What have you opened this week?

[Gary Richardson]

I needed a Port fix this coming weekend, so I opened a 2006 Kopke LBV and the Arcadia chocolate that it came with. Tasting note to follow in a few days.

-- Gary

[Andy Velebil]

Gary,

Look forward to hearing how it goes.

[Al B.]

Offley Boa Vista 1983 and Warre 1983.

The Offley was young and closed, the Warre open and delicious.

[John M.]

Meeting up with my port fellows, just a selection of unfiltered LBV's, no theme really...

2006 Kopke
2000 Warre's
1995 Smith Woodhouse
2007 Niepoort
2004 Quinta do Noval

and if needed a 2006 Quinta do Crasto

[Gary Richardson]

Meeting up with my port fellows, just a selection of unfiltered LBV's, no theme really...

2006 Kopke
2000 Warre's
1995 Smith Woodhouse
2007 Niepoort
2004 Quinta do Noval

and if needed a 2006 Quinta do Crasto

John ... The 2006 Kopke appears to be readily available in NJ. I just had one over the past few days from a gift box including dark chocolate. I would be very interested to know your thoughts on that one.

-- Gary

[John M.]

Gary wrote:

John ... The 2006 Kopke appears to be readily available in NJ. I just had one over the past few days from a gift box including dark chocolate. I would be very interested to know your thoughts on that one.

-- Gary

Hi Gary: Yes, I read your TN yesterday--a little too late to decant for 2 days and I got no chocolates either . You are right about availability in NJ--have seen it in at least 3 stores in the last month--am also seeing the basic ruby, tawny and other Kopke's here and rarely before--something must have happened retail wise.

[Gary Banker]

Quinta do Noval 40 year tawny. Very nice wine.

[Marc J.]

Ferreira 20 Year Old

[John M.]

The following were tasted last night by the Port Club...all were decanted a day before except the Crasto which was pop and pour....

2006 Kopke
2000 Warre's
1995 Smith Woodhouse
2007 Niepoort
2004 Quinta do Noval
2006 Quinta do Crasto

The Warre's was the WOTN with the highest average score (7 out of 12 first place votes). SW was 2nd--neither of those is too surprising. The least favorite was the Kopke by a wide margin (9 out of 12 votes). I will post TNs when time allows.

The Kopke, since Gary is curious, I found had an element of hay/grass in it. The finish was rough and piquant--the fruit tasted a little upripe. I think another day in the decanter would have helped, but not enough.

[Andy Velebil]

The following were tasted last night by the Port Club...all were decanted a day before except the Crasto which was pop and pour....

2006 Kopke
2000 Warre's
1995 Smith Woodhouse
2007 Niepoort
2004 Quinta do Noval
2006 Quinta do Crasto

The Warre's was the WOTN with the highest average score (7 out of 12 first place votes). SW was 2nd--neither of those is too surprising. The least favorite was the Kopke by a wide margin (9 out of 12 votes). I will post TNs when time allows.

The Kopke, since Gary is curious, I found had an element of hay/grass in it. The finish was rough and piquant--the fruit tasted a little upripe. I think another day in the decanter would have helped, but not enough.

A nice line up for sure.

[Andy Velebil]

Saturday night I took a Graham's 20 Year old Tawny to a wine gathering. Very tasty and it didn't last long.

[Al B.]

I opened a magnum of Smith Woodhouse 1977 last night - it's drinking really nicely at the moment.

[Andy Velebil]

2005 Niepoort Vp (.375ml)
and
2009 Post Scriptum

and today with lunch a 2011 Quinta da Raza Vinho Verde

All three very tasty

[Al B.]

Gonzalez Byass 1967 - looked horribly pale in the bottle but put on depth and colour in the decanter to become a superb, fully mature vintage port. A real, pleasant surprise.

[Andy Velebil]

A friend from the UK is flying in today. Just have a few hours, so enough time for me to BBQ up some 30-day aged steaks from Flannery and open some wine/Port. A 1970 Warre's VP (and a 2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Douro DOC) are ready to be decanted in about an hour.

[Al B.]

A friend from the UK is flying in today. Just have a few hours, so enough time for me to BBQ up some 30-day aged steaks from Flannery and open some wine/Port. A 1970 Warre's VP (and a 2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Douro DOC) are ready to be decanted in about an hour.

And when you see him, tell him I am extremely jealous!

[Moses Botbol]

A friend from the UK is flying in today. Just have a few hours, so enough time for me to BBQ up some 30-day aged steaks from Flannery and open some wine/Port. A 1970 Warre's VP (and a 2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Douro DOC) are ready to be decanted in about an hour.

And when you see him, tell him I am extremely jealous!

Cabral 10 and Burger King for when I come to visit...

[Andy Velebil]

A friend from the UK is flying in today. Just have a few hours, so enough time for me to BBQ up some 30-day aged steaks from Flannery and open some wine/Port. A 1970 Warre's VP (and a 2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Douro DOC) are ready to be decanted in about an hour.

And when you see him, tell him I am extremely jealous!

Cabral 10 and Burger King for when I come to visit...

You get Taco Bell, Burger King is too good for you lol

[Carl D]

Fonseca 2003 LBV. Pop-n-pour for a mini-celebration at the office.

[Glenn E.]

1987 Kopke Colheita, bottled in 2007, while on board M/S Paul Gauguin in port in Bora Bora. I stretched it out as much as possible and managed to make it last most of a week, finishing it during dinner on deck as we sailed back into Papeete, Tahiti, to end the cruise. Both Port and port were outstanding.

They had Sandeman ruby and tawny, and 2004 Dow LBV available included. Taylor 20-yr old was $4/shot. Dow 20-yr old was $6/shot. Yes, measured in shots. Two shots was roughly 1 meager serving of Port.

The Hilton Moorea, where we are now, is rather uncivilized compared to the ship. There is no Port here.