For The Love Of Port

Good Afternoon,
I would like to introduce myself. My name is John and I was first introduced to Port wine when I was approx 20 by my Dad. Now nearing 40, enjoying wines, I would like to increase my knowledge of port and learn the suttleties of taste.
Incidently, I still have that bottle (empty).

Thanks, John.

Welcome John!

We look forward to having you around. As I am sure you will realize in very short order, we're a friendly group and look forward to sharing our experiences with you and you with us.

What was the bottle? Was it a birthyear port for you? There are a couple of us that subscribe to the tradition of laying down a case for our young... incidentally my son will have quite a stunning selection as 2003 was a fabulous Vintage. My daughter, born in 2005 will onlyhave a few 2nd-labels and Single Quintas to choose from, but I shoudl be able to track down something really good for her! :)

Todd

John,

Welcome to FTLOP. Glad to have you join our great group. I would like to say this is the friendliest wine forum on the net so if you've got any questions please feel free to ask, as no question is too small. I also look forward to hearing about your experiences with Ports. I know posting a tasting note "TN" can be a scary expereince at first, but when you try a Port I would encourage you to at least post a small TN about how you liked or not liked the bottle.

Again, welcome to the fold and I look forward to hearing more from you.

Bienvenue John ,
We all bark , but don't bite .

McCain

John,

Welcome to the boards. There is little or no sniping on this board (except in fun) so you should be able to settle in nicely. No problems with newbies, just ask and somebody will have a good answer for you.

What are your other wine interests? Most of us drink stuff other than Port as well, so we'd be interested. I go for anything but most of my holding is Bordeaux, heavily Right-Bank.

Cheers,

Alex

Alex,

Was the 'Right Bank' comment said in jest (just my thick igneous rock head! ), or is there a river and either side tastes slightly different? I dont know much about Bordeaux, but that intrigued me.

Alan

Thanks Everyone for the warm welcome...

The bottle was not a birth year for me but an anniversary date for my parents, 1937 and Bottle in ???? (get back to you on this over after the weekend).

As for wine preferences, (go easy on me here) I enjoy Principessa Gavi,
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, Cakebread Cellars (white), A Syrah.
I also had a this "semi-sweet" wine that I jsut cant remember the name of it, that I really enjoyed.

Ports: Fonseca, and just recently had a 20 yr Tawny that I really enjoyed.

But I need to be pointed in the direction of the rudimentary knowledge first. To get a really good understanding..

Thanks Everyone...

John ,
You can consider getting a copy of Port and the Douro by Richard Mayson .
He gives you the nuts an' bolts of Port making , the history as well as the producers of Port .
A good place to start as any . . .

McCain

..I agree. Mayson's book is (IMO) the best book on the subject - be sure to get the second edition, with the brown cover.

Tom

Alan C wrote:Alex,

Was the 'Right Bank' comment said in jest (just my thick igneous rock head! ), or is there a river and either side tastes slightly different? I dont know much about Bordeaux, but that intrigued me.

Alan

Yep - the Gironde. On the Left bank of the Gironde the soil is more gravelly and takes Cabernet Sauvignon well, whilst the Right Bank has more clay, so takes Merlot better. The Left wines are more austere but frequently have floral and mineral notes, whilst the Right Bank is generally softer with plummy fruit flavours. This is a generalisation.

Margaux, Medoc, St Julien, St Estephe, etc are Left Bank whilst Pomerol, St Emilion and Cotes du Castillon are Right Bank.

John,

Welcome to FTLOP. Please feel free to post any questions you have and then sit back and watch the various experts here swamp you with their version of the truth. All good fun here with no snobbery that you might find on other wine forums.

Please also feel free to ask KillerB what he is rambling on about with regards to the left and right side of some unknown French stream :?

Derek

PS: The only stream that counts here is the Douro 8)

Yes the left and right banks in Bdx refers to the Gironde River. The two sides produce different styles with distinct characteristics and even in the same vintage, one side can dramatically outperform the other.