For The Love Of Port

I see some pretty great lineup of Taylor's this weekend and maybe a Madeira or two too. What about you?

This weekend I'll probably open up bottle of Quinta do Passadouro '98. I have quite a few of these in the cellar and I'd like to check on its development (for whatever reason this particular bottling contains an amazing amount of sediment....more than three typical bottles of VP combined).

Not sure yet, I've not been drinking in 5 days now. I prepare my liver for the holliday festivities. I might get tempted to visit a port.... one 97 to see its evolution.

I'm finishing off a bottle of Vesuvio 1989 at the moment and then that will be it for a couple of weeks as I am off travelling again - somewhere there are no FTLOPers to share some port with

Alex

Roy Hersh wrote:I see some pretty great lineup of Taylor's this weekend and maybe a Madeira or two too. What about you?

I foresee these same Taylors in my immediate future

After that, likely not much - will be driving 3500 km to Ontario for a funeral Hopefully I will get a chance to grab a few bottles out the basement prior to leaving - there will be more than a few people who will be looking for something with which to help celebrate the life of a good, kind man who has passed along far before a fair time.

Todd

Too lazy to translate :)

Après 5 jours d'abstinence je m'érite bien une récompense. J'ai ouvert un Ferreira Vintage 1997 pour suivre son évolution. Je ne lui avait pas gouté depuis 2001-2002, la première dégustation du bientôt défunt C&S.

Ce soir encore ce Porto m'a émerveillé. Sans aucun doute le meilleur Ferreira que j'ai dégusté. Un très beau nez exubérant sur les prunes murs, les cerises en compote, réglisse, poivre moulu et encore assez jeune pour livrer la touche florale de Ferreira. La bouche est dense et équilibré, l'attaque se fait sur la richesse du fruit avec la prune et la cerise très mure. Par la suite les tannins arrivent et changent complètement le registre vers une finale en finesse et en fraicheur, sans alcohol sur les cerises rouges, tabac et figues laissant une impression de chocolat crêmeux. Facile d'en boire trop! 17.5/20+

Since I've got other plans this weekend I'm finishing the last glass of a inexpensive Sandeman Sherry. Other than that there will probably be no Port until the Port and wine tasting on Monday....then all bets are off and I should have plenty to make up for this weekend.

Well the one glass of Sherry didn't quite hit the spot so I found a bottle of madeira i opened about 3-4 months ago and never got around to finishing. So tonight was a couple glasses before I head to bed.

Miles 10 year old Malmsey

I think i might finally empty my Burmester LBV tonight.
No plans to open a new bottle so far.

Probably Dow 1970 for Saturday night. I have wanted to revisit this since dinner in the Douro on the 2006 Harvest Tour. At the time I found it a little hot, so I plan to decant in the morning.

Jay

WOW.

What a tasting I had earlier tonight with Roy... I got to taste the legendary '63 Taylor Fladgate VP, along side the '70, '85, '897 Vargellas, '91 Vargellas, '94, 2000, '03, and '04 Vargellas. Sorry, but TNs and notes from the tasting itself will have to wait until a possible Guest Corner column. All I can say is this: I can see why people wait 30+ years to drink their really good VPs. The young fruit bombs are nice, but the oldies are even better!!!

Todd

Todd,

Glad to hear that you had a good time, just don't leave it too long to write your Guest Corner article since I would love to know what you think of the wines you tasted.

Alex

Frederick Blais wrote:Too lazy to translate :)

Après 5 jours d'abstinence je m'érite bien une récompense. J'ai ouvert un Ferreira Vintage 1997 pour suivre son évolution. Je ne lui avait pas gouté depuis 2001-2002, la première dégustation du bientôt défunt C&S.

Ce soir encore ce Porto m'a émerveillé. Sans aucun doute le meilleur Ferreira que j'ai dégusté. Un très beau nez exubérant sur les prunes murs, les cerises en compote, réglisse, poivre moulu et encore assez jeune pour livrer la touche florale de Ferreira. La bouche est dense et équilibré, l'attaque se fait sur la richesse du fruit avec la prune et la cerise très mure. Par la suite les tannins arrivent et changent complètement le registre vers une finale en finesse et en fraicheur, sans alcohol sur les cerises rouges, tabac et figues laissant une impression de chocolat crêmeux. Facile d'en boire trop! 17.5/20+

A rough translation :

After 5 days of abstinence , I deserved a reward . I opened a bottle of Ferreira '97 in order to follow Its evolution . I hadn't tasted this bottle sinced 2001-2002 .
Tonight , this Port still blew me away !! Without a doubt the best Ferreira I've tasted . Ripe plums , stewed cherries , licorice , ground pepper and still young enough to deliver that Ferreira floral scent . Once the tannins kick in , the alcool leaves , we're left with red cherries , tobbaco and figs , giving us the impression of creamy chocolat . 17.5/20+

This weekend I'm finishing up a bottle of Calem Quinta da Foz 1996, which turned out to be much much better than I expected. Lots of intense fruit, but really raw and tannic. I will probably pick up a few more bottles to age as the price was right. I also have a bottle of Quinta das Heredias 10 year old tawny that I may dip into.

I've put a pretty good dent in an '07 Robitussin.

R

Rich Greenberg wrote:I've put a pretty good dent in an '07 Robitussin.

R

Would that be the Vintage Port or the LBV

White Colheita.

Frederick Blais wrote:Too lazy to translate :)


Ce soir encore ce Porto m'a émerveillé. Sans aucun doute le meilleur Ferreira que j'ai dégusté. Un très beau nez exubérant sur les prunes murs, les cerises en compote, réglisse, poivre moulu et encore assez jeune pour livrer la touche florale de Ferreira. La bouche est dense et équilibré, l'attaque se fait sur la richesse du fruit avec la prune et la cerise très mure. Par la suite les tannins arrivent et changent complètement le registre vers une finale en finesse et en fraicheur, sans alcohol sur les cerises rouges, tabac et figues laissant une impression de chocolat crêmeux. Facile d'en boire trop! 17.5/20+

Intéressant! Q'est-ce que tu penses du potentiel de garde? Est-ce qu'il est déja près de son top? Tu proposes quel temps pour le decanter? J'aurais la posibilité de l'achter pour environ 55 CAD.
Mercie bien.
Michael

I'm beginning my Duque de Braganca experiment, so opening a 1990 bottling and 2006. Will report after a few days of tasting.

David,

As you know, I have been anxiously awaiting your report on these bottles of the Duque and it too, would make for a very interesting GUEST CORNER article and photos. Are you game?