For The Love Of Port

Port tonics are quite popular and tasty too. I have a bottle of Alves de Sousa white port (best white port I have ever tried) that would be fun to do a tasting of different white ports if we can ever get our act together for an offline. Too bad it didn't pan out the last time we tried an offline. M...

In my last visit to Martignetti here in Boston, I saw that now they stock Dow's white port. What is it like? Is it more like a white version of ruby, or is it something completely different?

So what do you all use to open these old bottles of port? The last bottle I opened didn't even survive the first pull of the cork screw. It just sort of disintegrated.

$125 for an opener? [shok.gif] That's a lot of cheese cloth I can use to get out the bits of cork. Good to know that I'm not alone with this problem. The Monopol is around $25. Is it really that much better than my $6 model? I do notice that it is cheaply made, so at least I won't feel bad if I file...

After a couple of bad experience of crumbling corks, I decided to give the Ah-so opener a try. I started practicing on some run of the mill young bottles of red. It seems no matter what I do, the prongs will dig into the sides of the cork, and leave behind small bits of cork in the wine. I thought o...

I'm finally alive again after the 5 day fever. So did the tasting happen? How did it go?

I just caught the flu so I won't be able to come tomorrow. Besides the fever, I really can't taste anything. I'll definitely join you guys next time you arrange something. Have a good time tomorrow night.

Oh, those are some pretty old ones. This is my first time to these events, and I don't have anything that old to bring (just started collecting, my oldest is 2000). Finding an 80's vintage bottle on short order is going to be a bit tough. Can you suggest something I can bring. Alternatively, would y...

So what is the theme? I don't have any collection, so I'll need to go hunt for some bottles before I can come.

Wed night works for me. Anyone else?

I'm book for the next couple of nights (Chinese New Year), but I'm free next week, pretty much every night except Thursday.

So is balance really the key to the degree of structure? I have little experience with port, but I have been a wine drinker for a while. I certainly notice wines that are off balance. But even for wines that seem quite balance, there seem to a difference in "weight" (perhaps there is a bet...

I live in Brookline, and I'd also be interested in a tasting event. I'm just getting into Port, it would be a great way to meet some experienced drinkers. So how do these events typically work? Everyone bring something, or do we all chip in some money?

A case is 6, not 12. Part of them are for the kids anyway.

My first case of VP is the 2000 Niepoort. It comes in a wooden box. Should I open it up and check it out? Store it in the box? What else should I do with it?

Wow, lots of info. One question though. I've been reading lots of the tasting notes, etc., and the word "structure" keeps coming up. What is structure? What is the sensation that I can use to judge whether a wine has lots of structure or not? Moderators note: this Post was split from THIS ...

The Dow was indeed very dry. I'm looking for something very different to expand my experience, what LBV should I try next that is very different from the Dow?

Alright, that was a silly question. I just opened up the Dow 2003 LBV after dinner, and my wife and I finished half the bottle easily. I think it'll be gone after tomorrow's dinner.

Newbie here with a basic question. Once I open a LBV, how long does it stay good? I know tawny is good for a long while, and VP should be finished in a couple of days. But I'm unsure of LBV. Also, once I open a LBV, should I keep in the fridge? Should I use a wine pump?

I have been slowly trying things out: 77 Graham at a dinner party (this was what got me hooked) Some 20year tawny 10year Offley Six Grape I still have o 2003 Dow LBV that I've yet to open. BTW, I have no idea what to look for in identifying "styles" of different port. What are the variatio...