Six Bottles Of Port

"Port is not for the very young, the vain and the active. It is the comfort of age and the companion of the scholar and the philosopher."
(Evelyn Waugh)

Time again for ending this year in our tasting group, and as always we finish the year of with fortified wines, this time it was a Port line up, courtesy of Mikke (as he did in 2011, I missed the tasting last year).
All tasted double blind.

1987 Graham´s Late Bottled Vintage
Served out of a magnum - you don´t see a lot of Port magnums! A big, open, sweet nose with notes of figs, raisins, chocolate mousse and chocolate covered cherries. Touch of cigar smoke. A lavish nose. Very good.
The taste is big, sweet and intense with notes of liquor soaked cherries, chocolate mousse, figs and warm herbs. A long, warm finish. Not that most complex of Ports but drinking perfect right now, especially out of a magnum!
88p   (tasted 2013/12)

1984 Kopke Colheita
A big, tight, sweet nose with notes of green raisins, detergent, dried plums that have been soaked in cocnac and dark fudge. A fine depth. Rather complex. Very, very good.
The taste is lovingly sweet and intense with notes of milk chocolate, figs, candied orange peel and plums. A long, long finish that is balancing on the fiery side but gets away with it. I like this.
91p   (tasted 2013/12)

1982 Krohn Colheita
If I liked the Kopke, I love this one! The nose is a Port dream, with notes of French nougat, dark plums, pan fried nuts, detergent, milk chocolate and seaweed. Deep, intense and just lovely.
The taste is concentrated, tight and powerful with gorgeous notes of dark plums, fudge, nuts, dates and milk chocolate mousse. The finish goes on for over a minute with a lovely warmth and richness. Brilliant! The Colheitas´s from Krohn is very reliable, I have very found memories of several vintages, with the 1961 as a masterpiece.
95p   (tasted 2013/12)

S. Leonardo 30 Year Tawny
A deep, fine, almost ethereal nose with notes of burned almonds, green raisins, figs, milk chocolate and lots of mocha aromas. Very, very fine. An elegant scent of roses. This is good.
The taste is very intense, very tight and very expressive with notes of candied orange peel, plums, milk chocolate, hazelnut cream and sugared coffee. The finish is very long, warm and yummy. Great wine.
93p   (tasted 2013/12)

1960 Warre´s Vintage Port
A mature, round and open nose with notes of raisins, dry chocolate, burned almonds, band aid, parsnips and shoe cream. Interesting. I think that this bottle have gone a bit to far, a perfect stored 1960 should be more perky.
The taste is big and fiery with notes of dried plums, burned almonds, iodine and old leather. Actually becomes better with more air, but still on the light side of things. Good though.
87p   (tasted 2013/12)

1937 Shepherd´s Vintage Port
A very fragile colour, but the nose is healthier than the colour leads you to believe. A big, ripe, semi sweet nose with notes of white raisins, dry apricot marmalade, stale nuts, iodine and bay leaves. A fine warmth.
The taste is deep, mellow and warm with notes of dried apricots, raisins, nuts, old leather and iodine. A long, warm finish with lots of glycerine. Very, very good. Fully mature (of course...) but holding well.
88p   (tasted 2013/12)