What have you opened this week?

[Mike J. W.]

2002 Kopke Colheita bottled 2011. This was only 9 years in cask, but it is terrific. I'm not sure how this will hold up over the next few days, but on night one I'd score it a 92. It only cost me $33 for a 750ml bottle so I will be going back for more.

[Al B.]

A half bottle of Croft 2004 LBV, bottled in 2009. Bottles unfiltered but cold stabilized and racked before bottling. These throw a decent amount of sediment so have to be decanted.

Lots of black cherry, some gentle tannins but lacking the complexity you’d hope to get from a full vintage Port. Despite that, these are decent current drinking when you just want something quick and straightforward.

[John M.]

High Bridge Club meeting this Friday the 17th. A little tawny tasting---some off-beat brands.

Borges Soalheira 20
Porto Messias 20
Barao de Vilar 20
Quinta dos Murcas 10
Pacheca 20 (Swapped in for Niepoort 2003 Colheita)

[Mike J. W.]

High Bridge Club meeting Friday. A little tawny tasting---nothing I've had before and some off-beat brands.

Borges Soalheira 20
Porto Messias 20
Barao de Vilar 20
Quinta dos Murcas 10
Niepoort 2003 Colheita (b. 2023)

How were they? Did you score them? Any surprises?

[John M.]

High Bridge Club meeting Friday. A little tawny tasting---nothing I've had before and some off-beat brands.

Borges Soalheira 20
Porto Messias 20
Barao de Vilar 20
Quinta dos Murcas 10
Niepoort 2003 Colheita (b. 2023)

How were they? Did you score them? Any surprises?

The thing is this Friday! WLYK

[Mike J. W.]

1977 Sandeman VP. I noticed it was leaking the other day so it's decanted and on tap for tonight.

[Glenn E.]

2015 Graham LBV
1991 Andresen Colheita

The Graham paired really well with a brisket from Lewis Barbecue in Charleston, South Carolina.

[Al B.]

Smith Woodhouse 1970 VP — delicious, mature VP.

[Glenn E.]

1940 Kopke Colheita (375ml) bottles 2013

It was a little dull, probably due to bottle age, but the effect didn't feel like bottle age so it was confusing. Still a very nice Port!

[LOUISSS J]

2015 Graham LBV
1991 Andresen Colheita

The Graham paired really well with a brisket from Lewis Barbecue in Charleston, South Carolina.

How was the Graham? Too old? Even though it's not the best LBV to age, I have some tests to see how it develops over time (I still have 2 left).

[Glenn E.]

2015 Graham LBV
1991 Andresen Colheita

The Graham paired really well with a brisket from Lewis Barbecue in Charleston, South Carolina.

How was the Graham? Too old? Even though it's not the best LBV to age, I have some tests to see how it develops over time (I still have 2 left).

No, not too old at all. Even filtered LBVs should age gracefully for 15-20 years, though the aging pattern is somewhat different than an unfiltered LBV. This one was bottled in 2020 IIRC, so it only has 6 years in bottle. That's basically nothing for an LBV, whether filtered or not.

[Mike J. W.]

2011 Dow VP from a half-bottle. I just decanted it and took a sip. Very nice.

[John M.]

1997 Gould Campbell half bottle. A touch cloudy but has a nice aroma. Letting it breathe.

[Andy Velebil]

2000 Graham’s VP which is drinking just fantastically. Opened it to check on it and see how it was coming along. It’s aging fabulously.

[Eric Ifune]

DR Muito Velhos White.

[Eric Ifune]

2000 Graham’s VP which is drinking just fantastically. Opened it to check on it and see how it was coming along. It’s aging fabulously.

No VA?

[Andy Velebil]

2000 Graham’s VP which is drinking just fantastically. Opened it to check on it and see how it was coming along. It’s aging fabulously.

No VA?

Nope.

Have you had VA in it?

[Al B.]

For a 2011 tasting in London, to review the vintage at 15 years of age, I opened Vesúvio Capela, Graham and Noval. The Graham tasted like it had been stored in a warm cellar, being quite evolved. The Noval was big and chunky but in a really good way. The Capela was slightly corked.

[Andy Velebil]

For a 2011 tasting in London, to review the vintage at 15 years of age, I opened Vesúvio Capela, Graham and Noval. The Graham tasted like it had been stored in a warm cellar, being quite evolved. The Noval was big and chunky but in a really good way. The Capela was slightly corked.

Two out of three bad, ouch!

[Roy Hersh]

It was not my "opening" but I took part in something I likely never will again.

The Factory House, on Tuesday, we had a lunch after the Symington's showed 8 of their 9 new 2024 VPs. After lunch a behemoth 9L 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port was opened. Rupert believed only 2 or possibly 3 were bottled, but was not positive. I will post a photo on FTLOP's FB or IG page in the next day or so. It was the largest VP I had ever seen and obviously this bottle held an entire 12x 750. Absolutely crazy, given how much Port and wine had been served before it, the bottle was only half empty. Meaning 6 bottles worth was consumed. More than plenty was left over for Wednesday lunch.

As I sat next to Mr. Symington at lunch, we discussed its slightly advanced state, especially given expectation that the sure bet was that it would be super young. It was not. I mentioned nothing about it being in a clear glass large format, as I did not believe that had anything to do with the actual issue. Rupert surmised that it was a cork issue, as 30 years ago, cork suppliers in PT had very little experience with the dimension of cork for bottles like this. So, it is possible that some air was able to get in and prematurely oxidize this a little bit. It was still delicious, but "blind" it could have been a great showing of a VP at approximately the age of 1977 to 1985, depending on producer.