What have you opened this week?

[Roy Hersh]

Thanks Andy on the decant time!


LOUISSS J asked me how was the 2011 Taylor's Vintage Port - overall quality: fantastic. Really a superstar that may be the next 1945/1948 for Taylor's. It needed 10 hours in decanter which is a lot more than I typically give ANY Port here in PT. That said, the tannins were truly in my face, (and I am somewhat oblivious to them nowadays) at around the 3-4 hour mark. Not bitter or harsh, but really powerful. The fruit is extremely primary and tasty and it hasn't even begun to budge yet. If you own only a couple, then by all means wait ... a decade or two before opening one. Completely delicious at this stage and boisterous jammy, yet balanced. If you own a case, open one for the holidays this year!

[Roy Hersh]

This afternoon, I had an excellent showing of the Burmester 40 year old White Port. Loved it. Only a couple of glasses did the trick.

[Moses Botbol]

'85 Grahams. Been in the decanter 3 days, hope to finish it off tonight.

I'm opening one of those this Saturday for my annual beach get together with my college buddies. How is it?

We just finished it last night. After 4 days in decanter was totally smooth and sublime. It's not going to disappoint.

[Al B.]

I found an odd bottle of Taylor Vargellas 1967 in the cellar. It’s not there any more! A bit spirity and evolved, but still quite pleasant.

[Moses Botbol]

'77 Ferreira.

Was watching Ferreira videos on YouTube and had to open something Ferreira at that point! In typical Ferreira fashion, the cork fell into the bottle. The port was sublime though.

[Al B.]

'77 Ferreira.

Was watching Ferreira videos on YouTube and had to open something Ferreira at that point! In typical Ferreira fashion, the cork fell into the bottle. The port was sublime though.

Any chance of some links to the Ferreira videos? I’ve got a bottle of Ferreira 1963 I plan to open this year and a themed evening could be fun.

[Moses Botbol]

'77 Ferreira.

Was watching Ferreira videos on YouTube and had to open something Ferreira at that point! In typical Ferreira fashion, the cork fell into the bottle. The port was sublime though.

Any chance of some links to the Ferreira videos? I’ve got a bottle of Ferreira 1963 I plan to open this year and a themed evening could be fun.

This is one I watched https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LALxqmj19po along with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q7Iw2fs8ks

[LOUISSS J]

Thanks Andy on the decant time!


LOUISSS J asked me how was the 2011 Taylor's Vintage Port - overall quality: fantastic. Really a superstar that may be the next 1945/1948 for Taylor's. It needed 10 hours in decanter which is a lot more than I typically give ANY Port here in PT. That said, the tannins were truly in my face, (and I am somewhat oblivious to them nowadays) at around the 3-4 hour mark. Not bitter or harsh, but really powerful. The fruit is extremely primary and tasty and it hasn't even begun to budge yet. If you own only a couple, then by all means wait ... a decade or two before opening one. Completely delicious at this stage and boisterous jammy, yet balanced. If you own a case, open one for the holidays this year!

Glad to see your response. I have 3 TF2011 in the cellar. I drank several Ports in 2011 (including Vinha Velha) but never Fladgate. I should open my first bottle around 2035... maybe sooner... I'll see.

[Mike J. W.]

My annual get together down at the beach with my college buddies was this past weekend. As usual, I brought the Port and we had tastings on Friday and Saturday night. The first night were all white Ports and they went over better than I expected. The only time most of them have Port is when we get together every year for the weekend, so they're not overly experienced with Ports at all. Nonetheless, they really loved the White Ports I served. That lineup was as follows (served in the order shown):

Night 1
1. 2003 Kopke White Colheita
2. 20 year old S. Leonardo White
3. 30 year old DR White
4. 30 year old S. Leonardo White
5. Casa de Sta. Eufemia Porto Special Reserve White
6. 40 year old Vista Alegre White
7. 50 year old DR White

The WOTN for Night 1 was the 50 year old DR White (no surprise there), but the 2003 Kopke White Colheita was a real crowd pleaser and started the night off with a bang. All of the Whites were served chilled. They all tasted great but if I had to pick which was the least favorite of the group, I would say it was the Eufemia. It was good, but not up to the high standards of all of the other White Ports that night.

Saturday night's tasting was themed "A Port that began or ended with a '5' ". This was also very well received and the lineup was as follows (served in the order shown):

Night 2
1. 1955 Cockburn VP
2. 1985 Graham's VP
3. 1985 Fonseca VP
4. 1975 Kopke Colheita
5. 1975 Andresen Colheita
6. 1965 Kopke Colheita
7. 50 year old Pocas Tawny

The WOTN for Night 2 was the 1975 Kopke Colheita followed VERY closely by the 1975 Andresen Colheita and the 50 year old Pocas Tawny. There wasn't a bad Port either night. Great food, great friends and excellent Port made for a special weekend that will be hard to top next year.

[Mike J. W.]

'85 Grahams. Been in the decanter 3 days, hope to finish it off tonight.

I'm opening one of those this Saturday for my annual beach get together with my college buddies. How is it?

We just finished it last night. After 4 days in decanter was totally smooth and sublime. It's not going to disappoint.

You were right, it was excellent.

[Andy Velebil]

My annual get together down at the beach with my college buddies was this past weekend. As usual, I brought the Port and we had tastings on Friday and Saturday night. The first night were all white Ports and they went over better than I expected. The only time most of them have Port is when we get together every year for the weekend, so they're not overly experienced with Ports at all. Nonetheless, they really loved the White Ports I served. That lineup was as follows (served in the order shown):

Night 1
1. 2003 Kopke White Colheita
2. 20 year old S. Leonardo White
3. 30 year old DR White
4. 30 year old S. Leonardo White
5. Casa de Sta. Eufemia Porto Special Reserve White
6. 40 year old Vista Alegre White
7. 50 year old DR White

The WOTN for Night 1 was the 50 year old DR White (no surprise there), but the 2003 Kopke White Colheita was a real crowd pleaser and started the night off with a bang. All of the Whites were served chilled. They all tasted great but if I had to pick which was the least favorite of the group, I would say it was the Eufemia. It was good, but not up to the high standards of all of the other White Ports that night.

Saturday night's tasting was themed "A Port that began or ended with a '5' ". This was also very well received and the lineup was as follows (served in the order shown):

Night 2
1. 1955 Cockburn VP
2. 1985 Graham's VP
3. 1985 Fonseca VP
4. 1975 Kopke Colheita
5. 1975 Andresen Colheita
6. 1965 Kopke Colheita
7. 50 year old Pocas Tawny

The WOTN for Night 2 was the 1975 Kopke Colheita followed VERY closely by the 1975 Andresen Colheita and the 50 year old Pocas Tawny. There wasn't a bad Port either night. Great food, great friends and excellent Port made for a special weekend that will be hard to top next year.

Nice couple days of tastings! All really nice ports in their own right.

I had the Eufemia recently agree with you. I think it’s getting a bit tired in bottle and isn’t up to what it used to be…based on the bottle I tried.

[Eric Ifune]

DR 30 year old tawny.

[Roy Hersh]

Not my bottle, but a friend opened a 1985 Dow's which was in perfect condition. Loved it.

[Al B.]

I opened bottles of Borges 1979 and Malvedos 1979 to go alongside a bottle of Noval Nacional 1979.

It’s not often you have a 1979 Vintage Port horizontal! They were all pretty decent Ports and I was thrilled to have the chance to try a Nacional I’ve never seen before.

[Lucas S]

I got 10 of these basic tawnies at auction for only $6.30 each all-in. There were no pictures, and for whatever reason, I believed they would be young, but oh no they are not. Luckily, they are still drinking perfectly fine. Somewhat simple smooth caramel, reminiscent of a young Portal White actually but less vibrant of course.

No date on the bottle though. Anybody know when this was bottled, roughly?

[Moses Botbol]

A leaky bottle of '83 Fonseca. First night was not impressive but got better each night. Not one of the better vintages, but decent enough by itself.

[Andy Velebil]

I got 10 of these basic tawnies at auction for only $6.30 each all-in. There were no pictures, and for whatever reason, I believed they would be young, but oh no they are not. Luckily, they are still drinking perfectly fine. Somewhat simple smooth caramel, reminiscent of a young Portal White actually but less vibrant of course.

No date on the bottle though. Anybody know when this was bottled, roughly?

Can you post a pic of the Selo as well?

And interesting old tawny. At least it was a very good price.

[Lucas S]

For sure, it was absolutely worth the gamble. I bought the lot thinking I would use them as gifts for the unitiated, but because they are so old, I'm not so sure about that anymore. I may just have to make the sacrifice of drinking them myself.

[Mike J. W.]

I got 10 of these basic tawnies at auction for only $6.30 each all-in. There were no pictures, and for whatever reason, I believed they would be young, but oh no they are not. Luckily, they are still drinking perfectly fine. Somewhat simple smooth caramel, reminiscent of a young Portal White actually but less vibrant of course.

No date on the bottle though. Anybody know when this was bottled, roughly?

Very cool bottle, Lucas, and nice score! Is there a back label you can take a pic of as well?

[Mike J. W.]

For sure, it was absolutely worth the gamble. I bought the lot thinking I would use them as gifts for the unitiated, but because they are so old, I'm not so sure about that anymore. I may just have to make the sacrifice of drinking them myself.

The bottles are at least pre-1987. J. M. Lumen was an importer for Taylor Fladgate sometime before 1987, but I can't nail down their end date.