raisins, molasses, licorice, black cherries, plums, and a distinctive note of violets are found in its complex, seamless character. Its interminable finish reveals additional notes of chocolate, kirsch, red as well as black currants, dark cherries, and rose blossoms. Armed with exceptional power, depth, and purity, this Taylor will proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest ever crafted by the Fladgate Partnership. Projected maturity: 2035-2060. 100/100 RP
New Release

Taylor 2007

2007 20 cases £450:00 case 94-97/100

2007 10 cases Magnums £460:00 case 94-97/100

2007 5 cases Halves £460:00 case 94-97/100

A classic baby Vintage Port nose of blackberry, currant and a little bit of green lemon leaf. Full-bodied and medium sweet. There's a solid core of ripe fruit and powerful tannins, with grip. The real deal. Score range: 94-97 WS



Warre

1963 10 cases £1095:00 92/100

Extremely impressive, with beautifully balanced, harmonious sweet fruit on the palate. Medium ruby-red, ripe cherry and cassis aromas, medium-bodied, with rich, velvety fruit flavors, full, soft tannins and a powerful finish. 92/100 WS

1966 10 cases £980:00 91/100

1970 15 cases £790:00 88/100

1977 20 cases £650:00 92/100

This house makes rather restrained yet rich, flavorful vintage port and a very good tawny called Nimrod. Their vintage ports seem slow to develop, and while they never quite have the voluptuous richness of a Dow, Graham, or Fonseca, they have a unique mineral-scented character that gives them their own complexity and style. The 1977 is quite powerful, very deep and intense, particularly for Warre. 92/100

1980 25 cases £490:00 **** MB

1983 20 cases £490:00 88/100

1985 10 cases £495:00 91/100

1991 20 cases £480:00 **** MB

1991 5 cases Halves £480:00 **** MB

1994 10 cases £455:00 91/100

1994 5 cases Halves £465:00 91/100

1997 15 cases £465:00 94/100

1997 5 cases Halves £475:00 94/100

2000 10 cases £565:00 91/100

2003 10 cases £575:00 92/100

Croft

1927 1 bottle £495:00 *** MB

1945 3 bottles £495:00 99/100

1963 10 cases £850:00 90/100

1985 8 cases £490:00 **** MB

2000 10 cases £450:00 90+/100

2003 5 cases £395:00 93/100

Sandeman;The following vintages are from the cellar of the late David Sandeman.



1934 3 bottles £295:00 **** MB

1935 6 bottles £450:00 94/100

It is a ripe blockbuster of a wine, youthful rich red with a slight garnet rim, focused ripe cherry and toffee nose,with lots of spicy berry flavors and velvety mouth feel. 94/100

1945 1 bottle £525:00 95/100

It can't get much more enjoyable that this. The color is youthfully ruby-garnet, while the nose shows intense aromas of boysenberries and almonds. Full-bodied, with very focused, sweet fruit flavors, great concentration and a silky mouth-feel.95/100

1958 11 bottles £195:00 *** MB



1963 2 cases £1250:00 96/100

Dow

1963 5 cases £1395:00 92/100

Incredibly youthful and powerful, slightly raw still. Medium ruby with a red edge, concentrated black cherry and earth aromas, full-bodied, with intense berry flavors, full hard tannins and an excellent finish. 92/100 JS

1970 15 cases £790:00 94/100

A classic vintage Port, both fleshy and firm on the palate. Medium deep ruby, with a fresh strawberry nose, full-bodied, with focused fruit flavors, medium tannins and a long finish. Still needs time. 94/100 JS

1977 10 cases £690:00 94/100

1977 10 cases Magnums £695:00 94/100

Impressively hard and powerful, but very closed for the moment. It should age for many decades. Dark ruby, with rich raspberry and earth aromas, full-bodied, with an excellent balance of full tannins and generous berry flavors.

1983 25 cases £550:00 94/100

1985 10 cases £690:00 **** MB

1991 6 cases £460:00 ***** MB

1994 25 cases £480:00 96/100

1997 4 cases £460:00 90/100

1997 5 cases Halves £485:00 90/100

2000 20 cases £460:00 94/100

2003 5 cases £395:00 92/100



Dow 2007

2007 20 cases £450:00 96/100

2007 10 cases Magnums £455:00 96/100

2007 5 cases Halves £450:00 96/100

Aromas of preserved cherries and plums with pronounced spiciness: vanilla pod, star anise and cassia. The palate is understandably tight, restrained, yet already showing superb acid / sweetness / tannin balance. Plenty of rich, spicy fruit is supported by a medium to high level of very finely grained tannins. Nice backbone of refreshing acidity. Very long finish. Drink 2020 - 2050+. Tasted August 2009.96/100 RP



Graham

1945 3 bottles £750:00 95/100

1966 10 cases £1200:00 93/100

1966 10 cases Magnums £1280:00 93/100

Elegant, silky and youthful, this is a sexy wine. Medium ruby-red, showing aromas of plums, chocolate and ripe fruit. The palate follows through with a bounty of sweet plum flavors and a fleshy mouth-feel. It should continue to improve with age 93/100

1970 20 cases ex domaine £995:00 94/100

1977 10 cases £760:00 93/100

Graham is another great port house, producing one of the deepest-colored and sweetest styles of vintage port. Along with Taylor and Fonseca, Graham has probably been the most consistent producer of great port in the post- World War II era. Their tawnys are quite good rather than exceptional, but their vintage ports are truly sublime and sumptuous. 93/100

1980 20 cases £480:00 *** MB

1983 25 cases £550:00 92/100

1985 15 cases £690:00 96/100

1991 10 cases £465:00 94/100

1994 10 cases £550:00 96/100

1997 5 cases £490:00 94/100

1997 5 cases Halves £520:00 94/100

2000 10 cases £550:00 98/100

2000 1 case Halves £550:00 98/100

2003 5 cases £395:00 95/100



Graham 2007

2007 20 cases Graham £455:00 98/100 RP

2007 10 cases Magnums £455:00 98/100 RP

2007 5 cases Halves £460:00 98/100 RP

The nose here can only be described as frustratingly coy but very, very pretty. Core notes of warm blackberry and black cherry are joined by violets, black pepper, cloves, licorice and a touch of mocha. The palate promises at a wine of great purity, elegance and balance to come. Layer upon layer of dark fruit and spice flavours seamlessly wrap around crisp acidity and a wonderful texture of very fine, firm tannins. Very, very long finish. Drink 2025 - 2060+. Tasted August 2009.98/100 RP



Quinta do Noval

1963 5 cases £1195:00 **** MB

1963 1 bottle Nacional £2750:00 100/100

1985 1 case £400:00 87/100

1997 1 case £1450:00 100/100

2000 5 cases £595:00 96/100

2007 10 cases £460:00 94/100

Cockburn

1927 3 bottles £490:00 ***** MB

1935 1 bottle £360:00 ***** MB

1963 10 cases £850:00 **** MB

1970 15 cases £590:00 86/100

1983 5 cases £650:00 97/100

A big, tough Port for long-term aging. It underlines what people mean when they say a great young vintage Port should overpower one's plate with fruit and tannin. Inky color, with perfumed cherry and berry aromas, full-bodied, with tons of tannins, intense cherry and berry flavors and a lingering finish.

1985 2 cases £470:00 *** MB

Gould Campbell

1975 25 cases £320:00 ** MB

1977 20 cases Magnums £540:00 **** MB

1980 2 cases Halves £390:00 *** MB

1983 25 cases £395:00 **** MB

1997 5 cases Halves £420:00

Quarles Harris

1980 2 cases Halves £395:00 *** MB

1983 2 cases Halves £395:00 ** MB

Gilbeys

1924 1 bottle £450.00 *** MB

Martinez

1927 3 bottles £295.00 **** MB

Offley Boa Vista

1963 3 bottles £59.00 **** MB

MB Michael Broadbent.

Prices are per case of 12 bottles or per item.

We can arrange world wide delivery on request by Sea or Air

All ports are offered subject to remaining unsold and to final confiramtion E&OE

george.rhys@es-finewines.com

piers.methuen@es-finewines.com