For The Love Of Port

Do you remember your first?

Where/when and with what bottle did you lose your Colheita virginity?

Back around 1993-94, it was a Barros Colheita, probably something from the 80's. At the time, anything called port was good in my book... Hmmmm, not much has changed.

September 2007 - 1990 Burmester Colheita

I remember having a Burmester 10-year Tawny open at the same time and being terribly disappointed by the 1990. I felt that, in complexity and overall power, it paled in comparison to the 10-year. Thankfully, my next Colheita experience was stellar - 1976 Porto Rocha.

It was around 1997 with a Dow's Colheita 1986.

Still a virgin! But that will change, hopefully in the near future.

It would have been some time in the summer of 2005, and it was a 1977 Porto Rocha Colheita (bottled in 2005, so quite fresh). I'd only been introduced to Port the previous fall and had only been drinking 20-yr Old Tawny since then (and that only occasionally), so the smoothness and focus of the '77 Rocha were pretty cool. I bought everything they had left at the time, which was 4 bottles and 3 halves.

Six months ago I had a 1986 Delaforce. I got a pour at a nearby restaurant for a good price. Pretty good, I remember. Sometimes the discounted price will make it seem even better. Wish I could give a better description than that.

Jan 2009, 1987 Barros.

A friend and I bought all of it they had after having it, which was about 10 bottles I think.

I'm pretty sure that is was a 1985 Kopke, which I enjoyed somewhere in 2001.

Bryan H. wrote:A friend and I bought all of it they had after having it, which was about 10 bottles I think.

Now that's the spirit!

That would be a '94 Rocha, followed closely by a couple Warre 1987 Colheitas.

Marc

Excellent thread...keep the replies coming!

My first colheita was a feature of good luck - being in the right place at the right time. In 1996, I was working with some customers in Barreiro, south of Lisbon. We concluded our business and went out for dinner, with me being the guest. At the end of the evening we finished off the meal with some port and it was only at the end of the dinner that I found out that we had been drinking 1937 Burmester.

That remained the oldest port I had drunk for many years afterwards.

Al B. wrote: 1937 Burmester.

Love this bottle and one of the few times I prefer Burmester over the Kopke and Rocha of the same year.

Love the diversity of Colheitas mentioned so far. I wish others who normally participate here would do so in this thread. Very cool to read the first experiences you all had!

I tried my first colheita in 2005 -- a 1966 Kopke. I picked up this bottle in a little store in Sintra. The man running the store gave me my first lesson in all things Port. He let us (me and my wife) taste several open bottles that he had left from a tasting the day before. We bought several bottles from him that day, and it was a great education.

-- Gary

Gary,

What a smart shop owner. I wish more would do tastings of Port or simply do as this guy did...just give people a small sample. It's amazing how many I've been to or been a part of where people have totally changed their mind for the better about Port. It's all about education, education, and more education....ok, and some drinking thrown in for good measure

As a side, the Oporto airport has a shop just past the security check point that has a large Port section. Every time I've been there they've had a variety of ruby, tawny's, and tawny with an indication of age opened for tastings if you ask. Great marketing to let people try a small glass to increase the likelihood of them buying some.

I wanted to share something with my mum for her 72nd b-day in 2006 .
I went to the SAQ and took a chance on a 1958 Krohn .
Mum and I weren't disappointed
We polished off the bottle in a few hours .
Not bad for a 1st Colheita experience

Luc,
Very nice of you!

BTW, my birthday is in April hint hint

Andy Velebil wrote:Luc,
Very nice of you!

BTW, my birthday is in April hint hint

Mine's in February , same day as some guy named Lincoln , ever hear of him