For The Love Of Port

Roy

Thank you and thanks to all of the forum members. I really enjoyed the chance to think about Port more and share ideas and information with all of you. I am going to try to go to Porto and the Douro this summer and taste the new vintage and some old ones. You all inspired me!

Best wishes

James

Hey James, Welcome to the boards and I hope your new venture is treating you well. A couple of questions. I see you're setting up a whole slew of tastings/events. Any plans for a proper port tasting in the works? Also, to expand upon a previous question on what you look for in young port, what is th...

That's really strange but I was looking back at the Guest Corner and I answer all those question on page 3 a few days ago and they didn't post. Anyway, I will try again: Hi James, I wanted to wait a few days to allow others to have a chance to pose their questions before taking up any of your time f...

Not sure why Roy locked me out of the guest corner...I was really busy this weekend working on my own things. Anyway, if you would like to ask more questions I am here. I noticed this one that I skipped by accident. Re: JAMES SUCKLING Postby Megan B » Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:59 pm Hello. I am a novice po...

Salut Frederick I totally agree with you, but VP is not promoted very well anywhere. I wil say hi to Jessica for you... Amities James Hi James, I can't say I've been a big follower of the Wine Spectator but I can't deny the impact of your reviews(and top 100 wines listing) on Vintage Port 94, Super ...

I am pretty close on that Graham Quarles Harris Croft Warre Fonseca Taylor Vesuvio Gould Dow Smith Sorry James, one more: how would you rank the following ports by order of sweetness? Graham Croft Gould Campbell, Quarles Harris, Smith Woodhouse, aka "The Twins" Fonseca Warre Vesuvio Taylor...

Hey Bob. Let me try to answer your questions: I think you are right about the 1945 Croft and I still have three bottles in my cellar! [cheers.gif] I agree that half bottles and single quintas age more quickly but I still remember drinking a number of 1935 Sandemans from halves and they were amazing....

I have been tasting VP cask samples since the late 1980s. I always look for concentration, length and tannic "grip." I learned about tasting barrel samples from the two Guimareans brothers -- Gordon and the late Bruce. I usually taste them blind. I get the samples sent to my office in Ital...

Hi Chris I could see how you could say that about 1977. But I think that they vintage will turn out wonderfully still. The 1927s, 1947s and1963s had that stage of tightness and restraint. I think they will blossom with more age. It's not always about power in longevity of Vintage Port. I love Niepoo...

I remember drinking a bottle of 1963 Nacional with Christian Seely at Pichon Baron before I had to go taste 2005 Pichon Lalande from barrel. He thought it would make me badly taste the PL because I was late and focused on the Nacional. It actually put me in a great mood and I tasted the PL wonderful...

I helped design the Riedel Vintage Port glass. So I like that!

jason domanico wrote:James, thanks for taking our questions.

Lately I have struggled picking stemware I like for my vintage ports and have gone with my default Riedel Zinfandel. What is your favorite stemware for vintage port?

Thanks

Jason

My late mother-in-law had a nice Port cellar herself in England. So we drank the classics from the 1960s on a regular occasion. I am no longer married now...my ex-wife sold most my Port in a Sotheby's sale in 2005 to pay the lawyers... :( That said, I like to pour things from the 1980s now. James, T...

I am not sure that the rules for Port work at all...I have always found the whole thing sort of ridiculous. Hi James, Thanks for the special offer for all :ftlop: members! My next question is regarding Port regulations. Obviously the Port industry is very heavily regulated, probably one of the most ...

Hi Brian There is a huge upside to Portugese table wines as long as the word gets out. I think Douro is leading the way as you well know. I am into Douro... James, so cool of you to do this. I hope I'm within the boundaries of the format here, but I'd really like to ask you about Portuguese table wi...

Do I have to tell you why? I am going off the top of my head here. Dow: 1955, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1994, 2000 Niepoort: 1927, 1945, 1963, 1997... Taylor: 1994, 1955, 1963, 1985, 1977 Croft: 1927, 1945, 1950, 1960, 1963, and 1997 Warre: all declared years but 1975 Sandeman: 1945, 1958, 1963, 1967 What a...

My house pour: 1960 Croft. Hello James, Thanks for taking the time to answer questions. Here's mine: is there any one VP that stands out in your mind as one that you feel your peers have under-rated...that is to say one that you enjoy significantly more than other Port writers you have read? Cheers,...

I am just taking this off the top of my head. 1994 are racier, more refined VPs while the 1997s are a little fuller and richer. It's like comparing 1963 to 1966. Geddy drinks any wine that is great...I have had some VP with him. But he his a complete Burgundy freak and knows his stuff. Hi James, A c...

Thank you. I think it is amazing that many of the wines have not changed that much. That's the power of Port! [cheers.gif] Hi James, Loved your book from circa 1990. It seems like some retailers and even the Port shippers are still using those tasting notes which are now 21 years old or more and won...

Cool questions. I am a big fan of 1987. That could have been declared. Can't think of other ones. May be 1995 as well. I think that 1960 turned out to be so much better than I thought. I love them now. May be 1991 was less good. I have always like sublet slightly drier VPs...so my taste hasn't chang...

Hey!! Love your country! I have to get there soon. I think that some people don't have the confidence to use the 100-point to its fullest. I give 100s but also 65s. Perhaps they don't have the experience. I have been doing this gig for 30 years coming December 13. . Hello James! Purchased your book ...