Lots of new faces ... please introduce yourself

[Eric Menchen]

Welcome Kiran. It is nice of you to join us. Where are you from and where in the Netherlands is your store? My wife's family lived in Houten for a while, I did a small stint in Delft, and we have a close friend here in Colorado who is from Groningen.

[Kiran S.]

Hello Eric,

I am from Breda, a fairly large city in the south of the Netherlands. Houten and Delft are about the same distance from Breda, approximately 40 miles.
Concerning my work: it is not exactly a physical store. I work for Bay van der Bunt, owner of Old Liquors. This collection is also in Breda.
If you are interested, you can check out the website on http://www.oldliquors.com. There are pictures on the media page that give a great impression of the collection.

As I maintain the data on the website, any pointers and information from you guys would be much appreciated.
My interest in port and other liquors is of course linked to my work, which I why I try to learn as much as possible.
Feel free to ask me anything if you have any questions.

[Rob C.]

If you are interested, you can check out the website on http://www.oldliquors.com. There are pictures on the media page that give a great impression of the collection.

Some amazing bottles in the collection....and some equally amazing prices!

If you can find buyers for Noval 1975 at £560 per bottle, maybe i should start selling my collection also!

I'm intrigued that the very old ports pictured on the media page seem to be stored standing up - that might make me a bit worried but someone recently told me that all the old Villar D'Allen bottles were stored that way too (have not seen myself) so maybe that's the correct method for the very old stuff.

[Kiran S.]

Hi Rob,

Thank you for your reply. Price is also a pointer so if you have any suggestions on that area, I would be happy to hear them
Keep in mind that we do not try to be the cheapest on the market but mainly focus on the rarest and most exclusive bottles.
Cognac stands out for a large share of the collection. However if something is hugely out of proportion compared to competitors, we will adapt where we can.

The standing bottles is also something I have wondered about. I have learned that the very old vintages can be kept this way.
The bottles that are kept this way are also carefully selected. The owner keeps a close eye on all the bottles (as collectors do ).

[Michael K.]

Hello,

I'm Michael, live in Berlin and have been a port fanatic for about five years. It came about because my better half found some nice glasses while on holiday in Denmark. I decided they were for port, bought a bottle, and the rest is history.
I have been to Porto a few times and like it very much. It must be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. My favourite watering hole is the Cafe Majestic, and the Hotel Infante Sagres is wonderful.
I came across FTLOP by chance, googling, and am slowly becoming an addict to the site.

Best regards

Michael

[Roy Hersh]

Michael,

You clearly have great taste. I've been going to Cafe Majestic for many years, my first time in 1994, when I stayed a block away in a hotel. We often times put our guests up at the IdS hotel you mention too. One year, you should look to join us on one of our tours and we'll show you things you might not otherwise get to see. In the upcoming newsletter, there is a section done by a German Port lover who offers up a great video on a recent tasting in your country.

Hopefully, we will get to meet and share some fine Port together before too long!

Best regards,

Roy

[Michael K.]

Thank you, Roy. I would certainly like to join one of the tours one day and will keep an eye on forthcoming offers.

Best

Michael

[Andy Velebil]

Hi Michael,

to the Forum and I'm really glad you've joined in. The Majestic is a really nice place to enjoy food, drinks, and the place itself. Really enjoy the times I've been there. I've stayed at the Infante several times and have always loved it. Though I must admit my current favorite hotel is now the Yeatman on the Gaia side, just an amazing hotel.

I look forward to your input here on the Forum

[Michael K.]

Thank you, Andy. Have just opened a (half) bottle Sandeman Vau 1997 to share with friends tonight and mark my arrival at FTLOP...

Best

Michael

[Andy Velebil]

Thank you, Andy. Have just opened a (half) bottle Sandeman Vau 1997 to share with friends tonight and mark my arrival at FTLOP...

Best

Michael

Michael,

How'd it show?

[Michael K.]

Andy,

it was nice but not Top of the Pops. I perceived it (and my experience is limited) as Vintage Light. Frankly, I find more pleasure in a Taylor's LBV.

[Roy Hersh]

Ouch, I need to open a 750 of this to see, as I've not had it in awhile. I have a mag and 3 liter of that Sandeman, so I think having a data point will be important. Thanks Michael for the heads up!

[Juhani N.]

Hello everyone,

I joined the forum in the beginning of December, so I thought it would be a time to introduce myself.

I'm wine and gourmet enthusiast from Helsinki (Finland) in my mid-30s.The more active wine hobby started about a year ago when I with couple of my friend rented a small locker from one of the wine cellars in Helsinki. After that I've gathered a small collection of wines and also some nice ports to drink in future. I've had also two business trips during last year in Portugal, so I've had chance to visit some lodges and quintas in Porto and Douro.

Season's greetings,

Juhani

[Andy Velebil]

Juhani,

Welcome to the forum. Really glad to have you join us. And thank you for the introduction. You're very luck to have gotten to Portugal twice already. What lodges did you visit while there? And how did you enjoy them?

[Juhani N.]

Welcome to the forum. Really glad to have you join us. And thank you for the introduction. You're very luck to have gotten to Portugal twice already. What lodges did you visit while there? And how did you enjoy them?

Thanks Andy.

First time in Porto a year ago in September I visited Croft where I had the tour and also pop into Offley for a quick tasting as it was just closing. Last trip in November I visited Sandeman and Taylor, I had the official tours on both of those. For me Taylor was the most interesting and I also liked their independent company athmosphere. Sandeman was a little too much of a show for my taste.

[Roy Hersh]

Hi Juhani,

Nice to see you here too. Thanks for joining us. I hope this will become a place where you will feel comfortable joining us in discussions and asking any questions you might have. We've had several members from Finland over the years and in fact given the size of your country, we have a fairly nice following of the newsletter there too. Although I wouldn't mind the winter there, I have a feeling when I do finally make it to Finland, it will be in warmer weather. But hopefully not too warm, as I want to meet and drink Port with several of your countrymen and women that I keep in touch with.

[Pete W]

Hi all:

Peter here ...
My Wife and I visited Porto this summer . Liked it a lot ...We are new to Port and Portugal..it was just a random choice for a holiday .We took a tour and a tasting with one of the producers (Vallegre) sp?
also random.
Hope to learn more as we go along .
For New Years Eve I would like to do a port tasting with our dinner guests (3 couples) Could you suggest a Ruby , an LBV ,and two Tawny's ...say a 10 yr and a 30 yr ?
We live in Toronto area and selection seems thin ..might be a little late too .
Thanks in advance Peter.

The only place I can buy is at http://www.lcbo.com/products/index.shtml

Ontario outlet

[Roy Hersh]

Hi Pete,

Thank you for joining us and glad you and your wife were able to visit Portugal!

I tried the link you had but only saw a bottle of Setubal and that can't possibly be the only fortified wine carried there.

As for Ruby's (since I don't know what is stocked), I'd suggest you go with a name that is well known. Graham's, Taylor's, Dow's, Cockburn's, Croft, Quinta do Portal, Niepoort ... it is hard to go wrong, unless you choose something like Vasconcellos.

Here are some trusted names in LBV, amongst the dozens that are out there, that regardless of vintage ... you will be able to trust:
Quinta do Crasto, Smith Woodhouse, Quinta do Noval, Dow's, Taylor's, Pocas, Fonseca, Niepoort to name just a few.

Tawnies:

10 year old: Quevedo, Ferreira, Quinta do Portal, Quinta da Romaneira, JH Andressen, Croft
30 year old: Sandeman, Ramos-Pinto, Niepoort, Vista Alegre, S. Leonardo, Graham's

I hope that helps and I am sure others will come by to provide other names too.

Good to have another E. Canada Port enthusiast here. We have a few from Quebec/Montreal but not really Toronto, so we are pleased to have you join us!

[Andy Velebil]

Pete,



Here are some suggestions after a quick look over your link.

RUBY:
Quinta do Noval's Black or Fonseca Bin 27

LBV:
Not a lot to chose from in this category. It doesn't mention the vintage but Taylor Fladgate Late Bottle Vintage (LBV) has had some nice LBV's as of late.

TAWNYS:
10 Year -- Offley

30 Year -- Ramos Pinto

If you're looking for a single year tawny (Colheita) the 1997 Warre's Colheita is wonderful stuff.

Do let us know what you end up getting and also how they show.

[Roy Hersh]

Andy makes good suggestions, although I like the Offley 10 year old Tawny, for me there are a LOT better one's out there. I think he'd agree.