What have you opened this week?

[Mike J. W.]

2009 Taylor LBV, filtered and with a T-stopper. Let it sit in the decanter for 6 hours. Not overly complex. It's simple, but good for the price. I'd give it an 89 on the first day.

[Glenn E.]

Has anyone ever paid a lower price for a VP?

Not less than that - that's an insanely great price - but still pretty crazy low.

I've purchased from my local QFC at $23/bottle (for IIRC 1997 Quinta do Tedo) and from other sources for various 2nd tier VPs for $26, $23, and something just under $20 that I can't remember specifically. Probably $18 or $19.

But none of those purchases were for as good of a Port as your 1977 Gould Campbell, either. Was still pretty pleased with all of them!

[Thomas V]

That is a great price.

If that was the norm I would stock up in a much more rapid pace then as is currently.

[Frederick Blais]

Sipping a 10 year old Devesa this week. I really think their 10 yo stands out from the small Douro producer.

[John M.]

Has anyone ever paid a lower price for a VP?

Not less than that - that's an insanely great price - but still pretty crazy low.

I've purchased from my local QFC at $23/bottle (for IIRC 1997 Quinta do Tedo) and from other sources for various 2nd tier VPs for $26, $23, and something just under $20 that I can't remember specifically. Probably $18 or $19.

But none of those purchases were for as good of a Port as your 1977 Gould Campbell, either. Was still pretty pleased with all of them!

In the summer of 2020 I got, at auction, a lot with 2 @ 82 Martinez and 1 @ 1983 Kopke and 3 @ 1994 Kopke all for $15.68 per bottle including tax. I picked it up so no shipping.

[Jonathan S]

2000 Fonseca VP (375 mL) (1/6/21)

[Andy Velebil]

2000 Fonseca VP (375 mL) (1/6/21)

Killing the babies, huh? Just teasing

And how was it, do tell???

[Jonathan S]

Hi Andy! I hope that you are well, Sir!

It was absolutely lovely! I just finished it up a few minutes ago, in fact.

Ha, ha! I know... 20 is quite young for most palates, but I tend to like VP in the 20-30 year range. There was, as fully expected from a younger Fonseca, plenty of youthful vigor left in this one, with plenteous berry fruit. Despite this, it was beautifully balanced with only a trace of heat. I wish I had bought two cases instead of the six bottles that I purchased... Sigh... I'll know next time!

[Moses Botbol]

Finished up an '87 Malvedos. A terrific port and glad the bottle languished a week as I hardly ever drink port open that long. What delight! Then opened a '70 Dow last night for a pop and pour. I hope to keep this one around a couple of days before killing; still half a bottle left.

[Glenn E.]

2011 Quinta do Crasto LBV, 375 ml bottle.

This was the winner of the 2011 LBV horizontal that the Sammamish Port Club did a few years ago. Or rather, it was the winner if you left out the ringer which wasn't a 2011. That was a 2012 Carvalhas. At any rate, this is an awesome LBV and I still have 3 more halves out of a case.

[Eric Ifune]

70 Taylors

[Eric Menchen]

I pulled a 1977 Ferreira VP from the cellar, but dropped it upside down on the kitchen floor. It didn't break, but I'm trying to decide how long it needs to stand for the sediment to settle. I might open that, or just a 10 year old tawny. ???

Edit/Update: I opened the 1977 Ferreira and it was just fine. TN to follow.

[John M.]

1995 Smith Woodhouse Madelena.....such a good one and I should hide them. Still an awesome fruit bomb.

[Mike J. W.]

Just opened a '94 Dow LBV (filtered and bottled in '00). It is EXCELLENT! Dark purple, exotic spices that I can't even name, peppery, the right amount of acidity, but smooth with a little bit of heat on the finish. It's perfectly balanced and probably the best LBV I've had yet. I think I know where I can pick up a few more.

[Andy Velebil]

I pulled a 1977 Ferreira VP from the cellar, but dropped it upside down on the kitchen floor. It didn't break, but I'm trying to decide how long it needs to stand for the sediment to settle. I might open that, or just a 10 year old tawny. ???

Edit/Update: I opened the 1977 Ferreira and it was just fine. TN to follow.

Shame. Shame shame on you.

[Jonathan S]

Graham's 40 (1/18)

[Glenn E.]

S. Leonardo 10 Year Old White Port

Great food wine for me, and paired especially well with some brown braised onions that I made to go with boeuf bourguignon. Almost made me want to just stand there and eat all the onions and drink the whole bottle, but I managed to restrain myself.

[Moses Botbol]

1963 Croft for the Bucs-Saints game. Tastes like every other bottle of '63 Croft. Good pop and pour.

The Bucs are New England's NFC home team...

[Moses Botbol]

1997 Cockburn Vintage. Cork was a thing of beauty, but the port; not so much. Pop and pour was of raisins and some kind of aspirin-like flavor. Wasn't digging it so much and then it was getting a little late at night for me to wait around on it.

Forgot to cork the bottle until the morning. Hopefully it will get better tonight. If only the '83 had the same cork.

[Eric Ifune]

Ferreira 10 year old.