For The Love Of Port

1968 Krohn Colheita, bottled 2008.

I didn't like these all that much when I first got them (from Premier Cru), but they've improved pretty dramatically over the last couple of years and are now truly superb.

Raw colheitas are an acquired taste, but have a much broader appeal after a decade or two of bottle age..

Mike J. W. wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 12:44 pm I have mostly 1977 and on for GC but I did win 2 1963 GC's at auction a few years back. I'm looking forward to cracking one of them open in the next year or so for a special occasion.

That is special!

Glenn E. wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 1:44 pm 1968 Krohn Colheita, bottled 2008.

I didn't like these all that much when I first got them (from Premier Cru), but they've improved pretty dramatically over the last couple of years and are now truly superb.

I have some too from Premier Cru. I'll have to open one.

1/2 bottle of 1997 Graham VP. We had guests over and they expressed an interest in some Port so this was popped and poured (only real choice as I only have a couple bottles where I am). It showed quite well despite the lack of a proper decant time. Really opened up nicely after 30-40 minutes. But all I got was a pour and a half. 91 Points but not a fair score.

My lesson is to always keep some LBVs on hand for such situations.

John M. wrote:1/2 bottle of 1997 Graham VP. We had guests over and they expressed an interest in some Port so this was popped and poured (only real choice as I only have a couple bottles where I am). It showed quite well despite the lack of a proper decant time. Really opened up nicely after 30-40 minutes. But all I got was a pour and a half. 91 Points but not a fair score.

My lesson is to always keep some LBVs on hand for such situations.

One should always have an “emergency bottle” at hand. Lol

Warre '70

The second of a pair of bottles acquired in 2008, the first having shown well a couple of years ago.

Good rich, slightly chocolatey wine, with loads of life left. However the Croft '60 that preceded it in the decanter set a high standard for class that it fell far short of. Score 7-7

Warre '82 LBV

Decanted last night - impressively dark - darker than most '82 VPs - but seemed a little hollow. Didn't drink much of it last night, will re-visit later this evening.

Next up will be one of a pair of bottles I bought back in 2006, and have never sampled. The only ID is an old luggage tag tied to the neck, inscribed in fountain pen: ' Christmas '66 - ? Offley '54 ?? '

- It's been a long time uncertain!

Edit: Warre '82 LBV now showing really well - vintage standard. Sadly, I have only one other bottle..

1977 Warre's Vintage Port
Tasting note

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 6:40 am

John M. wrote:1/2 bottle of 1997 Graham VP. We had guests over and they expressed an interest in some Port so this was popped and poured (only real choice as I only have a couple bottles where I am). It showed quite well despite the lack of a proper decant time. Really opened up nicely after 30-40 minutes. But all I got was a pour and a half. 91 Points but not a fair score.

My lesson is to always keep some LBVs on hand for such situations.

One should always have an “emergency bottle” at hand. Lol

Ya think! Put that in the Key Advice section.

Put that in the Key Advice section

If there was one - which might not be such a bad idea..

#1 - Ignore most YouTube videos when learning how to decant. Tongs are for theatre - not for every day..

1970 Graham VP.

To test a theory (that we over-decant Port), I under-decanted it for about 4 hours instead of giving it my usual 8. Nope, clearly not long enough. It was fine when we started drinking, but clearly wasn't fully ready yet. It continuously improved over the evening, but never seemed fully opened up that evening (which ended at about 8.5 hours). Even so we managed to drink nearly the entire bottle. The last glass was fantastic the next day after ~24 hours.

I'm going back to 8 hours for this Port. I think it still would have improved in glass during the tasting, but would have been an even better showing than the 95 points I gave this one.

Tom Archer wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 8:12 am

Put that in the Key Advice section

If there was one - which might not be such a bad idea..

There is a FAQ: https://www.fortheloveofport.com/faqs/
But nothing in there about, "What Ports should I have ready at hand in case friends come over that might not appreciate my better bottles?"

There is a FAQ: https://www.fortheloveofport.com/faqs/
But nothing in there about, "What Ports should I have ready at hand in case friends come over that might not appreciate my better bottles?"

If you navigate to the site as a newbie, and don't hit any navigation issues, you are unlikely to clock that.

Basic 'how to' advice on everyday issues, should be elsewhere..

1985 Graham

Also underdecanted deliberately, and also demonstrated that underdecanting isn't a recipe for success. Yes, we did get to observe it evolve over the evening, but it never really reached its peak (over 4 hours of drinking) and could have shown better.

I'm going back to our "normal" long decant times. The Ports just show better that way.

Well the '? Offley '54 ??' bottle got opened last night and it was..

- Warre '58

Slightly disappointing as I've several other bottles of W58 in the cellar, but despite that a very good bottle. This wine has matured to a pale ethereal state, but with no negative tertiary notes - a wine you want to stick your nose into, and inhale deeply. Hard to describe this wine as 'juice' now - I find myself drinking it like a fine brandy. It does make me wonder whether, with the better refined aguadente now used, modern VPs will descend to this plateau when the fruit and tannin is degraded by time..?

Score? Set fair, I think - 8-8

A Ramos Pint 1975 Vintage Port. Lovely port, but drink now.

2005 Cockburn’s Qta d Canais VP

Dow's Crusted bottled 2004

Quarles Harris '75

First bottle out of an owc, the only bottle with a level below BN.

Simple but pleasant wine that needed 24hrs to compose itself. Good colour for a '75.

Easy quaffing and no rush to drink up - Score 5-5

Tom Archer wrote:Quarles Harris '75

First bottle out of an owc, the only bottle with a level below BN.

Simple but pleasant wine that needed 24hrs to compose itself. Good colour for a '75.

Easy quaffing and no rush to drink up - Score 5-5

That’s a 75 one doesn’t see often.

I was just given a 750 of Fonseca 2017! [My birthday was last week.] I want to open it on Saturday!
How long should I decant it?? It's room temperature right now, should I refrigerate it overnight? I've only had a few VPs and is been a couple years, now.