I snagged some Offley's on sale, and organized a tasting for my group. This turned out to be possible the best overall tasting I've done with them, with a very high level of quality and enjoyment across the board. I must say, Offley is an unjustly overlooked house producing wines that compare favorably with the great Port houses. I am now a big Offley fan. I can also say that I am now a big fan of mature port. I also had the lucky opportunity to re-taste them all 24 hours later, and all of them were greatly improved. Another point of note: this is the first tasting I've done where the order of preference was unanimous. In descending order: 1966, 1985, 2000, 1994, 1977. 24 hours later however, a friend and I felt the order had changed: 1966, 1994, 1985/2000, 1977.
Offley, Boa Vista, Vintage Port 1966
Very light ruby/garnet. Wonderful, rich, spirity nose: red and dark fruits, tar, chocolate, brandy, raisin, fruitcake, and a whiff of tobacco leaf. On the palate, wonderful, rich, fat, similar to the nose, with roses, lovely mature fruitcake notes, and that pleasant green note. Lovely, long, long finish, a bit spicy, and lots of tannin still. Full bodied and powerful still, with good aromatics, and surprisingly elegant. Revisiting 24 hours later, beautiful and sublime, and dare I say nearly perfection. This is a special wine, and still has 5 - 10 years ahead of it. ***** [3/3/12]
Offley, Boa Vista, Vintage Port 1977
Light ruby. Nice, spirity nose, with dark fruits, fruitcake, roses, and a whiff of raisin. Similar on the palate, with a hint of chocolate, and a little bit of stone. Nice sweetness, and respectable fruit density. More monolithic and simple than the 1966, but many of the same components are there, just not as expressive. Revisiting 24 hours later, significantly improved: very intense, dark nose, with some lovely aromatics (roses) lurking beneath; spirity, with wonderful warmth, a much more lovely, lush palate; very strong brandy note. This could actually use another 10 years, and may have 20 years ahead of it; may yet approach the level of the 1966 with more time. ***1/2 [3/3/12]
Offley, Boa Vista, Vintage Port 1985
Medium-dark ruby (much darker than the 1977). A little bitter and short at first, but after opening for a while, a lovely, attractive aromatic nose: red fruits, roses, a bit of black currant, a hint of tar, the same tobacco leaf note as the 1966, and a hint of sweet raisin/prune. The palate is brighter and more accentuated, with some blueberry, delicious fruit, lovely body, and wonderful sweetness. Revisiting 24 hours later, it is even more aromatic and accentuated, and just as lovely. Better than the 1985 Fonseca. This easily has 20 years ahead of it, maybe 30. **** [3/3/12]
Offley, Boa Vista, Vintage Port 1994
Dark red. Dense, rich, spirity, dark fruit, tar, hints of roses, and a whiff of tobacco leaf. On the palate, lots of black, tarry fruit; quite intense, a little bitter. Rather monolithic, and with sweet "baby fat." Lots of grippy tannins. Loads of potential. Revisiting 24 hours later, a total transformation! An incredible, huge nose, with gorgeous accentuation, and awesome depth. Similar on the palate. Dear lord!!!!! Almost as good as the 1994 Taylor's? Amazing! Needs 10 years, will last for 20 - 30. ***** [3/3/12]
Offley, Boa Vista, Vintage Port 2000
Nearly opaque red. Dense, dark, intense, but subtle nose, with some spirit, tar, roses, and perhaps some orange rind. Firm red fruit, with dark fruits as well. Ripe but intense. Pleasurable, but lots of potential. Revisiting 24 hours later: much more open; lovely fruit, with some accentuation (blueberry), and more aromatic. Better in 10 years, and will last for 30. **** [3/3/12]