Decanting Time Recommendations

[Andy Velebil]

A fun night indeed. You guys still alive

Look forward to reading both of your TN's on the wines...and lager

[Derek T.]

Big thanks to Al-C for a splendid evening of excess. Even bigger thanks, and a degree of sympathy, to the gorgeous Deborah for waiting on us hand and foot during the evening and the following morning.

Here are some TN's from the evening.....

Dow's 1977

Smith Woodhouse 1977 (or Smithhouse Woodhouse 1977 as Alan describes it )

Quarles Harris 1977

Warre's 1980

Derek

[Derek T.]

On the night I would place the wines we had in the following order for drinking now:

Dow's 1977
Smith Woodhouse 1977
Warre's 1980
Warre's LBV 1995
Quarles Harris 1977
Berry Brothers Vintage Character (believed bottled in the 1970's)
Cruz Reserve
Calem 2002

After a further 24 hours I would more or less keep the same order with the exception that the QH77 would move up 3 places.

Derek

[Alan C.]

Not much difference from me,

I had it as
Dows
Warre/Smith Woodhouse(Tied)
Quarles Harris/Warre LBV(Tied)
Dereks Odd Ruby/Cruz/Calem(Unplaced, fell at various fences)

Which changed to
Dows
Warre's
Q Harris
Smith W
Warre's LBV
Spag Boll Juices.

Great night though. Even if Winston fell asleep smoking one of the best Cigars in the World! Bet he wouldn't have done that with a 31!
Mind you, he might of, if the 31 was only served very late at night at my house???
Thank God for the recovery powers of the Great Northern Chip Butty, with HP Sauce.

[Roy Hersh]

Is now a good time to have a fun read back through this thread? Heck yeah!

I can't even imagine Derek starting this one, but it just goes to show the major difference in a decade or more. Derek has forgotten more about Port than most people ever get to know in a lifetime.

Should any of our newer participants wish to ask a question after reading this thread, please feel free to do so. Lots of great information here and I thank Derek for bringing up this topic!

[Al B.]

Can I please have some suggested decanting times for the following:
Croft 1977
Dow's 1977
Quarles Harris 1977
Smith Woodhouse 1977

I've just realised that I didn't respond to Derek's original query. Better late than never.
These days I would decant as follows:
Dow 1977 — as close to the time of drinking as possible, just in case it turns out to be a bottle affected by TCA
Croft 1977 — 6-7 hours
Quarles Harris 1977 — 4 hours (no sign of it falling off a cliff, despite Andy's worries)
Smith Woodhouse 1977 — a big, burly port; I'd give this one at least 12 hours and more if I could)