For The Love Of Port

Last weekend we opened bottles of Quinta das Lamelas 20YO White (bottled 2018) and Sandeman 2005 LBV (bottled 2009). Both were fabulous. The Sandeman LBV would have passed as VP if I’d served it blind to knowledgable Port friends.

Believe it or not, I’ve just bought a six-pack of Blandy’s 5YO Doce. Very easy to drink but cheap enough not to feel guilty if it gets used in cooking.

I’m currently working my way through a bottle of the new blend for the Blandy 10YO Malmsey. This is my favourite of the new blends.

2011 Capela da Quinta do Vesuvio for Port Club last night. It's an interesting super premium Port, in that it doesn't feel like it's meant to be better than the regular Vesuvio, just different. I thought the regular Vesuvio was fruitier and bolder, but that the Capela had better structure. I think ...

It’s been hot in the UK recently so I’ve opened bottles of (and served them at fridge temperature) Churchill Dry White, Quevedo White 10YO, Ferreira White 10YO, Quinta das Carvalhas 50YO Tawny, and Quinta de Val da Figueiras 10YO Tawny. And today it was a little bit cooler so I opened a bottle of De...

The restaurant critic Nick Lander visited the Townhouse recently and wrote a review, which you can find here.

A couple of weeks back I opened a bottle of Gonzalez Byass 1955 as my contribution to a horizontal and was really pleased how it showed.

Last weekend I opened a bottle of Graham 1970, which was just glorious!

I only have probably a case or so of VP in my cellar - probably mostly TF and some Fonseca, as well as a couple bottles of unmarked VP Port that was estimated to come from the mid-late 1800s or thereabouts... (I would love to open these up with some local (to Los Angeles) Port enthusiasts one day! ...

It’s quite warm in the UK so it’s been whites and tawnies recently. The last few opened were: Churchill Dry White Kopke Fine White Cockburn Fine White Graham Blend No.5 Taylor Chip Dry Quinta do Vallado White Quinta do Vallado 10YO Tawny (bottled 2024) São Leonardo 10YO Tawny (bottled 2024) Quinta d...

I’m probably drinking less LBV than I used to, mostly opening bottled matured Warre when I do.

But I have found that using LBV as the “red wine” whenever I need red wine in a recipe works really well. A mushroom bourguignon made with Churchill LBV was superb last night.

A bottle of Justino’s Tinta Negra 1999 Colheita, bottled June 2024. It’s OK, but as hard as I try, I can’t love Tinta Negra. Is this labeled as a Colheita? Seems like they'd have bottled it as a Frasqueira since it has been in wood long enough. Although if it was bottled in June of 2024, it hasn't ...

IMG_3943.jpeg We’ve got temperatures in the low 90sF / low 30sC at the moment, which is unusual for the UK. That hasn’t stopped me drinking VP, it’s just being kept in the fridge and served very cold. You don't see that shipper very often. How was it, Alex? I like Rebello Valente’s style, they made...

We’ve got temperatures in the low 90sF / low 30sC at the moment, which is unusual for the UK. That hasn’t stopped me drinking VP, it’s just being kept in the fridge and served very cold.

Last weekend we opened a bottle of Croft 1970 VP — which was slightly tired but still tasty — and in today’s warm weather we ended the day with a bottle of Andresen 10YO White.

Eric Ifune wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 2:18 pm Looking on a map, it seems out of the way.

I don’t think it’s too far out of the way. It’s only a block north of Lello and the Clérigos. It’s easy to get to by metro / uber / tram.

I’d love for it to have been the building next to the Factory House, but where it is will likely be quieter.

Half bottles seem to be in fashion at the moment. Over the last week or two I’ve opened half bottles of Croft 2004 LBV (corked!), Quinta do Noval 2011 (I filled a half bottle with what was left over from bottles we opened Christmas 2013), Gould Campbell 1963 and Dow 1947. There was also a bottle of...

Half bottles seem to be in fashion at the moment. Over the last week or two I’ve opened half bottles of Croft 2004 LBV (corked!), Quinta do Noval 2011 (I filled a half bottle with what was left over from bottles we opened Christmas 2013), Gould Campbell 1963 and Dow 1947. There was also a bottle of ...

I’ve been working my way through various 10YO blends. For my palate, the Justino 10YOs are my preferred choice but H&H are not far behind.

I even have Justino 10YO Bual in my glass as I write this (but the Verdelho is my favourite).

A bottle of Justino’s Tinta Negra 1999 Colheita, bottled June 2024. It’s OK, but as hard as I try, I can’t love Tinta Negra.

Nearly one month gone for the Virtual Tasting.

Let’s keep the VT thread going. Open a bottle of 10YO tawny before the end of July and post on this thread. C’mon Port Lovers — you can do it!