Best tawny ports not available in the U.S.?

[Houston Porter]

I'm flying in and out of Brussels and have a wine seller there willing to accept port shipments for me from Portugal, so am wondering which tawnies you would suggest.

I'm looking for tawny ports that I can't get here in the U.S.
Already, I'll be picking up at least one bottle of Graham's 1969 Colheita.
I am also probably going to get at least the 30 Years Tawny from DR, Vista Allegre, and Romaneira, and Vasconcellos, and may pick up some 40's too.
I'm interested in Colheita's too, but prefer ones with at least 30 years in wood prior to bottling.
I'll be bringing back at least one case...possibly two.

Roy has given me some great suggestions already but am wondering what the rest of the Forum thinks I shouldn't miss out on.

[Glenn E.]

Your list looks pretty good. If you're actually able to get anything from Romaneira other than their 10 Year Old, let us know. Their 40 Year Old is the best one I've ever had, but last I knew they'd stopped making anything older than 10.

You might want to check to see if you can find S. Leonardo's 30 Year Old near you, and if not you'll want to pick one up in Portugal. A head-to-head with DR and Vista Allegre is something I've wanted to do for a while.

Also, I've sent you an email. Please respond ASAP.

[Thomas V]

Your list looks pretty good. If you're actually able to get anything from Romaneira other than their 10 Year Old, let us know. Their 40 Year Old is the best one I've ever had, but last I knew they'd stopped making anything older than 10.

You can get the Romaneira 40YO here So if your Brussels wine shipper will accept shipments from Denmark you should be able to pick some up.
http://www.vintageportvin.dk/romaneira- ... years.html

DR
http://drikportvin.dk/vinhus/dr/

Bulas
http://drikportvin.dk/vinhus/bulas/



Note to other FTLOP'ers.

If you want me to purchase some for you for a later pickup in Denmark or Portugal send me a pm.

[Houston Porter]

You might want to check to see if you can find S. Leonardo's 30 Year Old near you, and if not you'll want to pick one up in Portugal. A head-to-head with DR and Vista Allegre is something I've wanted to do for a while.

I took Roy's advice and got in on the S. Leonardo buy at the beginning of the year so I've got the 30 and 40.
We did a blind head-to-head tasting last fall with about a dozen 30's and are looking at another after we get back, which I guess means I should probably pick up two bottles of each, just so we have a second of each to enjoy later. Seems logical, right?

[Houston Porter]

If you want me to purchase some for you for a later pickup in Denmark or Portugal send me a pm.

Thanks Thomas! That's very generous of you. Denmark is on our list of countries to visit sooner rather than later.

[Eric Ifune]

I understand they have an importer, but I can never find Dalva, or Presidential, in the states. The 1985 Colheita is one I'd buy by the case. I can't seem to find the 68 Noval Colheita either. I also like Casa Santa Eufemia's 40 year old as well.

[Eric Menchen]

I can't seem to find the 68 Noval Colheita either.

That's been available in the US in the past, but does seem scarce at the moment. Maybe they aren't bottling it now, waiting for 2018?

[Al B.]

I can't seem to find the 68 Noval Colheita either.

That's been available in the US in the past, but does seem scarce at the moment. Maybe they aren't bottling it now, waiting for 2018?

New stocks of the Noval 1968 colheita came onto the UK market 2-3 months ago so that they were across the market for people who wanted to prepare for 50th birthday celebrations next year. It might be time to nudge the US importers to see whether there is any availability in the US.

[Glenn E.]

As I recall, the '68 Noval Colheita was available as part of one of Roy's buying opportunities a while ago. Like probably at least 5 years ago. I think I still have one in my fridges.

Good to hear that it's coming back into the market, at least in the UK. Hopefully that means we'll see it again soon, too!

[Eric Ifune]

Yes, I remember that buying op and purchased some. I like it a lot and so tried to find more, but to no avail. Got a half bottle from their shop in Vila Nova this past spring just to have something to drink on the waterfront. It was fantastic, best showing ever and from a 2016 bottling. That prompted me to search again this summer with no luck. Hopefully some more will arrive in the States.

[Al B.]

I first tasted the 1968 colheita immediately after a bottle of the 1937 colheita. Without knowing what it was, I was blown away by the quality of that glass of port. It remains the best colheita that I have ever tasted.

[Houston Porter]

So it sounds like the 1968 Noval Colheita would be a good one to get. I do love the Graham's Colheita from that same year.

[Eric Menchen]

I've had the 1968 Noval colheita, and while good, there are other colheitas and TWIOA I've liked more. Checking the TNDB, scores here range from 89 to 92 for the 1968 Noval.

[Glenn E.]

Well, you know, Alex is from the UK so when he says "best Colheita I've ever tasted" that probably means "Colheita that tastes most like well-aged Vintage Port."

Just teasin', Alex.

[Glenn E.]

Your list looks pretty good. If you're actually able to get anything from Romaneira other than their 10 Year Old, let us know. Their 40 Year Old is the best one I've ever had, but last I knew they'd stopped making anything older than 10.

You can get the Romaneira 40YO here

Sadly, nearly all of the links I can find are the "new" blend (black/gold only label) and, of course, simply remaining stock as it isn't produced any more. The one that I fell in love with was the "old" blend which had a red/gold/black label, and according to my contact there was significantly better than the "new" blend.

There's one German store that at least displays a picture of the "old" blend label in their link, but who knows whether or not that's what they actually have or if they're simply using an old picture. I last purchased the "old" blend in ~2011 directly from the Quinta.

[Eric Ifune]

I've had the 1968 Noval colheita, and while good, there are other colheitas and TWIOA I've liked more. Checking the TNDB, scores here range from 89 to 92 for the 1968 Noval.

It was so good, that when we gave Mario a taste, he exclaimed "That's a good wine!"

[Glenn E.]

I've had the 1968 Noval colheita, and while good, there are other colheitas and TWIOA I've liked more. Checking the TNDB, scores here range from 89 to 92 for the 1968 Noval.

It was so good, that when we gave Mario a taste, he exclaimed "That's a good wine!"

He probably just didn't want to be the bad guy.

[Andy Velebil]

I've had the 1968 Noval colheita, and while good, there are other colheitas and TWIOA I've liked more. Checking the TNDB, scores here range from 89 to 92 for the 1968 Noval.

It was so good, that when we gave Mario a taste, he exclaimed "That's a good wine!"

He probably just didn't want to be the bad guy.

[Al B.]

Well, you know, Alex is from the UK so when he says "best Colheita I've ever tasted" that probably means "Colheita that tastes most like well-aged Vintage Port."

Just teasin', Alex.

Well you could be right. But it remains my favourite colheita port out of all the ones I've tasted - all three of them.

[Roy Hersh]

The 1968 Quevedo Colheita is darn good too.

JH Andresen's 1970 is one of the best young Colheitas I've had, although their 1991 is also fabulous and even younger.

Come on Alex, I know you have had far more than 3 Colheitas, don't forget the early summer of 2007.