For The Love Of Port

Dang! I may be out of country again in May!

I just wish I were one of those three collectors!

I've not heard of it, but in that period Madeiras were often given the names of the ship which imported them, or when handed down in a family even given "pet" names such as "Aunt Lucy's Delight." Your wine sounds something like that. One other thing, Commadore Perry opened Japan ...

Roy Hersh wrote: Reidar, I have and am putting the importer together with Isabella. A great pairing but this importer specializes in Portuguese table wines, some Port and no Madeira until now. It is the perfect it. I love when I can help in this way. Roy That's good news. Do keep us updated as to w...

Probably Taylor Vinha Velha 1997. I was amazed by the 95 and the 97 is so rare.

I think I'd go with this one as well.

Fabulous write up Roy! It brought up great memories.
I just hope I can make it to another.

I think finos are best when opened. No sense in holding them. Half bottles, if you can get them are best. Freshness is everything. Olosoros, on the other hand, can last like a real tawny port.

I know this has been spoken about before, but I'm not buying recent harvest vintages because I may not be around when they are mature. I like mine with considerable age so the 97's are the last vintage I've bought in quantity. Recently been getting more wood aged Ports and Madeiras.

Roy, any tentative dates on the 08 Fortification tour? I'd love to get more of that 40 year old Fernandez Verdelho. I hope two shippers are enough! It was a Sophie's choice with only one!

Taylor's for me in regards to Port. Love that grip.
For other wines, probably riesling; Gunderlock, Hirtzberger, Trimbach. Red wines, Ridge.

Is there a chance you'll be selling the wines in the future? If so, cling film would be the best option. If not, you might try varnishing the labels. This will protect them, but will lower the potential sale value.

Tokay and Muscat from Australia, fortified from California, Vin Santo and Muscats from Italy. Also from Italy Verduzzo and Picolit from Friuli.

I've a couple of bottles from the 1950's including a 6 put 1959 muscat. Forget the Hungarian name for the grape variety off the top of my head.

75 Sandeman about a year ago. Thin, washed out, astringent.

I really liked the Borges 15 year old that Reidar mentioned a year or so ago. I grabbed a bunch while there in May and wish I had brought a 2nd shipper. We really do need to find them a US importer. The palate has also opened up a lot, but the acidity is still overwhelming, and the concentration is...

To make things interesting, an all-Portuguese menu might be nice for a "full-immersion".

How about some Madeiran Honey Cake.

There's really nothing I can think of to improve things. The quality of the wines, the number of people, ect. I just hope you wait until Feb 08 to start the tastings again, since that's when I expect to get back!

I don't have my notes with me, but Ficklin also put out a series of vintages in the 90's from a vinyard of traditional varieties up in Lake county. The ones I had were excellent. Unfortunately the vinyard was pulled up because the Port varieties did not sell well.

I'm a fan of Ficklin's wines. They use more traditional Port grape varieties. Sounds like you'd like the cask aged wines. Their 10 year old tawny is a good buy.

I have met Eric on several occasions, including his week during the 2007 Fortification Tour of Port & the island of Madeira and although I knew he was in the military ... somehow never remembered he had a medical background!?!?!? Yes, military medical. Doing that right now, even helping out wit...