Multi: 1985: Nacional, Noval, Warre, Dow, Calem, Royal Oporto …

[Todd Pettinger]

Luc, I'm trying to decide (being new and all) whether you are being serious or not! :? This is a newbie-initiation isn't it!!!

I tend to agree with Uncle Tom - the thought of PB with port is horrid, but sometimes, you just never know

The pigeon breast out this side of the country is rather tough though... even if you do wrap it in bacon. "Filet du sein de pigeon" may be a tough one to convince the significant other is socially acceptable!

[Alan C.]

Todd,

Luc inhabits a parallel Universe when it comes to Peanut Butter!
Now I might be just as odd, but read this thread, http://www.fortheloveofport.com/ftlopfo ... php?t=2460
This refers to Wood Pigeon. Normal Pigeon is like eating rat.
And when you've decided we're all a bit scary....go back to Chocolate or Cheese/biscuits.

Alan

[Todd Pettinger]

Aha... so YOU are responsible for starting all this pigeon breast nonsense then Alan!!! :)

I didn't realize Luc was referring to the (rare in my part of the country) Wood Pigeon. We only have the Urban Pigeon - definitely flying rat - although basting it in a Dow LBV 2000 as that thread suggested is a fine idea! The wine may be finished fully oxidizing prior to the pigeon breast becoming even half marinated though!

You guys are hilarious. I read that entire thread through to the end and had to stiffle the outright laughter as my employer prefers that I do not drink and laugh while at work. Laughing out loud simply draws attention to the fact that I am drinking at work...

[Andy Velebil]

Todd,

Pay no attention to those two crazy fools....that is what happens when you don't drink enough Port...you get delusions that peanut butter and flying rats are good

I see you are drinking at work...good man! Just make sure it is Port, as you best start sliding down that slippery Port slope right fast or you could end up like them

[Todd Pettinger]

Of course it is Port. But I only drink the GOOD stuff at home!
I keep a large (empty) jug of "grape juice" on my desk at all times... with only the dregs remaining in the bottom.

If anyone inquires what is in my mug, I simply point at that. Smells like grape juice, empty grape juice container on desk. Must be grape juice! 8)

Too busy to talk, move along and don't try smelling what is in the mug!!!

[Luc Gauthier]

Todd,

Pay no attention to those two crazy fools....that is what happens when you don't drink enough Port...you get delusions that peanut butter and flying rats are good

I see you are drinking at work...good man! Just make sure it is Port, as you best start sliding down that slippery Port slope right fast or you could end up like them

Andy , you may be on to something . . . If I were to drink more Port my interest , dare I say infatuation with peanut butter may dissapear entirely !!
O.K , I'll give it a shot . . .

[Andy Velebil]

Of course it is Port. But I only drink the GOOD stuff at home!
I keep a large (empty) jug of "grape juice" on my desk at all times... with only the dregs remaining in the bottom.

If anyone inquires what is in my mug, I simply point at that. Smells like grape juice, empty grape juice container on desk. Must be grape juice! 8)

Too busy to talk, move along and don't try smelling what is in the mug!!!

NICE 8) 8)

[Ghandih]

Hello, following up from the contribution to the vertical Cockburn/Taylor excitement of the previous night, my thoughts on the 1985s...

Overall, the tasting had more poor bottles than any tasting I have attended, but, as has been noted, there was no Graham, Taylor, Cockburn, Fonseca or Croft. Really, this was about finding out about less well known houses, with some favourites (notably the Noval and Nacional) as yardsticks. It was expected there would be some fallers, which is why 14 bottles were offered to relatively few folk (at least in terms of port capacities).

My favourite of the evening was the Ramos Pinto, and I'd never heard of it before. Some chocolatiness, it had a big, round flavour and filled up your mouth with fab flavours. Delicious!

The Churchill was also really good, similarly with a big flavour in marked contrast to some of the others.

As Julian mentions, I have to say that, in a weak field, the Nacional was awful and the worst of the evening. I think we have to put it down to a bad bottle and forget it happened.

You are politely recommended to avoid Royal Oporto, Napa and KWV. Messias was the next worse in my ranking, but by this time the fault was not active nastiness but simply blandness.

After all the discussion on the Warre, I didn't rank it but it was safely tucked into the middle of the field - a peleton port, if I might put it that way.

The 1985 Vintage
I see much debate above about the merits of the 1985 vintage. I'm surprised the prices of this vintage aren't climbing, because I'm very happy with it - at least as indicated by the Taylor, my favourite port, and the Martinez 1985 which Julian and I bought in auction. They're still not ready, and they probably won't hit the pinnacles of the great vintages.

But they're very, very nice, and that's sort of what really matters, eh?

[nicos neocleous]

Nice notes. Agree with the 1985 Warre drinking really well now. I am patiently ageing my '85 Fonseca's and Grahams...

[Roy Hersh]

Any others that you would recommend from 1985 Nicos?