For The Love Of Port

Still fairly dark, with a sweet ripe figgy cherry and leather nose, on palate more raisiny, medium bodied, finishing with some heat. Good choice for a luncheon weight Port. Was surprised that it wasn’t further along in development.

1991 Grahams Porto – The wine didn’t show the usual RS levels that are a quick tip-off to me of the house style. It was medium coloured with slightly browning edges and there were very soft tannins and some nice chocolate and raisin notes on palate and sweet fruit and toasted hazelnuts in the nose a...

I think that the modern generation(s) lack patience. I am just now starting to check out anything into the 1990s and have saved a lot of older Ports as they are coming int focus now. I still have a bunch of old Bordeaux as well, although the newer vintages probably are no longer made in a style that...

Nice to see that you're still drinking Port, Bill. Our mutual friend Blair had told me that he drank some fine Port with you and assume this may have been that bottle? Have to, Roy - still have a dozen cases of Port and need to drink it while the taster as well as the Port are in good shape! Think ...

Blair Curtis wrote:Hey Bill,

Was that my bottle? I really enjoyed that one! If I recall correctly the decant time on that bottle was about 6 hours at cellar temp.

Cheers,
Blair

It was indeed, Blair and a great bottle it was!

1992 Quinta do Vesuvio Port – my first look at this wine as I figured it was time to assess it for aging. Dark wine with clear edges, a ripe sweet nose, a tad spirity at this point and on the sweet side, but good balancing acidity. Quite good. I shall not open another bottle for maybe five years or ...

1977 Grahams Port – a good month for port for me – had the 1985 Grahams recently. Medium colour now, darker than some 77s, and with an interesting smoky caramel nose! Like the 85, it showed as only medium sweet in the mouth and had excellent length, ending also medium sweet and not too hot. I have s...

Vargellas can be a long lived wine. I had my last bottle of the 1967 late last year and it was excellent.

For some reason I didn't buy the 85 Fonseca, but I did get in on the 94 (and I still have some 63 in the cellar). Nice long lived Ports.

1985 Grahams Port – this was excellent, still dark with clear edges, sweet walnut and fig in the nose plus a faint hint of allspice, and on palate it seemed less sweet (translation – better balance or acidity?) than many Grahams Ports. Good length and without the heat one often sees. Good show. As s...

Mike K. wrote:I’ve got one of these in the cellar. I should probably try it to see if I need more!

You might very well want more than one. Drinks really well!

A new wine for me. I just finished my last bottle of the 1967 Vargellas so was interested to see what this might be. Brown wine (colour of a tawny) with toasted nuts, dried fruit with orange peel, some allspice, cinnamon and caramel. This was an excellent wine but reminded me of an old Bual Madeira ...

1987 Cockburn’s Quinta do Tua Vintage Port – few vintage Ports made in this vintage and only a few single quintas. This one was the only single quinta release Cockburn’s made from this property, and it was done to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the house. The wine had quite good colour, wasn’t t...

1977 Grahams Port – and no I do not call it Porto, because my bottles are not labeled that way, although I have seen Porto on some, which are perhaps later releases. Medium colour showing maturity, and a pruny sort of nose with some spicy raspberry elements, the usual Graham’s sweetness levels but w...

1992 Taylors Port – as a Port owner, I always applaud when someone opens a bottle that is younger than I would ever consider opening! A great way to gauge how your cellar will be progressing without diminishing it! Still very dark purple, with pinkish rather than clear edges, and one of the best nos...

My bottle wasn't browning either - usually an oxidation symptom. Sounds like marginal bottle. C'est la vie.

I had opened this about six hours before service. Last time I’d opened one, I found it to be on the hot side and not ready for prime time, and I wanted an update. Pale colour now, with clear rather than browning edges, and little of the heat I’d noted in the nose, replaced by a nuttiness – walnuts, ...

Unfiltered and bottled in 2006

Medium red in colour with decent, not too sweet nose with some nice smokiness and ripe fig. Not overly sweet. Decent showing

1991 Cockburns Port – bit turbid, as if it had been jogged to the event, and surprisingly light colour. A sweet nose, a tad hot, and light in colour. Too light and simple for a wine of this vintage, but nonetheless a pleasant luncheon weight Port

I wouldn’t even have thought of opening a Port this young, but I have no problem offering an opinion when someone does! Dark, with a blackberry/plum nose, medium weight, not too sweet and medium length finish with some nice currant trailing notes. I wouldn't think this is a long haul wine, more a mi...