For The Love Of Port

By the sound of it Kris a substantial bite

Do you think the tannins will ever soften ?
Was the fruit still there or fading ?

No problem waiting ! (I'm 43 so hopefully it will soften while I'm around to taste it ) I may be visiting some friends in Vigo (Galicia) this summer and am looking for any suggestions for good wineshops just over the border or indeed the nearest possible vineyard visit. I know Porto isn't far away b...

Does anyone have experience of this producers wines ?

I can't seem to find a search function on this forum so forgive me if there have been previous threads.

Fred, you are correct but you omit that they are often a little pricey as well !

I'm not sure about a dumb phase. I would have thought it was time to drink up the 97 LBV, having said that I had some a few months ago and it was fine. I have usually finished an LBV by the 10yr mark as that's why I buy them.

Absolutely go for the 95.

Todd/ Raj, PX stands for Pedro Ximinex a grape used in the production of sherry. The grapes undergo a period of sun-drying and are then aged and fortified. PX is a type of Sherry, you are probably familiar with Fino and Olorosso. This is a very sweet wine and as posters have pointed out hard to drin...

Roy,
I take your point about the cloying nature of PX but there is certainly complexity in some of them.
I wasn't seeking to get people to come down on one side or the other but merely to gauge if they went hand in hand.
It's even stevens at the moment as I agree with Nicos.

Just a thought,
How many of you Port lovers also like Pedro Ximinez ?

I often prevaricate over which to have at the end of a meal or for a comforting glass at the end of the day.
Often the ability of the PX to maintain its freshness once opened means it wins out.

So do you love or hate PX ?

Todd there are TN's and TN's !
Gold medal for going the distance.

Just to say that I had the 97 Noval LBV about 8 months ago from half bottles and it was superb so don't give up on your initial impression.
Maybe vintage variation or just more time needed for the integration you seek.

It's a deal Nicos,
but let's make sure neither of us has to run for a train !
(though driving after a bottle of Port is beyond either of us )

Well half bottles are a good way of trying the pricier stuff.... But to answer your question there are some lovely LBV's around and there are some pretty awful ones too. The Quinta de Noval unfiltered LBV is great and lasts well. I had the 97 last year and it was sublime (even the halves were very g...

I have some of the 2000 but I'm doing my best to forget about it for a loooong time !

Thanks Andy.
On the basis of that TN I may hold off for a while.

There's a Grahams Malvedos staring at me from the wine rack. I was going to place this in the wine fridge until the cool weather comes back but summer seems to have passed the UK by !! Any thoughts on whether this is ready to go ? (my hunch is yes) And suggestions on decant times would be useful. Th...

Robin,
pretty good list IMHO I can tell you from experience that the Noval unfiltered LBV is a star performer. I hear good things about the Rozes but have not tried it.

Well I took all of your advice....some Roriz 02 and Niepoort 03
I wanted him to look at the label with the year of his birth on it.
So fingers crossed that they actually got the crop in early !!

Tom,
thanks for the tip.
Nicos,
In my heart I know you are right but I would like to get something from
2002 as it is the exact year...but vintages don't always play ball.

single quintas in 02 ??
what's the best bet ?

Have to buy some Port for a 2002 birth or 2003 Christening (an option as 02 was poor) but anything from that vintage that might last 20 yrs or so ??
best wishes

Ray