What have you opened this week?

[John M.]

1977 Dolomore Crusted Port

Probably was never a great Port, but was nicely aged an easy sipper. I little active leakage under the capsule, but never emerged beyond. Through off a TON of fine sediment--in the Top 10 for amount of sediment. Oddly at it's best on Day 3.

Still have a few left (thanks to Mike W).

[Al B.]

Bottles of Quinta de Vale da Figueira 10YO tawny (2022 blend), Quinta do Mourão São Leonardo 40YO tawny (2022 blend) and a 9cl cask sample of Quevedo 30YO tawny (drawn in 2024).

All were fabulous.

Clearly I’ve been seeing too much of Glenn in 2024.

[Eric Menchen]

Clearly I’ve been seeing too much of Glenn in 2024.

[Glenn E.]

Clearly I’ve been seeing too much of Glenn in 2024.

You misspelled "not often enough"

[Andy Velebil]

1994 Ferreira VP. Oh my, this is darn good. Really darn good.

[Al B.]

A bottle of Fonseca 1934 from the Raby Castle cellars.

Oh my!

[Eric Ifune]

A bottle of Fonseca 1934 from the Raby Castle cellars.

Oh my!

I take it you like it.

[Mike J. W.]

1992 Quinta do Infantado VP. Slightly astringent on a sample taste right after decanting. We'll see how a full glass is tonight.

[Al B.]

A bottle of Fonseca 1934 from the Raby Castle cellars.

Oh my!

I take it you like it.

Rather a lot. I’m so glad it was opened for a dinner of three people. We all got to drink a good amount of it rather than have just a small tasting pour.

And this evening I opened a cellar defender - a bottle of Noval 2009 Colheita.

[Roy Hersh]

20 Y.O. Tawny by Infantado.

After trying this a couple of months ago, I bought a pair just after New Years and popped one on Thursday night and had a couple of glasses while watching TV news for the first time this year. I couldn't believe the devastation in the LA area, felt awful seeing entire neighborhoods gone. While I had heard of the late former President Jimmy Carter's passing, watching on TV made it more real.

Back to the Port, really a very unique style for a 20 year old. I wrote a recent tasting note on it and will get to do this bottle too, when I revisit it and am not in front of my TV (I rarely turn it on). But it is a very tasty Port, while the texture is rather viscous and elegant.

[Glenn E.]

1985 Vista Alegre Colheita

Bought this on my birthday trip... it's got everything I need! 149 g/l of residual sugar and 6.5 g/l of acidity. Pretty perfect balance.

[Roy Hersh]

So far, I've only opened one of my bottles purchased at the same time as yours. That 1985 is excellent and my replacement for 1985 Dalva which was a crowd favorite and also hit above its weight class. This Vista Alegre might be every bit as good, not sure from just two tastes if it is better, but possibly.

[Al B.]

1991 Morgan. One of the bottles bought at auction in 2009 for £8 per bottle.

Not brilliant, but great value for money.

[Glenn E.]

So far, I've only opened one of my bottles purchased at the same time as yours. That 1985 is excellent and my replacement for 1985 Dalva which was a crowd favorite and also hit above its weight class. This Vista Alegre might be every bit as good, not sure from just two tastes if it is better, but possibly.

I like the Vista Alegre better because I always thought that the Dalva needed a touch more sweetness for my palate. Might be a tough choice for you!

[Eric Ifune]

Kopke 1981 Colheita.

[Roy Hersh]

Saturday night, I went through my top 2022 Vintage Ports, now about 3-4 weeks after some of them were first opened. Some were still really interesting and a few were still damn good. These were stored standing up in a cool dry place with no light since opened. I tried all 10 again the first weekend of the month of January and had about 1 oz., enough for 2 small sips of each, two nights ago, (for me it Monday).

Some show tannins that have morphed and become much more granular, which is not a surprise. The flavor profiles have not changed much, nor have any really dried out. The aromatics are dumbed down, which is kind of what I expected. The Graham's Tua, and Vargellas were the most forthcoming aromatically. The Niepoort is still wonderful. But the Calem still is remarkably good. The Vesuvio too. Fun to revisit and for the last time.

[Mike J. W.]

So far, I've only opened one of my bottles purchased at the same time as yours. That 1985 is excellent and my replacement for 1985 Dalva which was a crowd favorite and also hit above its weight class. This Vista Alegre might be every bit as good, not sure from just two tastes if it is better, but possibly.

That 1985 Vista Alegre is very nice. I only bought 2 bottles of it back in May. I wish I had bought a few more. As far as the Dalva 1985, I would highly recommend the 1995 Dalva as a nice, fairly inexpensive replacement. The 3 I purchased were bottled in 2020 and were cheap. I've seen some for sale for $39 which is even cheaper although I don't know when they were bottled. If I'm over in Central Jersey for some reason I may check them out. Be warned however because they're very acidic, but not in an overpowering way.

[Roy Hersh]

Mike wrote:

Be warned however because they're very acidic, but not in an overpowering way.

You spent a week on tour, and don't know me at all.

Or at least, not my palate.

[Lucas S]

Barros Lagrima White

It's fine. Strong acidity but is basically a nothingburger. I'd much rather have a Portal Fine White over this.

[John M.]

375 of 1995 Taylor V

A Port pal stopped by to get glasses and decanters for a Friday evening gathering...and a few Ports from my cellar. We decided on the spot to open this split. I recently purchased 24 and have had 1 so far which was okay, but under-whelming. This 2nd bottle was awesome---no decant time, not even stood up. Just open, decant and drink and my oh my it was absolutely delicious after swirling and swirling....it also evolved a bit over the 45 minutes we chatted over it.....and it allayed my concerns after the first bottle was so blah. 94 Points