For The Love Of Port

1 Noval Nacional Vintage Port 2016

This week I splurged and purchased 3 cases of the 2016 Vintage Dow’s and 1 case of 2016 Vintage Warre’s. I was able to get them for under $100US / bottle, and I’m excited to try one now and then wait....

4 x Gould Campbell 2003
6 x Noval 2012 LBV unfiltered

Several Graham's Stone Terraces

1 x 2011
6 x 2015
1 x 2016

In total that will give me 15 each of 2011 and 2015, and 28 of 2016 though this is the only '16 in the US.

I plan to do a side-by-side-by-side in the near future.

Several Graham's Stone Terraces

1 x 2011
6 x 2015
1 x 2016

In total that will give me 15 each of 2011 and 2015, and 28 of 2016 though this is the only '16 in the US.

DUDE!
You trying to corner the market?

Eric Ifune wrote:

Several Graham's Stone Terraces

1 x 2011
6 x 2015
1 x 2016

In total that will give me 15 each of 2011 and 2015, and 28 of 2016 though this is the only '16 in the US.

DUDE!
You trying to corner the market?

1963 Warre Vintage Port

Eric Ifune wrote:

Several Graham's Stone Terraces

1 x 2011
6 x 2015
1 x 2016

In total that will give me 15 each of 2011 and 2015, and 28 of 2016 though this is the only '16 in the US.

DUDE!
You trying to corner the market?

Glenn didn't TOTALLY corner the market...I managed to get a bottle of the 2011 Stone Terraces this week also

But, let's just say that if Stone Terraces were a publicly traded company, Glenn would definitely be the majority share holder

Last participants to a 1997 vs. 2003 tasting arrived yesterday

1997 Dow's VP
1997 Quinta do Vesuvio VP
2003 Quinta do Vesuvio VP
2003 Secret VP (Never know who might browse the forum)

The setup is 5 VPs from each year with 3 houses represented with both vintages. Those being Dow's, Vesuvio and Taylor's. Then two 100% blind benchmark / sanity check VPs from each of the 2 vintages as well (So 4 different houses), which I can't disclose until after the tasting.

Will be great to see where these 2 vintages are at and how they measure up against each other. I have a fondness for 1997 but look forward to get better acquainted with 2003.

Thomas V wrote:Last participants to a 1997 vs. 2003 tasting arrived yesterday

1997 Dow's VP
1997 Quinta do Vesuvio VP
2003 Quinta do Vesuvio VP
2003 Secret VP (Never know who might browse the forum)

The setup is 5 VPs from each year with 3 houses represented with both vintages. Those being Dow's, Vesuvio and Taylor's. Then two 100% blind benchmark / sanity check VPs from each of the 2 vintages as well (So 4 different houses), which I can't disclose until after the tasting.

Will be great to see where these 2 vintages are at and how they measure up against each other. I have a fondness for 1997 but look forward to get better acquainted with 2003.

That looks like a fun tasting.

2 x 375 of Quinta do Portal 10 Year White Port. Had over the weekend and an easy drinker. Makes a great cellar defender---plus its pretty.

John M. wrote:2 x 375 of Quinta do Portal 10 Year White Port. Had over the weekend and an easy drinker. Makes a great cellar defender---plus its pretty.

I never see Portal wine or port in MA. Shame as they could do really well here.

Moses Botbol wrote:I never see Portal wine or port in MA. Shame as they could do really well here.

I saw a number of their wines at a local b&m here in Colorado a few years back. But looking today, I don't see anything other than the same few things you can get in MA at the moment, their ruby and tawny reserves and one or two other bottles. Seems like the US importer has dropped the ball.

Eric Menchen wrote:

Moses Botbol wrote:I never see Portal wine or port in MA. Shame as they could do really well here.

I saw a number of their wines at a local b&m here in Colorado a few years back. But looking today, I don't see anything other than the same few things you can get in MA at the moment, their ruby and tawny reserves and one or two other bottles. Seems like the US importer has dropped the ball.

I am more interested in buying their dry wines than port at the moment.

Moses Botbol wrote:

Eric Menchen wrote:

Moses Botbol wrote:I never see Portal wine or port in MA. Shame as they could do really well here.

I saw a number of their wines at a local b&m here in Colorado a few years back. But looking today, I don't see anything other than the same few things you can get in MA at the moment, their ruby and tawny reserves and one or two other bottles. Seems like the US importer has dropped the ball.

I am more interested in buying their dry wines than port at the moment.

There are more, I only got 2 after buying one on a flyer 2 weeks agio and took to Vesuvio tasting as a side Port. Pretty sure I can get their LBV around here--but a 12 or 13 and likely in the store for a couple years. I found their LBVs to be good. I'll try to remember to bring one to the Cape.

1937 Feurerheerd Coleheita (bottled for the Italian market, so named "Lenteiro". Bottled in 1973 (my birthyear, that's why I went for it).

Got it at an online auction. When I received the bottle today, I was surprised because of the (good) condition of the capsule. It was wrapped in some foil/tape so maybe that's the reason of the good condition of it. I've enclosed some pics, any thoughts on the bottle, anyone?

and 2 pics from the capsule

Curious to hear how it is whenever you open it.

Andy Velebil wrote:Curious to hear how it is whenever you open it.

Likewise. The good condition of the capsule could easily just be that it was bottled in 1973 and has been well cared-for since then. I've had a few "old" bottles like that which looked pretty much pristine.

Speaking of pristine, I just received a near-perfect looking bottle of 1963 Croft's Vintage Port on sale by an online retailer that I trust implicitly. I was shocked by the price and thought there was zero to lose and did not do my typical Q&A on bottles of Port over 3 decades. Very nicely surprised and from an importer I'd never heard of. Check our Facebook page, same name as the website if you've never seen it before. Anyway, I look forward to sipping this one, down the road a little bit. I've had a few in the past and a few at the Quinta, but this one has a unique look/label that I've not seen before.