For The Love Of Port

1954 Vintage Barbeito Reserva Velha Malvasia Madeira ( Madeira DO, Portugal): Bottled in October of 2001, this 1954 vintage wine turned 54 this year, and that symmetry made me think this might be a good occasion; after all, I had just turned 55 . . . and so it was time – with my wife’s permission –...

A dear, sweet, wonderful man from whom I not only learned a great deal, but someone I was privileged to call "my friend." Joanna Delaforce phoned me last night with the news, having just returned to the UK from Madeira and spending the weekend with the family. He surprised me about a month...

I treasure the memories of my time in the lagares . . . the treading . . . the dancing . . . the music . . . .

And it finally explained to me the raison d'être of Brandy Croft!

Hey, Shawn -- good to "see" you here . . .

First of all, for many years Burmester was not imported into the United States. Then, after the release of and the later attention gained by and for the 1985 Vintage Porto (cheifly as a result of its high rating by Decanter magazine in the U.K.), a small number of cases were brought into the U.S. I ...

Hmmmm . . . . As with many of the previos posts in this thread, I like Pedro Ximenez (PX), but I do not love it. I, too, find it too sweet to enjoy more than half a glass. It IS tiring to drink, as João said. And I agree with Roy -- I prefer Olorosos and Amontillados to PX. Unlike João, however, I e...

Stefano, I don't disagree with a single thing you said, nor do I believe it's any different than what I've said.

Roy Hersh wrote:So far, this is an excellent list. I hope people keep adding to it.

Well I could add to it, but my three favorites have already been mentioned . . . .

Churchill's!!!

There are a number of traditional Porto varieties grown outside of Portugal. Part of the problem, at least in California, is that most are not "tracked" by the California Agricultural Statistics Service -- the total acreage is just too small. That said, CASS reported in 2005 that there wer...

Happy Birthday, you youngster you . . . .

The bottles of 1985 Quinta do Noval I've had have ranged from "OK" to "very good," but it has never been what I would call a "memorable" VintagePorto, except for its price (IIRC, it was around $12 at Trader Joe's). Noval suffered not just problems in the 1980s, but disa...

Why wouldn't an LBV go through a dumb phase? Vintage Porto does, as does every non-fortified table wine. LBVs are no exception to this, IMHO.

Well, full of tradition anyway . . .

Keep in mind that "refreshing" was a part of tradition, and Colheitas pre-date modern regulations.

That said, I'd go with the demi-johns.

Yes, but that is what people like Roy (or myself) are for . . .

I have only had this Tawny a few times, but I've been very impressed each time -- and I'm normally not a fan of 20's as they are often too woody for my taste.

Glad it turned around.

Whitwhams was an old English merchant that was sold about six years ago to Fine and Rare Wines Ltd. In the early nineties Whitwhams wholesale offerings listed thousands of cases of low end vintage port. It is amazing to look back at the catalog now. The wine buyer for our local Trader Joe's was at ...

Personally, I think the 10 year Otima is a waste of time for my palate. It is simple and sweet and made in a style to appeal to a very specific "demographic." Couldn't have said it better myself, Roy. That said, I'm glad to hear the 20 is apparently better. (Let's just say I'm not a fan o...

2000 Quinta de Roriz Vinho Tinto Reserva (Douro Valley, Portugal): This quinta is still owned by the van Zeller family, and the wines are made in conjunction with the Symingtons. The wine is produced from a blend of 45 percent Touriga Nacional, 35 percent Touriga Franca and 20 percent Tinta Roriz, a...

Really??? Learn something new every day.

I've never seen it, nor is it mentioned on the Warre's website.