For The Love Of Port

Leonardo 20 yr. Tawny.

While I was thinking about tawnies, I saw some blackberries in my fridge. That, combined with the VT theme of the month led me to open another 1997 Smith Woodhouse.

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1970 Santos Junior VP. Got it by accident (wrong deliverence)
Don't bother looking out for this, over the top, more like a tawny, burning spirit, disjointed, too much heat. A waste..

Croft Pink, which my wife won at our store's cocktail night competition. The picture progression says it all.


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LOL... yes, the pictures do in fact reflect my own experience with Croft Pink.

Dow 1991 Vintage

S. Leonardo 40 year. With a 15 year old Cuban cigar and a slew of other great wines. After 3 days of long shifts and about 6 hours of sleep those 3 days a great way to spend an unplanned day off work yesterday.

Also a San Leonardo 40.

1977 Graham for the April/May Virtual Tasting. Also counts as April #1 for my New Year's Port Resolution.

It's been a busy couple of weeks. In the last fornight I've opened Quarles Harris 2008 LBV (thanks Glenn!), Martinez 1994 (hmmm, not great right now), Krohn 1965 (superb), Quinta do Noval 1955, Gonzalez Byass 1955 and Cockburn 1955. The last three were as part of a 1955 horizontal that we had to celebrate the birthday of a port fan.

Nice, Alex. Which of those 3 1955s was your fave that night?

Roy Hersh wrote:Nice, Alex. Which of those 3 1955s was your fave that night?

We had 12 '55s that night - Cockburn, Croft, Dow, Fonseca, Gonzalez Byass, Graham, Mackenzie, Quinta do Noval, Offley, Sandeman, Taylor and Warre.

The Mackenzie was as perplexing as ever. My favourites were the Dow and the Offley, one still youthful and assertive, the other elegant and tertiary. The group as a whole have the Graham a clear favourite over the Taylor and Fonseca.

One more question, please ...

How were the Sandeman and Noval showing?

The Noval was bottled by Heneky's and was very tertiary. The Sandeman was ex-cellars and showed rather well. I'd be happy to open either for drinking now.

Thanks Alex. I've always been a fan of those two in particular; more than Taylor which is always solid and the Fonseca, which I've had bottles show hot and cold in terms of variation.

After a port hiatus in Las Vegas the last week I went to drastic measures and pop'n'poured a 40 YO Sao Leonardo today when I arrived home.

1994 Warres VP, 375 ml.
Still has plenty of primary flavors. This was purchased in a lot of 12 bottles from Acker. Acker has provided some of the ugliest looking bottles I've purchased at auction, but their service has always been good and the prices match the condition. In this case, the bottles are beautiful, and if consistent with this first one, well worth the $21 each I paid.

1983 Grahams VP

Eric Menchen wrote:1994 Warres VP

Eric Menchen wrote:1983 Grahams VP

You are all in on this months Virtual Tasting theme. I love it

1991 Croft VP

Taylor's 10 year old Tawny Port