Lots of new faces ... please introduce yourself

[Roy Hersh]

Monique,

It is great having you back and we are all very pleased you've rejoined us. Sorry about the World Cup, I imagine everyone you know was going crazy in the final game. Anyway, we are really pleased you've decided to come back and hang out with us on occasion. Someday, I need to do a Port tour through Northern Europe. It would be great to open a few fun Ports with you!

[Monique Heinemans.]

Looking forward to it Roy!

Kind regards, Monique.

[Andy Velebil]

Hi Monique,
Great to have you back with us and thanks for the introduction. I look forward to reading more posts from you in the future

[Cynthia J]

Sounds like the start of an AA meeting, except I'd be thrown out for saying ... Hi, I'm Cynthia and I unrepentently adore port... and living in Vila Nova de Gaia and writing about wine, food and Portugal in my own blog, and about Graham's particularly for their blog and Facebook page since mid July. My first glass of port was a 1963 Warre's, which a friend brought along to a dinner to celebrate my British citizenship in 2001 - I swear I can still taste it, even now - 9 1/2 years, I'd say that's a nice long finish... Have also had the pleasure of a hundred-year old Malmsey Oliveira Reserva 1907 which was fresh and lovely – so much so I drank someone else’s glass that night, not just my own. I promise to be more well-behaved in this forum.

[Eric Menchen]

Welcome Cynthia!

Have also had the pleasure of a hundred-year old Malmsey Oliveira Reserva 1907 which was fresh and lovely – so much so I drank someone else’s glass that night, not just my own. I promise to be more well-behaved in this forum.

Personally, I would make no such promise. If there is a special glass on the table not being consumed, it would be a shame to do otherwise.

[Cynthia J]

Effective, if cheeky, way to introduce yourself to someone!

[Andy Velebil]

I promise to be more well-behaved in this forum.

Cynthia,
Thanks for giving a little introduction about yourself and please feel free to misbehave. I promise your boss' will never find out about it from this site

Hopefully I will get the chance to meet you at some point when I am in the Douro during harvest. And I must say thank you for keeping the Graham's blog/facebook interesting. Keep up the good work.

[Roy Hersh]

OK, now you've raised the curiosity bar. If not ORIGINALLY from the UK as I had believed, would you be willing to share with us where you are from?

A riddle wrapped in an enigma.

[Cynthia J]

So much for my Greta Garbo act of mystery, dahhling... born and raised in the States, Connecticut, moved to England on a gut instinct in 1997, and after requisite time naturalised as a British citizen, and revoked US citizenship. In Gaia since November 2009 (also gut instinct move!) More stories than that of my chequered career will cost you a LOT of port... and would be unpublishable, or at least so I like to think!

[Roy Hersh]

We have a very simple rule whilst in Portugal, Cynthia. What goes on or is said in Portugal ... stays in Portugal. Not surprised it was CT after all. Let me guess ... Fairfield County?

[Cynthia J]

Yikes! Yes, but... I haven't been there in more than half a lifetime (notice I'm coyly avoiding numbers of years...) Weston. Why? I know about 10 years after I left it became terribly posh and unaffordable, but since then i've lost all contact with the place. I'm curious - is there some kind of stereotype now about it?

[Jeremy E]

Hello. New to the forum and I appreciate the friendly welcome I have already received. Learned so much from FTLOP and the TNs so far. Enjoyed port previously, but couldn't name more than two or three brands until this summer, when my wife and I spent a week in Portugal (for a conference) and did enough port tasting at the Port Wine Institute's tasting room in Lisbon to be hooked. Brought home two colheitas: a 1963 Romariz and a 1996 Burmester, along with some others for friends. My wife says the former is strictly major anniversary worthy. It was also "The Bottle" for me. Tried a bunch of ports while there, but sadly, can't remember as many as I should have, including a bottle of vintage port we shared with friends.

Still doing my "research", but ones I have tasted thus far that I can remember well enough to rank in terms of favorite to least favorite are:

1963 Romariz Colheita
1996 Burmester Colheita
2003 Taylor LBV
Quinta de Ventozelo 10 Year Tawny
Fonseca Bin 27
Graham Six Grapes
Quarles Harris 10 Year Tawny
Sandeman Founder's Reserve

Only the last two I considered disappointing. Looking forward to reading and learning more. Thanks, Jeremy

[Eric Menchen]

Welcome again Jeremy. I used to live in Fairfax, and Roy was in Reston for a while as I recall. Total Beverage out that way used to have a few deals. I think they've changed names since then. I know there are a few shops in DC and Maryland that might be able to hook you up with a nice bottle or two as well.

[Andy Velebil]

again Jeremy. Great to have you and I look forward to reading more posts from you!

[Roy Hersh]

Jeremy,

Good to have you on board and welcome to . You've had some very nice Ports and glad you were able to visit Portugal as although I love the North, the South has a ton of things to offer as well.

There is a ton to learn and I like that you find the TN section one of the best parts of this site. With nearly 7,000 TNs in our database ... it has become a very serious tool for Port/Madeira and Douro lovers.

As you have already dipped your toes into the water (hopefully to be Port during one of our Harvest Tours someday) we will be happy to answer any questions you may have and certainly please do feel free to join our discussions anytime you feel like it. I know it seems a bit clubby here at times, but we welcome all to join in and it is only because many of us have gotten together over the years that we get to know one another beyond these four walls.

Enjoy your exploration of the many styles and vintages of great Ports!

[Jeremy E]

Thanks again for the very warm welcomes. I really appreciate it. I look forward to learning more and more.

Eric, yes, Total Beverage (or "Total Wine (and More)" as they call it now) has decent prices and not a bad selection. They only had one colheita--a 1997 Offley, not just at my local one, but also at the more upscale location in McLean where they sometimes let me in. But based on Andy's recommendation about Offley, I bought it, but have yet to open it.

Last weekend, my wife and I were walking around the neighborhood and peaked in the local wine shop, where the selection is small, but the people are nice. They didn't have much, but they had a few bottles of Romariz Reserva Latina. Since our 1963 colheita is a Romariz, and the woman at the store thought it was a great deal at $17, we bought it. Enjoyed it quite a bit. I took notes, so I will attempt a first, and no doubt mediocre, tasting note entry.

[Roy Hersh]

Jeremy,

Does Arrowine still exist over there. They used to have a fantastic selection of Port and in DC, Wide World of Wine also was stellar (previously in MD) and they really know Port too. I remember buying all of my 1983s from them at $19/bottle, very early on.

[Jeremy E]

Roy,

Yes, Arrowine still does exist in North Arlington. I will have to pay them a visit. I know where it is, but I don't make it up there very often. Since you say that they have (or at least, had) a good Port selection, I will need to stop by. I know of Wide World of Wines on Wisconsin Ave, but have never stopped in. Used to be in that neighborhood a lot when an old friend lived in Glover Park, but don't make into that area as much in my old age.

Thanks for the suggestion. Arrowine is more convenient for me, so I'll try to stop by in the next week or two... and then report back with any interesting finds.

[Nuno a]

Hello! My name is Nuno A. and I live in Portugal, Lisbon, i have a lot bottles of port

[David Spriggs]

Welcome Nuno! Thanks for participating. Keep the posts coming. I will be in Portugal next week and can't wait to be there! How many bottles do you have? So far I have seen that you have a very fine collection.