What have you opened this week?

[Andrew Kirschner]

Follow up on the 1985 Taylor Fladgate: After not opening one for a while, they are definitely improved over the last time I tried one. Fruit forward- blackberry, licorice, and still some grape. Finish is smoother than I remember the last time. Would definitely say it rates better than 92pts. Let’s say 94-95. Is it astounding? No. But it is definitely not disappointing. I’ve got 5 more under the steps so hope to be enjoying them for a few more years
Cheers!

[Mike J. W.]

Andresen Royal Choice 20 y.o. Tawny. It's a nice, easy drinking TWAIOA, but I would say it's more of a 2nd tier 20 y.o. Bottled in 2022 and purchased for under $40, so I won't complain.

[Eric Menchen]

1968 Andresen colheita
DR L70 tawny
1994 Fonseca VP
All were excellent

[Mike J. W.]

1968 Andresen colheita
DR L70 tawny
1994 Fonseca VP
All were excellent

There's certainly not a weak link in that lot.

[Al B.]

Graham Stone Terraces 2011.

It really is as good as Glenn says it is!

[Moses Botbol]

1991 Warre Vintage. Really light looking. Would've thought it was an odd Ferreira looking at it. Tasted older and more like Colheita. This vintage has a lot of variances. Decent, but not one I would put a score on.

[Glenn E.]

S. Leonardo 10 Year Old White Port

I have a few of these and I've had them for a while, so I thought I should drink them faster so that they don't spend too long in bottle. They were bottled in 2020, and it feels like that bottle time is already starting to show. Very soft, and the profile lacks some acidity that I remember being there. Could have been some slight bottle variation, but I'm going to try to start drinking more of my young white Ports soon just in case.

[John M.]

For tonight with the old group:

1984 Smith Woodhouse LBV (Very light, pressure on opening so may be flawed. Tasted alright on first sip)
1984 Warres LBV
1986 Warres LBV
1990 Smith Woodhouse LBV
1992 Fonseca LBV
2002 River Bend Port (100% Malbec)....this is the Ringer, so to speak. Threw a TON of sediment.

Given the age, a couple of LBVs on Reserve, but nothing old (2017 Pocas and 2017 Maynards)

[Lucas S]

Enologo 20. Felt I should open a proper tawny to tune my palate for them before the upcoming Pocas tasting.

[Al B.]

Friends came round for dinner last night so I opened La Rosa Tonel No 12 10YO Tawny, Kopke 20YO Tawny and Churchill 2018 LBV.

The Churchill is so fruity and sweet - tastes like Lingonberry jam!

[John M.]

For tonight with the old group:

1984 Smith Woodhouse LBV (Very light, pressure on opening so may be flawed. Tasted alright on first sip)
1984 Warres LBV
1986 Warres LBV
1990 Smith Woodhouse LBV
1992 Fonseca LBV
2002 River Bend Port (100% Malbec)....this is the Ringer, so to speak. Threw a TON of sediment.

Given the age, a couple of LBVs on Reserve, but nothing old (2017 Pocas and 2017 Maynards)

WOTN was the 1992 Fonseca with the 1990 Smith Woodhouse right behind. The least favorite (9 out of 10!) was the 2002 River Bend; not good. And I have 2 more!

Ended up opening the 2017 Pocas--pretty good. The LBVs from the 80s are well past peak---exactly how they were in a prior tasting of these last year.

[Andy Velebil]

Best start drinking those River Bends. lol

And I agree with you about those ‘80s LBV’s being past peak.

[Mike J. W.]

Tym held a tasting up in Medford, MA for a number of Port loving friends and new guests including Moses and his beautiful wife as well as myself. Ports tasted (in order) were:

1989 Ramos Pinto LBV
1980 Dow VP
1985 Ramos Pinto VP
1985 Fonseca
1986 Graham's Malvedos
2003 Burmester Colheita
1989 Burmester Colheita
1985 Dalva Colheita
1978 Burmester Colheita

All were good to very good. Honestly, there wasn't a bad or even average bottle in the tasting. Thank you to Tym, his lovely wife Jen and all of their friends for making me feel so welcome. It was a great time! I believe I'll be writing a little more extensive article on the tasting for Roy's newsletter.

[Moses Botbol]

Tym held a tasting up in Medford, MA for a number of Port loving friends and new guests including Moses and his beautiful wife as well as myself. Ports tasted (in order) were:

1989 Ramos Pinto LBV
1980 Dow VP
1985 Ramos Pinto VP
1985 Fonseca
1986 Graham's Malvedos
2003 Burmester Colheita
1989 Burmester Colheita
1985 Dalva Colheita
1978 Burmester Colheita

All were good to very good. Honestly, there wasn't a bad or even average bottle in the tasting. Thank you to Tym, his lovely wife Jen and all of their friends for making me feel so welcome. It was a great time! I believe I'll be writing a little more extensive article on the tasting for Roy's newsletter.

It was a 3 point spread from best to worst for me. Dalva had some VA on it, but nothing to cry about. The Ramos LBV got a little sharp as the night went along but had the same flavor profile as the 85 VP. Solid performance for all the bottles presented!

[Glenn E.]

1985 Croft VP

Discovered that this was leaking when I re-arranged my fridges, so figured I'd open it. It's a very nice Port and doesn't seem at all damaged by the leaking. I'd say 92 points for this bottle.

[Moses Botbol]

1985 Croft VP

Discovered that this was leaking when I re-arranged my fridges, so figured I'd open it. It's a very nice Port and doesn't seem at all damaged by the leaking. I'd say 92 points for this bottle.

85 Croft has shed its poor reputation a handful of years ago. Same for 85 Taylor

[Al B.]

I find '85 Croft has a very high rate of undrinkably high VA. It's the only Port I have ever sent back consecutive bottles in a restaurant.

The weekend just gone I found a leaking bottle of Sandeman 1962, which got opened. Sadly it was too badly oxidised to be enjoyable. But the leaking bottle of Warre 1986 LBV was much nicer.

[Andy Velebil]

1985 Croft VP

Discovered that this was leaking when I re-arranged my fridges, so figured I'd open it. It's a very nice Port and doesn't seem at all damaged by the leaking. I'd say 92 points for this bottle.

A very good VP. I’ve never had VA issues with it.

[Glenn E.]

1985 Croft VP

Discovered that this was leaking when I re-arranged my fridges, so figured I'd open it. It's a very nice Port and doesn't seem at all damaged by the leaking. I'd say 92 points for this bottle.

A very good VP. I’ve never had VA issues with it.

Me either, at least not that I remember. But my memory says it's normally more of a 90-91 point Port, while for this bottle I toyed with 93 before settling on 92. So it does seem like it has gotten a bit better over the last few years.

[Mike J. W.]

Quinta dos Murcas 10 year-old Tawny (bottled 2025). This is fantastic for a 10 year-old Port. It will be interesting to see how it holds up over the next few days