For The Love Of Port

Which one bottle in your entire collection of Port ... is the most precious to you?

I was going to say, "most valuable" but then too many would translate that into most expensive, which is not what I am getting at.

Noval 2000 VP
Was offered to us as a wedding gift.

1977 Taylor. It was the first Vintage Port that I bought.

-- Gary

Like Gary, I think the most precious bottle I have is the first notable one that I bought - a 1970 Martinez VP. Sure, I bought other bottles before that one, but it (and a 1977 Royal Oporto purchased at the same time) was the first bottle I purchased to store and drink later. So far, later hasn't arrived.

1961 Noval Crusted (drank it Friday, by coincidence). I'm born in 1961 and that's not a good year for VPs so that is likely to be a one time opportunity. Odd, noticed the cork said 1961 Vintage (not crusted)--wonder if there is a story there. Its the only port I've ever saved the empty from.

my 2009 Niepoort Double magnums, birth year of my 3rd child and first large format I purchased!

1961 Taylor Vargellas... The only vintage port I own from my birth year.

Acquired recently, I'd say Douro Boys Vintage Port 2011. Only 250 Magnum produced

Prince Charles & Lady Diana Spencer's Wedding Commemorative Fonseca, I believe 1981. 70 cl bottle. '77 Taylor double magnum is also pretty cool.

Can't choose between:
3 x Sandeman 1945 VP (my dad's birthyear) and magnum Graham 1977 VP (my wife's birthyear)

This one.

I didn't see that post the first time round, Derek. I'm glad I have now.

1970 Sandeman, first VP I ever had, a taste given to me by my father.

Derek T. wrote:This one.

Thank you for sharing

Some magnums of 2006 Vesuvio - the first year in which I helped to tread grapes and the first large format bottles I bought.

Al B. wrote:Some magnums of 2006 Vesuvio - the first year in which I helped to tread grapes and the first large format bottles I bought.

And didn't it taste good this evening?

Seriously?

Darn. We should have cracked one open back in October when we were virtually almost all together. That's ok, if we can ever convince you guys to come stateside, I'd be more than happy to open one of these ... or two.

It would have to be the '77 Fonseca, autographed by Bruce Guimaraens here in Edmonton. A lovely man and a wonderful and entertaining tutored tasting of Fonseca ports. He declared the 2000 vintage at the tasting and we all enjoyed samples of it. Therefore my 2000 Fonseca also has a bit of sentimentality attached to them.

As an aside, after the tasting, we discovered that Bruce's younger son (not the one who took over wine-making duties) was on the same six month truck tour across Africa that my partner was on many years previously. Small world.

Thank you Paulette for giving me the idea of bringing the bottle to the tasting.

Mahmoud.

Al B. wrote:Some magnums of 2006 Vesuvio - the first year in which I helped to tread grapes and the first large format bottles I bought.

No surprise for some, as this is mine as well for the same reason. And it was when I met some from the Forum and friends we've become. Good thing I have more than one of these :)

Have a cockburn 47 and a dow 47 for the dad's bday