For The Love Of Port

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:33 am 1987 Souza VP. Nice fully mature VP. Wouldn't wait too much longer to open these.

That's our anniversary year so I've ordered (and consumed) at last a case of this Port so far, and I still have another case left. I agree that it is a very nice Port and pretty close to fully mature, but I think it has another 15-20 years to go if you count the plateau. There's minimal (if any) improvement remaining, but I think it should last in that mostly fully mature state for quite a while before it noticeably declines. So maybe 5 years to fully reach peak (though likely without a change in score), then another 10-15 years at peak/on the plateau.

Eric Ifune wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 5:25 pm Viera de Sousa Very Old White Port

Very nice Port, cool looking bottle, but super hard to transport in a suitcase and then store in a wine fridge!

Harveys 1954

Believed to be a Malvedos wine - lovely juice, but absurdly young and immature - would easily pass as a '94!

Score 8-9

Marking the rest of the stash as code R : Reserve stock..

Tom Archer wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 10:41 am Harveys 1954

Believed to be a Malvedos wine - lovely juice, but absurdly young and immature - would easily pass as a '94!

Score 8-9

Marking the rest of the stash as code R : Reserve stock..

1954 and both young and immature? That's amazing. 66 years old and it hasn't budged.

Glenn E. wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:53 am

Eric Ifune wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 5:25 pm Viera de Sousa Very Old White Port

Very nice Port, cool looking bottle, but super hard to transport in a suitcase and then store in a wine fridge!

I had it a year ago and I was fairly disappointed with it. Seemed very thin (non viscous) and not very lush and full of exotic fruits. Was up against a tough crowd in a pristine 1970 Graham's VP and 40 Anos Romaneira (The proper bottling).

Finishing off a 1997 Dalva colheita at the minute. This is a great port and will only continue to be better with more cask time. A worthy replacement for the 1982 and 1985 I should think.

Glenn E. wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:51 am

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:33 am 1987 Souza VP. Nice fully mature VP. Wouldn't wait too much longer to open these.

That's our anniversary year so I've ordered (and consumed) at last a case of this Port so far, and I still have another case left. I agree that it is a very nice Port and pretty close to fully mature, but I think it has another 15-20 years to go if you count the plateau. There's minimal (if any) improvement remaining, but I think it should last in that mostly fully mature state for quite a while before it noticeably declines. So maybe 5 years to fully reach peak (though likely without a change in score), then another 10-15 years at peak/on the plateau.

We will have to disagree. No way these will last, and still be nice, 15-20 years from now. I too have had quite a few of these, best part of a case, in recent years. All of them have been consistent in that they've reached maturity some years ago, have already been on a plateau and won't hold there a bunch longer and still be enjoyable. I would say next 5 years would be best.

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 1:09 pm

Glenn E. wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:51 am

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:33 am 1987 Souza VP. Nice fully mature VP. Wouldn't wait too much longer to open these.

That's our anniversary year so I've ordered (and consumed) at last a case of this Port so far, and I still have another case left. I agree that it is a very nice Port and pretty close to fully mature, but I think it has another 15-20 years to go if you count the plateau. There's minimal (if any) improvement remaining, but I think it should last in that mostly fully mature state for quite a while before it noticeably declines. So maybe 5 years to fully reach peak (though likely without a change in score), then another 10-15 years at peak/on the plateau.

We will have to disagree. No way these will last, and still be nice, 15-20 years from now. I too have had quite a few of these, best part of a case, in recent years. All of them have been consistent in that they've reached maturity some years ago, have already been on a plateau and won't hold there a bunch longer and still be enjoyable. I would say next 5 years would be best.

Odd... that has been my experience with the 1985, but not the 1987.

Very nice Port, cool looking bottle, but super hard to transport in a suitcase and then store in a wine fridge!

You're telling me! I've done this twice. Each time packed in the dirty laundry.

1983 Gould Campbell VP...flawed! This is the 3rd Gould Campbell in a row in the space of the last year that I opened and found that they were flawed. The cork was 90% saturated but I managed to get it all out. Upon decanting it smelled of mimeograph sheets and band-aids. Not a promising start. But the color was a dark purple and I held out hope it might be okay. After 5 hours it was raw, bitter, highly acidic and obviously flawed. I tried to let a glass sit for an hour hoping it might loosen up a little. While I could occasionally get the faintest hint of fruit, seconds later it was washed away with a very bitter taste. Down the drain the entire decanter went.

I had my first GC (1980) last year and it was excellent, but these last 3 GC's have me scratching my head. I just stood up a '77 GC that I will decant tomorrow afternoon. Here's hoping the 4th time is the charm.

2004 Quinta do Crasto LBV

1999 Noval LBV. Quite a bruiser of a port. Muscular and could stand another decade or more of cellaring. Impressive LBV.

1987 Porto Souza VP
1987 Kopke Colheita

1999 Dow's Senhora d. Ribeira VP.

1977 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port

1980 Warre

Not quite fully mature yet, but a lot closer than it was five years ago. It's a strong player, as are all the Symington 80's - but a bit thin on the ground compared to adjacent vintages. Score 7-8

I've decided to spend some time exploring SQVP's. I already mentioned the 1999 Ribeira. I also opened a 1986 Dow's Quinta d. Bomfim VP. Very lovely and elegant.

I also opened a 1986 Dow's Quinta d. Bomfim VP. Very lovely and elegant

'86 is a light but very clean vintage, which gives it away to a degree. '87 is much beefier and the '88's all have a very distinctive, and not very attractive earthiness on the palate.

For Christmas Eve, a 1983 Dows.

1997 Dalva colheita last week, which disappear in a jiff.

For Christmas a 20 Anos Fonseca and a 2015 Cockburn's LVB.

Need to look into crackin' open an older VP one of the next days.

1977 Delaforce VP. It’s, uh, pleasant. Past it’s best, drink up if you own them.