For The Love Of Port

Happy New Year!

New Years Eve, San Leonardo 40 year old.

Hey, that looks like my New Year's Bottle!

Glenn E. wrote: ↑Mon Jan 01, 2024 11:45 pm Hey, that looks like my New Year's Bottle!
2023-12-31 13.25.51.jpg

This is very weird. I just got my Port shipped to me from storage. I didn't want to tear through all of the boxes looking for the "perfect" Port so I opened my 1994 Vesuvio footlocker and have one standing up.

Mike J. W. wrote: ↑Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:58 am

Glenn E. wrote: ↑Mon Jan 01, 2024 11:45 pm Hey, that looks like my New Year's Bottle!
2023-12-31 13.25.51.jpg

This is very weird. I just got my Port shipped to me from storage. I didn't want to tear through all of the boxes looking for the "perfect" Port so I opened my 1994 Vesuvio footlocker and have one standing up.

Enjoy, hopefully yours shows as good as both of ours did.

Mike J. W. wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 9:18 am

John M. wrote: ↑Mon Dec 18, 2023 5:06 pm Was figuring out what to have over the Christmas Holiday, could not quite decide then I discovered I have leaker--a 1980 Ferreira. Perfect choice that decided for me!

How was this?

Light brick red -it was a leaker so a little oxidized. A bit light on the density, yet it offered a very subtle delight. Classic Ferreia in that it is not a powerhouse but if you pay attention you get amazed. Strawberry jam, a slightly spice driven yes lingeringly smooth finish--cinnamon of all things. I have another that is not leaking.

1994 Quinta do Vesuvio. Decanted for 12 hours. The cork exploded into a bazillion pieces but the Port is in great shape. Dark purple, no meniscus and it's ever so slightly syrupy. Simply delicious and I suspect it will drink even better tomorrow.

Edit: This bottle has been a revelation. I've had the '94 Vesuvio a few times before and they were anywhere from closed to pretty good, but tonight, I would put it up against probably my favorite Vintage Port of all time, the '66 Fonseca. I don't know how this Port will show tomorrow night, but tonight, this was a world class Port.

Mike J. W. wrote:1994 Quinta do Vesuvio. Decanted for 12 hours. The cork exploded into a bazillion pieces but the Port is in great shape. Dark purple, no meniscus and it's ever so slightly syrupy. Simply delicious and I suspect it will drink even better tomorrow.

Edit: This bottle has been a revelation. I've had the '94 Vesuvio a few times before and they were anywhere from closed to pretty good, but tonight, I would put it up against probably my favorite Vintage Port of all time, the '66 Fonseca. I don't know how this Port will show tomorrow night, but tonight, this was a world class Port.

Yeah, you need to use a Durand or Ah-So for any wine cork from the latter 1990’s to the early 2000’s. Otherwise be prepared for a million tiny pieces. No clue what the cork industry did to them back then. They seal fine. But getting them out is messy.

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:00 am

Mike J. W. wrote:1994 Quinta do Vesuvio. Decanted for 12 hours. The cork exploded into a bazillion pieces but the Port is in great shape. Dark purple, no meniscus and it's ever so slightly syrupy. Simply delicious and I suspect it will drink even better tomorrow.

Edit: This bottle has been a revelation. I've had the '94 Vesuvio a few times before and they were anywhere from closed to pretty good, but tonight, I would put it up against probably my favorite Vintage Port of all time, the '66 Fonseca. I don't know how this Port will show tomorrow night, but tonight, this was a world class Port.

Yeah, you need to use a Durand or Ah-So for any wine cork from the latter 1990’s to the early 2000’s. Otherwise be prepared for a million tiny pieces. No clue what the cork industry did to them back then. They seal fine. But getting them out is messy.

I did use an Ah-so, but it was all for naught. Maybe Port Tongs next time. lol

Mike J. W. wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 7:53 am

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:00 am

Mike J. W. wrote:1994 Quinta do Vesuvio. Decanted for 12 hours. The cork exploded into a bazillion pieces but the Port is in great shape. Dark purple, no meniscus and it's ever so slightly syrupy. Simply delicious and I suspect it will drink even better tomorrow.

Edit: This bottle has been a revelation. I've had the '94 Vesuvio a few times before and they were anywhere from closed to pretty good, but tonight, I would put it up against probably my favorite Vintage Port of all time, the '66 Fonseca. I don't know how this Port will show tomorrow night, but tonight, this was a world class Port.

Yeah, you need to use a Durand or Ah-So for any wine cork from the latter 1990’s to the early 2000’s. Otherwise be prepared for a million tiny pieces. No clue what the cork industry did to them back then. They seal fine. But getting them out is messy.

I did use an Ah-so, but it was all for naught. Maybe Port Tongs next time. lol

That will work for sure! I used a Durand and got mine out in one piece.

Mike J. W. wrote: ↑Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:39 pm 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio. Decanted for 12 hours. The cork exploded into a bazillion pieces but the Port is in great shape. Dark purple, no meniscus and

All of the 90's Vesuvio's have brittle corks.

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:00 am Yeah, you need to use a Durand or Ah-So for any wine cork from the latter 1990’s to the early 2000’s. Otherwise be prepared for a million tiny pieces. No clue what the cork industry did to them back then. They seal fine. But getting them out is messy.

I haven't experienced this problem with any producer (that I can remember) other that Vesuvio. And even with Vesuvio it seems to be a problem with 1994 more so than other vintages. It does happen with other vintages, but not to the extent of the 1994s where it sometimes seems like they were trying to make a composite cork and forgot to include the glue. I've pulled many corks - like 4+ dozen bottles - from 1987, 1995, and 1997 Porto Souza, and while those can be a little more difficult to extract than a "normal" cork I can usually do it freehand with a waiter's friend. I.e. they usually come out in one piece, or perhaps just lose the last 1/4", with just a normal corkscrew. Can't even come close to that with a 1994 Vesuvio.

But as already noted, it doesn't seem to harm the Port at all. The corks are just really weird. I suppose it may affect their very long-term viability, but I doubt any of mine are going to last for more than another 15-20 years as they're just so delicious!

Glenn E. wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:00 am Yeah, you need to use a Durand or Ah-So for any wine cork from the latter 1990’s to the early 2000’s. Otherwise be prepared for a million tiny pieces. No clue what the cork industry did to them back then. They seal fine. But getting them out is messy.

I haven't experienced this problem with any producer (that I can remember) other that Vesuvio. And even with Vesuvio it seems to be a problem with 1994 more so than other vintages. It does happen with other vintages, but not to the extent of the 1994s where it sometimes seems like they were trying to make a composite cork and forgot to include the glue. I've pulled many corks - like 4+ dozen bottles - from 1987, 1995, and 1997 Porto Souza, and while those can be a little more difficult to extract than a "normal" cork I can usually do it freehand with a waiter's friend. I.e. they usually come out in one piece, or perhaps just lose the last 1/4", with just a normal corkscrew. Can't even come close to that with a 1994 Vesuvio.

But as already noted, it doesn't seem to harm the Port at all. The corks are just really weird. I suppose it may affect their very long-term viability, but I doubt any of mine are going to last for more than another 15-20 years as they're just so delicious!

It is a very well known issue in the wine trade. Lots of table wines have the same cork issues. It’s not just port related.

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:00 pm It is a very well known issue in the wine trade. Lots of table wines have the same cork issues. It’s not just port related.

I've seen this on several vintages of Musar.

1994 Graham's. I've decided to check in on the '94's as I'll be have a tasting with my college buddies in September down at the shore.

Decanted 10 hours, the '94 Graham's is very good but pales in comparison to the '94 Vesuvio that I finished over the last 3 days. Let's see how this one is tomorrow.

S. Leonardo 10 years white.

And today with friends Taylor’s 10yo Tawny and Heritage’s 30yo Tawny, plus the balance of yesterdays S. Leonardo’s, by far our favourite!

1977 Gould Campbell, magnum
1968 Taylor "Very Old Single Harvest Port"

Eric Menchen wrote: ↑Mon Jan 08, 2024 10:24 am 1977 Gould Campbell, magnum
1968 Taylor "Very Old Single Harvest Port"

Wow Eric, you are starting of 2024 with a bang.

I’ve only opened a Smith Woodhouse 2004 LBV this year.