TN: 1968 Chateau Reynella Vintage Port

[Baby Chickpea]

1968 Chateau Reynella Vintage Port [sic]
Light red with orange rim. Quite exceptional. Bouquet is richly perfumed with sweet raisins and toffee characters. Palate is excellent at 36 years of age despite the almost completely soaked cork (no ullage). Very good body and fine texture with very good length. Alcoholic “hotness” a tad prominent but not enough to detract from what is otherwise an excellent wine. The wine refused to decline over 6-8 hours and seems destined for longevity if only the corks hold out. This was also one of the most sediment-packed wines I have ever come across, with at least 20% or 150ml of the bottle loaded with it. The palate provides a glorious cornucopia of muscat, coffee, nuts and sweet spices. A wonderful surprise!
93 / 100

[Guest]

The mega auction at Langton's this month has a great array of VPs including a heap of rare Portugeuse like Dow, Quinta do Noval, Fonseca and some old Aussies like 57 Chateau Reynella, well worth a look.

[Chuck]

Please keep the secret. This is the last bastion of unrecognised great Australian wine left for for those on a $10 budget.

Chuck

[Pelican]

You must be psychic dear petit chick pea. Just before logging on I was thinking that 1968 , from all I've read , was a real dud year for wine worldwide - and not just because it was when I was born - not one opinion of 1968 in any region I've read of was any good for wine. Alas it's my birthday next Saturday and no 1968 wine in sight - although I've lots of interesting food and drink to look forward to. Perhaps I'll acquire some 1968 Aussie fortifieds for my future birthdays !

[cranky]

Pelican...
I was also very interested to see that there is apparently a fine wine from 1968, for the same reason. Homever, my day has come and gone.
I did also see recently that Vega Sicilia released a 1968 Unico, which should be profound, but the rarity and price make that an unlikely prospect.

I did have a 1975 Ch Reynella VP a few months after my birthday, and learned again the lesson that some wines really need some extended exposure to air to fully bloom. It was a bit medicinal and hard on the first night opened, and simply incredible the next night.

[David Lole]

You must be psychic dear petit chick pea. Just before logging on I was thinking that 1968 , from all I've read , was a real dud year for wine worldwide - and not just because it was when I was born - not one opinion of 1968 in any region I've read of was any good for wine. Alas it's my birthday next Saturday and no 1968 wine in sight - although I've lots of interesting food and drink to look forward to. Perhaps I'll acquire some 1968 Aussie fortifieds for my future birthdays !

If you can lay your hands on any, the Lindemans 1968 Classic Release Vintage Port is a very nice drop. Can't remember the Bin Number, but, if I recall correctly, it's made from ripe Shiraz fruit from a couple of vineyards in Corowa. Would repay the investment in time (and probably not too many dollars) in seeking a few bottles out.

[Baby Chickpea]

You must be psychic dear petit chick pea. Just before logging on I was thinking that 1968 , from all I've read , was a real dud year for wine worldwide - and not just because it was when I was born - not one opinion of 1968 in any region I've read of was any good for wine. Alas it's my birthday next Saturday and no 1968 wine in sight - although I've lots of interesting food and drink to look forward to. Perhaps I'll acquire some 1968 Aussie fortifieds for my future birthdays !

Pelican and Cranky - apart from the Vega Sicilia, there are plenty of other options from 1968.

(1) Aussie ports from Hardy's, Reynella and Yalumba and St Hallett Anniversary 1968 Port are all superb with many years to go. This is your best bet as they all go relatively cheaply (<$60 pb)and are top drinks!

(2) Some great (albeit expensive) essencia's and aszu-essencia's were made in 1968 in Hungary which are superb. I posted one such note earlier this year.

(3) Many malt makers like Macallan make single vintage malts - I know they made the 1968 because I have it!

(4) Grahams made a pretty decent Malvedos Port in 1968 too.

(5) Campbells made a 1968 Special Vintage Collectors Range release Tokay which is also excellent.

All the above wines have been available from Langtons over the last three years.

I have all the above wines in quantity (currently getting my ports recorked from the wineries).

I, too, am a 1968-er, hence my interest in the above!

[Ralph]

Having read your thread and being partial to fortifieds I was wondering if you could nominate any 1965 bottles worth trying next year - being the big FOUR O crisis year!!

I will need something to drown my sorrows!

[Baby Chickpea]

An even tougher one than 1968 Ralph!!

Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Napa, Madeira, most of Oz all seem to have struck out this year! Grange is past it.

Off the top of my head, can only think of the Hunter where it was a great vintage. Notably the legendary 65 Lindemans Bin 3110. But its gonna cost ya $300+. Haven't even seen many Aussie ports from this year either!

You may have to go for Macallan Single Malt from 1965.