What have you opened this week?

[Andrew Kirschner]

Ferreira Duque de Bragança 20 year-old tawny (bottled 2017). In my mind this is a benchmark, old school 20 y.o. Tawny. I love the style. Smoky, high acidity, good citrus and caramel elements and just the right amount of sweetness to balance it all out. It's smooth and delicious.

I actually have not tried this one- will need to look out for it.

[Glenn E.]

Ferreira Duque de Bragança 20 year-old tawny (bottled 2017). In my mind this is a benchmark, old school 20 y.o. Tawny. I love the style. Smoky, high acidity, good citrus and caramel elements and just the right amount of sweetness to balance it all out. It's smooth and delicious.

I actually have not tried this one- will need to look out for it.

Duque de Bragança was the old name - it's now called Dona Antonia. I think the name change was in 2019 or 2020. There was allegedly no change to the blend, but it seemed slightly different to me.

[Glenn E.]

S. Leonardo 20 Year Old White Port (b. 2021)

Surprisingly dark color... I don't remember them being this dark? But it's still delicious!

[Moses Botbol]

Opened an '83 Ramos Pinto into a 1795 decanter. Put the stopper on the decanter and decanter shattered. Spilling '83 Ramos all over the kitchen floor. Not to mention all the shattered glass everywhere while barefoot. Kitchen smelled fantastic.

Opened a 2nd '83 Ramos and decanted back into original bottle since decanter is no more. Time to hunt down a new to me decanter.

[Andy Velebil]

Opened an '83 Ramos Pinto into a 1795 decanter. Put the stopper on the decanter and decanter shattered. Spilling '83 Ramos all over the kitchen floor. Not to mention all the shattered glass everywhere while barefoot. Kitchen smelled fantastic.

Opened a 2nd '83 Ramos and decanted back into original bottle since decanter is no more. Time to hunt down a new to me decanter.

OUCH!! That’s a total bummer on both fronts. Hope the second bottle showed well.

[Moses Botbol]

Opened an '83 Ramos Pinto into a 1795 decanter. Put the stopper on the decanter and decanter shattered. Spilling '83 Ramos all over the kitchen floor. Not to mention all the shattered glass everywhere while barefoot. Kitchen smelled fantastic.

Opened a 2nd '83 Ramos and decanted back into original bottle since decanter is no more. Time to hunt down a new to me decanter.

OUCH!! That’s a total bummer on both fronts. Hope the second bottle showed well.

2nd bottle showed really well. Still have some and probably be gone tonight.

[Glenn E.]

1969 Vista Alegre Colheita, bottled 2022

Opened for Port Club. I ordered 6 of these, blind, because my friends Lisa and Vic were on Roy's PHT2 in 2022 and Lisa was texting me from Portugal in the middle of their tasting. She said it was amazing. She was right!

[Mike J. W.]

Casa Do Romezal Gueda White Port (not to be mistaken for Guedes). I was gifted this by Tym Lewis when I went up to MA for a tasting in January. This is a basic white Port (€12), but it is very nice. To me it's slightly on the drier side with a hint of sweetness. It's smooth and very drinkable on it's own but would be great in a Port Tonic as well. This can also be purchased online and I just might buy a case of it. Thanks for sharing, Tym, this was a nice find.

[Andy Velebil]

2009 Smith Woodhouse LBV. Bought a case for a house LBV this summer, opened one and went wow this is really good but still young. Bought another case and put that away for later so I could enjoy first case now. A tasty good LBV.

[Mike J. W.]

Menin 50 year-old White Port. This is a delicious White Port. It's smooth and balanced. I was getting notes of coffee, honey, smoke and a hint of coconut. I opened it after a cookout tonight, and even non-Port drinkers really enjoyed it.

[Moses Botbol]

1994 Vesuvio. Pop and pour glass was youthful. Great nose. Told the wife to go easy on it! Hoping to get more into it tonight and tomorrow.

[Andy Velebil]

Quevedo 10 yr tawny and a Quevedo Special White Reserve. The latter is an ~8 yr old white port. Both pretty good in their own right. But I do prefer their 10 yr white a bit more.

[Edward J]

Opened a 1970 Graham's that was a recent recork from their cellars. This was #2 of 2, the first being fantastic. This bottle , despite the cork being in perfect shape was flawed by VA. Undrinkable. I do have one more from the regular bottling waiting for the Durand when it's time comes.

[Glenn E.]

1987 Kopke Colheita (375 ml) for our 39th Anniversary. From the 2nd of 2 cases purchased from Wineworth when they were still in Seattle. I have 8 left.

But no worries, I also have 10-12 1987 Porto Souza VP, 10-12 1987 Graham's Malvedos VP, 3 1987 Taylor's Vargellas VP, and probably 3-5 1987 Kopke Colheitas in 750 ml bottles. There might be a couple of random bottles in the fridges, too. I think we might have enough to make it to our 70th Anniversary!

[Glenn E.]

recent recork ...
flawed by VA

I wonder which cork was the culprit? Though it is possible that it was the winery itself, too, I guess.

[Andy Velebil]

recent recork ...
flawed by VA

I wonder which cork was the culprit? Though it is possible that it was the winery itself, too, I guess.

A cork doesn’t cause VA.

[Glenn E.]

recent recork ...
flawed by VA

I wonder which cork was the culprit? Though it is possible that it was the winery itself, too, I guess.

A cork doesn’t cause VA.

Oh right... duh... I misread that as TCA.

[Roy Hersh]

2002 Barros Colheita

[Moses Botbol]

2011 Warre LBV. Terrific LBV with a ton of life in it. Good VP replacement without breaking the bank.

[Mike J. W.]

1992 Pocas Colheita (bot. 2016). It's a very nice 24 year-old Colheita that can be found for around $45 in NJ.