2008 FTLOP PORT HARVEST TOUR - BLOG

[Derek T.]

From the conversations I have had with shippers and winemakers in 2007/08 I would think there is more chance of hell freezing over or pigs flying than there is that the major shippers will not declare 2007.

Derek

[Roy Hersh]

Derek is far more accurate in his assessment than Tom's supposition in this case. We've been told at almost every spot that 2007 is going to happen, although nobody wants their name to be put in print. Regardless, the economics ARE another reason (beyond great quality and good quantity) that 2007 will be declared. The downward spiral of sales of Port will be bolstered by a vintage declaration which always provides a solid cash flow infusion for the Port companies. With four years since the last general declaration, there is no question that the financial need is there and more so, the excitement that a general declaration generates. We've heard of a couple of Port companies that are barely hanging on at this moment and it looks like the possibility of at least two more failures coming in the next year or so. A vintage declaration probably won't save either of them, but then again ... it will provide an immediate cash infusion that will keep them from sustained life support. We'll see, but I'd bet the farm!

But the proof is in the tasting and we've tasted quite a few from 2007 and even a handful from 2008. No doubt which is better.

Today we visited Quinta do Tedo. We had a great tour of their 15 hectares and were all over the property checking the various block plantings of each varietal. Tinta Franca has been decimated in many parts of the Douro. A bug attack and some issue with mold have significantly cut back the yields and in some cases between 30% and as much as 60% from one viticulturists report.

We then barrel tasted 2007 and a few 2008 Douro wines and Ports. Those cask samples of single varietal Ports that will be blended together were quite good and the Touriga Nacional was solid but the Tinta Barroca was killer and I personally would buy it on its own, if they'd sell it that way ... which they won't.

We headed to Quinta do Noval and spent nine and a half hours there, tasting through 20 bottles. We were supposed to do some treading in lagares after dinner, but we er, um ... forgot about that. Yes, a very fine tasting, although in full candor, the 2006 Port Harvest Tour had a better showing as Mr. Seely was not present and although we had some solid Ports and a handful of Nacionals, the lack of 1994 and 1963 was slightly less fulfilling. However, one of the stars of the entire evening was a 1968 Colheita that we were offered up to celebrate the 40th birthday of Julian (JDaw1) W. as well as the regular 1967 Noval VP which was absolutely mindblowing and on this particular evening, even better than the 1967 Nacional (an imperfect bottle, imo).

We have an amazing lineup planned for our last day tomorrow day and night. I'll report back when time permits.

[David Spriggs]

Thanks Roy. It's always nice to hear about the visit to Noval. What a special place!
-Dave-

[Roy Hersh]

Dave,

It is a great visit that I only include every other year in the itinerary at this point. When Christian is not available, we are always pleased to have the charms of Rute, spend time with us. After a handful of these years of visits since 2003, before the tours, I had never seen the armazem at Noval and finally, we took the time to walk all the way down to see it. I must admit that I was pretty amazed by the enormous size and quantity/age of the various pipas, toneis and balseiros.

[idj123]

Roy, I was that "gent" from the UK (that's first time I can recall being called that-maybe I am getting old!) and let's face it (no pun intended!) having received your newsletter for the last couple of years you are pretty unmistakeable-although I did just check with our waiter beforehand, just in case! In any respect, it was good to meet you, Andy and the team and hopefully your tour was as successful as our weekend was (as I mentioned to you, the highlight was a personal visit to Niepoort-just wish I had managed to smuggle out that 1900 Colheita we were shown!). I have,however, still to check out my bank account following the trip! We'll certainly be keeping a look out for any 2009 tour.

[Jan-Tore Egge]

Thanks for the reports, folks. Fascinating reading. Also, interesting musings on the politics of declaration.

[Roy Hersh]

Ian, (I hope I remember your name correctly!!!)

It was great to meet you and I hope your group had as much fun as we did that night in VinoLogia.

I am finally finishing off the last of my trip to Portugal and leave tomorrow for the UK.

On our last day, we did a fun tasting of a couple of Moscatels and Ports at Quinta do Portal, where we stayed during our Douro part of the trip. We then headed for a fantastic lunch, once again, at the infamous D.O.C. restaurant. Fabulous food, well presented too and we had some nice wines, both white and red.

We headed back to Porto, went to AVEPOD for some wine/Port and olive oil shopping. Then rested up for a few hours before doing a killer "last supper" and had four bottles of the 2006 Q. do Crasto Vinha Velha Reserva before heading on to Ports.

Not to make a short night of things, we then headed over to the Solar do Vinho do Porto for a night cap and Julian picked a great wine for us to buy and drink. I loved it actually and it was by far, the best bottle of 1978 Dalva VP I have ever tasted. Then again, it was the only bottle of it that I have ever tasted.

We were not done yet, back to the Porto Palacio for a grand finale of Ports. Vesuvio, Noval and Nacionals were left over and it was time to put them down. Finally time to turn in.

Today, I headed off with Mario into Porto to do some damage to celebrate the end of another great Harvest Tour, this our 4th year of guiding these for our guests. So far, we've received pretty solid commentary ... but the surveys have yet to be sent out.

Time for bed and departure tomorrow to No. London and my first time flying through Gatwick. See you all soon for the Cockburn's tasting. I think I have my "Port stamina" firmly in place at this point.

[Andy Velebil]

I have finally returned home this evening after 2 1/2 weeks on the road, 3 countries, tons of Port, and the best was finally meeting some forum members face to face for the first time. The Harvest Tour was great fun and so was the 3-Centuries of Cockburn Vintage Ports!! More on that later as jet lag is kicking in and I'm quite tired from an almost 12 hour flight home.

[Roy Hersh]

i am fact checking a date for one of my photos for the newsletter and knew that this Blog thread would provide me the exact date I needed.

Then it occured to me that I have never read this before. Andy and I posted our experiences, but I've never read the thread from a very different perspective ... yours. Anyway, I enjoyed the read in a deja vu sort of way. There are lots of fun predictions here that will be interesting to look back upon, a year or two down the road.

[Andy Velebil]

That was a fun walk down memory lane. I'll never forget that week, actually almost 3 weeks for me with the additional side trips to England and Scotland. Dinner at the Factory House, TFP Headquarters, Kopke lodge, Noval, Vesuvio, Crasto, etc in Portugal. A few days exploring England for the very first time (I'd never been there before), a great dinner and cigars with Chris G., the awesome Cockburn Verticle, the evening at The Bell and a very rare 1927 Fonseca VP. Then heading to Scotland with Derek, picking up his son and brother-in-law and doing a very long hike up in the Highlands where I got to very briefly speak to a member of the English Royal Family that was on vacation there. Sharing a few bottles of Port at night, and finding out one of the B&B owners loved Port...so a 1970 Warre's was opened and shared with her and her partner, which they loved and she kept the bottle.

But the best part of all was getting to spend time with so many members of the family. Thank you to all for a great trip

[Roy Hersh]

There are two vintages with varying opinions which makes for a great discussion ... which will be declared?



2007:

"All in all, it seems that 2007 is pretty much a lock for being a general declaration "unofficially" of course. However, 2008 Douro wines are looking very solid and if it was not for such greatness last year, there would be a 2008 declaration of Port too."
Roy

"From the conversations I have had with shippers and winemakers in 2007/08 I would think there is more chance of hell freezing over or pigs flying than there is that the major shippers will not declare 2007." Derek T.

"We've been told at almost every spot that 2007 is going to happen, although nobody wants their name to be put in print. Regardless, the economics ARE another reason (beyond great quality and good quantity) that 2007 will be declared. The downward spiral of sales of Port will be bolstered by a vintage declaration which always provides a solid cash flow infusion for the Port companies. With four years since the last general declaration, there is no question that the financial need is there and more so, the excitement that a general declaration generates. We've heard of a couple of Port companies that are barely hanging on at this moment and it looks like the possibility of at least two more failures coming in the next year or so. A vintage declaration probably won't save either of them, but then again ... it will provide an immediate cash infusion that will keep them from sustained life support. We'll see, but I'd bet the farm!"
Roy



2008:

"With little evidence to suggest that stocks from previous declared years are running low, I reckon, irrespective of quality, that they will probably give '07 a miss."
Uncle Tom