Cloudy Port?

[Bryan H.]

I opened a 1994 Barros Colheita this weekend with some friends. It was quite cloudy, not clear (though colored) like most tawnies and colheitas I've had. It was not terrible, but not a great one either. My friends that do not drink much port liked it. I've had other years of Barros Colheita that I rather liked and did not have this cloudy appearance.

What is the cloudiness from? Bad year, indication of a problem with the cork or bottle? Other? This is the second of these bottles I've opened, and the first one was the same.

[Glenn E.]

It probably wasn't filtered when bottled, so the cloudiness is just a little bit of exceedingly fine sediment. If you let the bottle stand on the counter for long enough - and it might take months - that sediment will slowly settle to the bottom and you can pour out a clear Port.

That's my guess, anyway.

[Roy Hersh]

That's one possibility and there are several others. However, can you share if your bottle had been shipped recently or was laying down for a long time and also what's the year of bottling? Thanks!

[Andy Velebil]

Yes, need a bit more info...

- When was it bottled (year should be on front or back label)?
- Has it been recently shipped/shaken up?
- How has it been stored?

That will help narrow down what may have caused it to become cloudy.

[Bryan H.]

Well...not sure I have another bottle to check the bottling year. It was not shipped recently, at least not within the last year. It was stored on its side. But I did take it to a BYO restaurant that night, so it had a car ride before drinking. Last time I opened one it was at home though, so it would not have been shaken up too much--just enough movement to get it from basement to dining room.