For The Love Of Port

Retired Army officer

Operations research analyst (civilian) for the Air Force

Hopefully, back to the Army

Tai Chi

Yoga

Reading

Wine Searcher shows one entry for Justino's 1940 Sercial at $250.

I was thinking of the old price for Broadbent and had thought that there might still be some left out there, but Wine Searcher shows none. I bought some earlier this year for $165.

You may also want to look at the prices for Broadbent 1940 sercial. I think that it's the same wine

Graham's sounds like a good choice. I have some 1991s and have never found a reason to open one.

Gary

The producer most represented is d'Oliveira with 12% of my cellar. I like their style of madeira, they are readily available from RWC, and they are cheaper than MWC.

The port produce most represented is Warre with 9% of the cellar. I like their style and started with a case of the 1994.

Check Fortified & Sweet Wines by Radford and Brook. Used copies are available cheaply on Amazon. It has a lot of information.

The only Quinta do Noval colheita that I've had is the 1971. It's the oldest and best colheita that I've had, so far.

It appears that everyone produced a colheita in 1986. I've recently had Niepoort, Dow, Kopke, and Delaforce. I plan to get a Smith Woodhouse this week.

1977 Graham in 2003. It was not integrated at all. The alcohol was very pronounced and completely separated from the fruit. We quite manfully finished it, though

If you do not have a real sweet tooth, I would agree with Otto that the 4 putts tokaji aszu is a good place to start. I start with the 5 putts and prefer the 6 putts that I have had (Royal Tokaji, and Disznoko). I have a half-dozen of the 1993 Aszu Essencia, which is about 8 putts and about 7.5% alc...

According to Mayson's Port and the Douro, Warre supplies the Cintra brand, which is sold in France. However, Mayson says that it consists of standard ruby and tawny, so it must of had a greater range in the past.

I finished the Taylor '83 on 21 September. It improved during the first three days, but had little complexity. The alcohol was still a little evident when I finished it. I think that it may improve a little, so I'll keep the bottle that I have for a few years. I prefer the Graham's '83 to this one. ...

I bought a case of the 1985 Smith Woodhouse in 2002 and drank the last bottle a little over a year ago. They consistently had good fruit and the alcohol and tannins were well integrated and subdued. All in all, the 1985 was a good everyday port. I paid $35 a bottle. I would not pay over $50 at this ...

Thanks for the report that Barbeito's web site is up. I've been looking forward to this since early last year when the page said that they expected to have it up by May 2006. Now if they can add to the information on the vintages, that would be even better It will be interesting to see how some of t...

1983 Taylor Fladgate VP

Little sediment when decanted through filter and cheesecloth. Barely discernible fragrance. The first glass shows light color, more like a burgundy. The taste is simple: sweet, fruity, with light tannins.

More later.

Looking at the list of 20-year tawnies that were reported for this month, I'm a little surprised not to see Taylor's. I've always liked the bottles that I've had and it seems to be well distributed. I did not see Burmester on the list, either. Is it widely available? The distributor in Massachesetts...

Alex,

I've never had the 10-year. This is the first time I've seen the 20-year tawny in a few years.

Gary

Niepoort 20 Year Old Tawny

Bottled in 2006.

Prominent alcohol when first opened and for two days after, but has now integrated. Sweet and rich, but lacking complexity. This is very good, but not so good as when I have had it before. The price has gone up. This was $80 before discount.

Gary Banker

Eric,

Was their any information on when it was bottled?

To the sandbox or the rockpile?

Gary Banker

Average of about three days a week. Lately it has been 1990 Niepoort colheita. Back to VP in another month or so. I alternate between port and madeira,

Gary