I know a chap called Henry. He is eighty years old and is an old British gentleman in the truest sense, driving a battered old Range Rover to and from his large house and who speaks with an upper class British accent. He is a slightly eccentric man - the sort of gent that made Britain great! You can even imagine him taking potshots at walkers who happen to wander over his fields!
And like me, he has a passion for Port, and after we discovered this mutual passion, he has been very generous in allowing me to try some wonderful vintage ports from his cellar. In September of last year, to celebrate his birthday, he opened the last two bottles of 1927 Taylors from the twelve cases his father bought for him over seventy years ago, and, just for another small tipple, he also let me try a 1955 Cockburns that he had opened on a whim!
And then this year, he celebrated his Golden Wedding anniversary with a 1958 Martinez and a 1966 Taylors. Again, despite barely knowing him, he saved some of each of these and brought them for me to try.
Martinez Vintage Port, 1958
Rich, round and with a soft, sweet tobacco and bramble aroma, with a good dose of Christmas Pudding. Quite herby too. The palate is sweet, a bit prickly and spicy, and the fruit is a little dumb. Clean, yet lean on the finish with a bitterness on the finish. 7.5/10
Taylors Vintage Port, 1966
Rosemary with menthol, caramel and cherries on the nose, with a subtle spice coming through a juicy and dark fruit palate. This isn't quite ready yet, with a bit too much booze and dark secondary flavours. This certainly has the time to open up and get better. 8/10
Both good port, but not as good as the drinking companion! A legend.
And like me, he has a passion for Port, and after we discovered this mutual passion, he has been very generous in allowing me to try some wonderful vintage ports from his cellar. In September of last year, to celebrate his birthday, he opened the last two bottles of 1927 Taylors from the twelve cases his father bought for him over seventy years ago, and, just for another small tipple, he also let me try a 1955 Cockburns that he had opened on a whim!
And then this year, he celebrated his Golden Wedding anniversary with a 1958 Martinez and a 1966 Taylors. Again, despite barely knowing him, he saved some of each of these and brought them for me to try.
Martinez Vintage Port, 1958
Rich, round and with a soft, sweet tobacco and bramble aroma, with a good dose of Christmas Pudding. Quite herby too. The palate is sweet, a bit prickly and spicy, and the fruit is a little dumb. Clean, yet lean on the finish with a bitterness on the finish. 7.5/10
Taylors Vintage Port, 1966
Rosemary with menthol, caramel and cherries on the nose, with a subtle spice coming through a juicy and dark fruit palate. This isn't quite ready yet, with a bit too much booze and dark secondary flavours. This certainly has the time to open up and get better. 8/10
Both good port, but not as good as the drinking companion! A legend.
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