Vintage Port with John Ducker

This month we are extremely pleased to welcome back John Ducker to present to us a selection of vintage Ports. John will be familiar to many of you from his frequent visits to Charlemagne over the years, and he always has a wealth of anecdotes and information with which to entertain and educate us. This is what John has to say about his forthcoming tasting –

My very first experience of what fine Vintage Port could become was achieved at Charlemagne! Many years ago we invited Bill Warre to present a tasting which included – almost unbelievably – a bottle of the 1927 ‘the vintage of the 20th century’ – a wine served to the Queen on her State visits to Portugal and to other deserving Heads of State. Why did he bring it to us? Simply to show how amazingly Port from top ‘declared’ vintages can develop in bottle. I remember to this day how the wine tasted! Rather than splurge here, just ask me about it on November 18th when Charlemagne presents another line-up of Vintage Ports dating from the fabulous Warre 1977 – still developing - through other major ‘declared’ vintages including Crofts Quinta da Roêda 1980, and further Warre vintages including 1983, 1984 and 1985. I look forward very much to renewing acquaintance with you all – and you don’t have to wear pinstripes (or box pleated suits) to attend! John is a Member of the Association of Wine Educators and a Member of the Circle of Wine writers. You can find out more about him at:-

http://www.wineeducators.com/john_ducker.html

This is what we tasted:-

Quinta do Coa 2008
Portal Tawny Reserve
Gould Campbell Crusted Port (Bottled 1984)
Warre Vintage Port 1985
Warre Vintage Port 1983
Croft Quinta da Roeda Vintage Port 1980
Warre Vintage Port 1977
Offley Vintage Port 1963 (courtesy of Paul Mapplebeck)