NV Sandeman Founder's Reserve Port

[Andy Velebil]

A little less sprity than the tawny, some thin grape flavors and out of balanced. This needs more fresh fruit to support it. 81 points
10/02/06

[Jeremy E]

A little less sprity than the tawny, some thin grape flavors and out of balanced. This needs more fresh fruit to support it. 81 points
10/02/06

Hi Andy. New to the forum, and new to port. Trip to Portugal this summer got me hooked. I must say, of the ports I've tried thus far, Sandeman Founder's Reserve is perhaps the most disappointing. Not good on writing TNs, but "thin grape flavors" says it exactly. Found Fonseca's Bin 27 much more enjoyable. I've been looking for more colheitas in wine shops around town, but have found very little selection thus far. Brought a 1963 Romariz and a 1996 Burmester back from Portugal, which my wife says are special occasions only bottles.

[Eric Menchen]

New to the forum, and new to port. Trip to Portugal this summer got me hooked. ... Brought a 1963 Romariz and a 1996 Burmester back from Portugal, which my wife says are special occasions only bottles.

Jeremy. You should introduce yourself in this thread. I've liked dessert wines for a good while, but like you, was hooked on Port after a trip to Porto. Don't worry about the tasting notes. All impressions are worthwhile, and you'll fit right in. Now, as for the special occasions, we need to indoctrinate you (and your wife) on that. Today is the first day of the month--that's enough of an occasion to open a nice bottle of Port!

[Andy Velebil]

A little less sprity than the tawny, some thin grape flavors and out of balanced. This needs more fresh fruit to support it. 81 points
10/02/06

Hi Andy. New to the forum, and new to port. Trip to Portugal this summer got me hooked. I must say, of the ports I've tried thus far, Sandeman Founder's Reserve is perhaps the most disappointing. Not good on writing TNs, but "thin grape flavors" says it exactly. Found Fonseca's Bin 27 much more enjoyable. I've been looking for more colheitas in wine shops around town, but have found very little selection thus far. Brought a 1963 Romariz and a 1996 Burmester back from Portugal, which my wife says are special occasions only bottles.

Jeremy,

Welcome to and glad you've found us and the Port bug I too prefer Bin 27 to Founder's Reserve so you're not alone. If you stick around this group will have you drinking and buying a lot of Port in very short order. Are you able to have wine shipped to you in your state? If so that makes it much easier to find some good wines at good prices than what may be available near you.

[Jeremy E]

Thanks, gents, for the kind welcome. I just wrote a brief intro on the link Eric provided. Basically, listed the ports I have had that I can remember. Sadly, I was busy enjoying the ports in Portugal and, being not knowledgable and figuring they were obscure enough that I couldn't get them back in the US, didn't remember most of the names. I remember enjoying the colheitas more than the 10 and 20 year tawnies while there. Since coming back, I have made an effort to remember what I've consumed.

I actually don't know if one can ship wines directly in Virginia. I have a feeling not, based on what I've heard. The wine store I usually go to says they can special order ports, but I suspect that requires at least a case of something. They only had one colheita, a 1997 (Offley perhaps? can't remember). So far, I have preferred the LBVs I have tried to the Reserves, but that could just be the ones I've tried, and they are at a similar price point.

[Andy Velebil]

Jeremy,

Offley is once again making some very nice things, so don't hesitate to give them a try.

[Jeremy E]

Thanks for the tip, Andy. If it's Offley, I'll pick it up next time and then perhaps give a lame attempt at a first tasting note .