Event: Happy birthday Roy

[David Spriggs]

Happy Birthday Roy! Awesome tasting!!!

-Dave-

[Roy Hersh]

Thanks guys!

It was well over a year in planning and a lot of fun, with a great pre-dinner and then the two main events. I have done some homework which is still underway, looking for a lineup to rival the Colheitas that were unveiled here for the "death row" by some varacious Port loving friends.

Two quick mentions. The 1863, which I have held onto for a number of years for such a momentous occasion, was from the Quinta do Vesuvio, spelled VEZUVIO on this bottling. It was an original cork and was certainly well stored when it came my way from the cellar of a good and most generous friend. I am not so sure it was a Royal Oporto at all. I know for sure that Dona Antonia Adelaide Ferreira had owned Vesuvio and also this was still during the time when many Ports had to go through some crazy "regulations" and that could account for the label. I will miss having that bottle in my cellar, but was proud to share this and many other gems that awaited their early demise at such a time as having those that would appreciate their contents most!


1935 Barros White Colhetia (Bottled specially for this tasting, and one of 2 bottles that exist in the world!)

I know that they bottled this especially for our weekend of hedonism, but did not hear about the fact that there were only two in the world. Is that true or was there some confusion with the two bottles that I blended? The 1920 was also a remarkably older bottle which had been presented specifically for this historical Colheita tasting. Thanks to all that contributed amazing bottles. Now who is left, to drink the remainder of what went unconsumed. Stewart, I believe you need an excuse to come by the house.

[Luc Gauthier]

Bonne Fête mon ami !!

[SEAN C.]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROY!

Sounds like you had quite a good one!
..what a line up of Ports..WOW!

[Andy Velebil]

Roy,

Sandra stated the 1935 Barros White Colheita was the second bottle produced (bottled), and it was bottled 2 weeks prior specifically for the tasting. She also stated there is very little of it left and it will never be bottled for sale, only used on rare occassions for in-house use and special events. The bottle doesn't say anywhere on it that it's a white colheita. All it says is "Colheita 1935" The back label is just the standard generic Barros paper label with "Colheita 1935" typed by what looks like someone did with a laser printer.

[Stewart T.]

I am thankful to have the dregs of a couple of the Ports we sampled. Just took a small nip of the ounce or so of the 1957 Kopke left over from the tasting, and it is still a wonderful nectar...

And Roy, I rarely need a good reason to come over to your place, because I always know you'll be serving some crazy Port! :)

[Alex K.]

Ooops - missed. Belated birthday greetings, Roy, looks like it was a good one.

[Roy Hersh]

Stewart,

I wondered where my birth year bottle (and some others) disappeared to!



Alex K. and others,

Thanks for the kind words. It was a memorable celebration.



Andy,

I appreciate your reminder.

[Andy Velebil]

All I can say is, nothing like drinking the left overs of a 1937 Niepoort Colheita for breakfast at 9am on Sunday ohh what a weekend it was

[Al B.]

And the dregs of the 1815 Royal Oporto were still amazingly alive when I shook out the last contents of the bottle into a glass on Wednesday night.

That bottle is now standing in my study and fills the room with the most wonderful smell when the door is closed overnight.

What a birthday celebration! Well done to Roy for organising something truly memorable and remarkable.

Alex

[Stewart T.]

Roy, Kris Henderson and I gathered last night to finish off almost most of the remaining dregs from the weekend's debauchery. It was more social than a tasting, so there aren't really any tasting notes, but some interesting discoveries. Thought those of you who tried these wines would like some notes on how they are holding up almost a week later...

Kris brought a baby of a wine in a 2004 Beaucastel CDP.

Then we dove into the Ports:

1815 D. Antonia A. Ferreira - this bottle had declined some since the initial tastings.

1863 Royal Oporto (D. Antonia A. Ferreira) - Still holding it's own.

1900 Ferreira Reserve Colheita - This was the surprise of the night for me, as we all agreed that this bottle was better now than at any of the prior tastings.

1910 Andresen - Still had that surprisingly good palate that didn't match the still-musty nose.

1912 Niepoort Colheita - This was one of my wines of the weekend, and it continued to wow us.

1920 Calem (Vinho do Porto) Colheita - Also still showing exceptionally!

1927 Constantino's Colheita - Also still showing exceptionally!

1938 Kopke Colheita - Previous heat had integrated more.

1957 Barros Colheita - Also still showing exceptionally!

For dessert we had a very interesting dessert wine call Bellum, made from Mourvèdre / Monastrell grapes.

Thanks Roy for yet another great evening, and I will make sure your birth year bottle makes it's way back to your new Colheita bottle collection :)

[Kris Henderson]

It was a pleasure to taste these wines, especially since I wasn't at the tasting on Sunday. Thanks Roy for inviting me over to sample some of the leftovers.

Looking back on my notes, I really enjoyed the 1920 Constantino, 1900 Ferreira, and 1912 Niepoort. The 1920 Constantino was a slight favorite over the 1912 Niepoort for me. It had an intoxicating nose that drew me in. I could have smelled it all night if it didn't taste as good as it smelled.

[Roy Hersh]

It was an interesting way to revisit the wines. Glad you two could make it over for such a small tasting, but it certainly was fun!