Drink or Hold?

[john C]

Hi, my name is John & I live in the Yorkshire Pennines, about 6 miles south-west of Huddersfield in the UK.

We have the good fotune to live in a house built in 1820, when proper underground cellars were the norm. Cellar temperature ranges from 7 to 9 degrees C, winter to summer, and it has kept my wines very well for over 20 years, long enough for the cellar to produce the occasional surprise.

The latest of these is a single bottle of H. & C.J. Feist Port Colheita 1963. The label is ragged, but the seal looks in good condition. The wine looks pale by comparison with say a Dow or Warres of the same year, but the question now is do I open & drink, or is it good enough to keep until I can share it with some fellow port enthusiasts? Drink or hold? That is the dilemma, have I found a gem or is it an over-the -top lightweight?

[goncalo devesas]

Hello John

My opinion is that, you should (must) drink it, because the Port wine "Colheita" is a barrel-aged Port that ages a minimum of 7 years in a oxidative process and also it evaporates (angel´s share) a lot with the help of pores from the permeability of oak pipes (around 500ltrs / 600 ltrs), after the bottling time I think that it´s also nice to wait a couple of months, but as the time passes it will become less intense, lacking on aromas and brightness.

I don´t know if you may verify the bottling date, because of the labels shape...

If it was a "Vintage", you may let it age, because is a bottle-aged Port and the unique that as the ability to age some decades.

Otherwise if you decide to open it , I suggest that it should be decanted.

Although, you should wait for some other (Roy and Andy) expertise opinions...

[john C]

Hello Goncalo

Thanks for your help. The bottling date for the 1963 Feist Colheita port was 1988, printed on the label.

I think I will open it, but not expect it to be great!

Regards

John

[goncalo devesas]

Enjoy the 1963 Feist during the weekend

[Eric Menchen]

If you had found a 1963 Vintage Port, I'd say you'd found the pirate's treasure, a valuable bottle perhaps at its peak. But a 1963 Colheita, bottled in 1988, is more the archaeological oddity, appreciated by those around here for its uniqueness and place in history, but not for its financial value or drinking quality. And like some archaeological finds, this one is decaying as we speak. I wouldn't have my hopes up, but I would love to drink such a bottle. And who knows, it might provide some wonderful drinking pleasure. Enjoy it soon!

[Peter W. Meek]

And please post a note when you have tried it. Every data point adds to the general knowledge.

You may be able to post a great tasting note like Roy and many others here, or you may be like me: barely able to give a coherent impression of the wine. Either way, post a TN.

[Glenn E.]

And like some archaeological finds, this one is decaying as we speak.

That probably depends more on the cork than on the fact that it is a Colheita. Since it has already been aging in the bottle for 22 years, it probably isn't changing much over time anymore and would probably hold at or near its current quality level for many more years. Especially since it has been well-kept in a proper cellar. I think you have plenty of time to arrange to share it with other Port enthusiasts if you so desire, and I'm sure that anyone you invited would love to experience such a unique bottle.

Since it is a Colheita I would guess that it is stoppered with a full driven cork. But if not - if it was stoppered with a T-style cork with plastic top - then it may very well be completely "dead" by now. T-stoppers aren't meant to keep a wine protected for years of aging.

I was lucky enough to get to try a Niepoort 30-year Old Tawny Port that was bottled in 1986, and it was a wonderful experience. I have no idea what it tasted like when freshly bottled, obviously, but the aged version was intensely complex, dark, and brooding. I don't believe that I scored it, though, as I think that was right before I started doing ratings.

Regardless, as the others have said, please do post a Tasting Note when you try it. We'd all love to hear how it turns out!

[Eric Menchen]

And like some archaeological finds, this one is decaying as we speak.

That probably depends more on the cork than on the fact that it is a Colheita. Since it has already been aging in the bottle for 22 years, it probably isn't changing much over time anymore and would probably hold at or near its current quality level for many more years.

Sorry, I couldn't come up with a better metaphor. You are right that if the cork is in good shape, it probably isn't changing much these days, and there isn't a huge rush.

[Derek T.]

John,

I live a few miles south of you near Chesterfield in north Derbyshire. If I were you I would save that bottle for a time when it can be matched up with a few similar specimins that can all be tasted together

Derek

[Roy Hersh]

Hi John,

I think that Glenn and Derek's posts were spot on.

Little did Glenn know that later after his post that when he, Stewart and I got together this afternoon for a brief but fun tasting ... in my winebag was a bottle of 1890 Colheita (Burmester) bottled 41 years ago in 1969. It was not the greatest Port experience to be sure, but it was still very much alive with excellent acidity and unique aromatics and flavors too. I made sure that Glenn would be able to have the oldest Colheita he's ever had and was very pleased to be able to share it with him and Stewart too.

First of all, Feist makes much better Colheita than Vintage Port where the only VP that they've made that excelled in my opinion, is the 1970 Vintage. OTOH, the Colheitas they produce are lighter and more elegant than most but very tasty. I would not worry in the least about a 1963 Colheita bottled in 1988, in fact I would have high expectations that this is going to wow you and friends. It certainly was made in a year that did wonders for most Vintage Ports at the time. The Burmest 1963 Colheita is one of the two greatest Colheitas I've ever had from that house and again, it was a 1963 too.

Derek also provides very sound advice. Fortunately for you, Derek and his Port loving friends are some of the nicest people that I have met from FTLOP. We all got together for our first Port tasting in October 2005 and have all remained very good friends over the years. But I live 6,000 miles away (good for my liver, but bad for my Karma). I only get over to visit them after our Port Harvest Tours and they spoil us by arranging amazing offlines, knowing a few of us from this side of the pond will be joining them. Andy is heading over there this coming week, but will be back in Oct. too.

But you are far more fortunate, even if you do live in very close proximity to Derek. Watch out for that Scotsman, he has TWO hollow legs and they're seasoned by years of Port storage. In all seriousness, save your fine bottle for a time when he will introduce you to the greatest group of Port lovers in London and the surrounding areas. Your bottle will be shared with people that will truly appreciate it as great old Colheita is not all that common in the UK but these chaps really like it when they come across great bottles, no matter how much they prattle on about Vintage Port, Vintage Port and nothing else, but Vintage Port. Enjoy the roller coaster, you have innocently just walked into the Port thrill ride of a lifetime ... have fun with it!

By the way, what a wonderful first post. Welcome aboard.

[Derek T.]

Watch out for that Scotsman, he has TWO hollow legs and they're seasoned by years of Port storage.

As Kenneth Williams once said: "Infamy, infamy, they've all got it infamy"

[Moses Botbol]

I have never had a good colheita that has been in the bottle for long time. Most have been totally yucky (using my big words).

Part of the passion with port is to open it and see. Nothing better than when a port exceeds my expectations or takes me by suprise. Port drinker are gracious crowd and be prepared to binge!

[Roy Hersh]

In case you've never seen this before, the updated version of my Vintage Chart is on the homepage.

http://www.fortheloveofport.com/port-ba ... port-chart

It provides Drink or Hold recommendations for 3 dozen vintages, first written back in 2005 when this website was launched.

[Eric Menchen]

In case you've never seen this before, the updated version of my Vintage Chart is on the homepage.
http://www.fortheloveofport.com/port-ba ... port-chart

Aha! Someone rates the 1983 as "Excellent" and 1985 as "Very Good." I haven't had enough 1983 to really make such a full characterization, but I've suggested this in a few labels.

[Roy Hersh]

Most would disagree with 1983s, but they are typically quite approachable at 27. There are only a few that are still young and massive Ports and the Graham's can be that way, but even more so ... Gould Campbell and Smith Woodhouse are still dark magenta and power houses that never get enough cred. They should. I think people diss 1983, because of the TCA in the Cockburn's, the fact that Taylor is weak and the Fonseca is a low 90-92 point experience, depending on the bottle. Otherwise, there are some really fine 1983s out there and if you happen to get lucky with a Cockburn's it can be an amazing experience.