In the cellar of Restaurante Antiqvvm, in Porto. I have had only two meals there, one lunch and one dinner and both rocked, with excellent wines & food and near-perfect service. Here are just some of the Ports they carry. You should see the rest of their list!
LARGE format bottles by NIEPOORT
Like salmon, we are heading up river. Unlike salmon, we are heading directly to drink some Port wine.
1910 Andresen Colheita Port.Here is one of the real hidden gems one gets to explore when we go to Portugal. I have been grateful to experience this Port a few times from the source. I remember each and every one, like they were my children. You can never have a Port like this too many times in one's life. A remarkable achievement!
In Madeira, this is a meal we would never miss. Various fresh meats cut into large pieces are skewered on Laurel wood spears, (called Loureiro in Portuguese, the same name associated with the fab grape from Vinho Verde). This wood imparts a ton of delicious flavor to the meat when cooked in an open wood-burning oven, seared at very high temperatures. Laurel leaves are also a very widely used seasoning (in Portugal) for meat, fish etc. (Thanks Mario Ferreira!)
1963 Cockburn's Vintage Port is now over a half century old and is still a delicious drink, when bottles have been stored well. From FTLOP's recent 11th anniversary party. It will be the feature of the upcoming newsletter, along with dozens of Port tasting notes and enough other features, to keep you reading for a couple of weeks.
My brother and good friend Blair were here for a weekend back in late July and we enjoyed an array of fine dessert wines. But you should've seen what else was on the table.
The beauty of Quinta do Vallado, whose winemaker, Francisco Ferreira, will be featured IN FOCUS, in our upcoming newsletter.
Belcanto is the brainchild of master chef José Avillez in Lisboa, one of the handful of fine dining venues he owns in the capital city & Porto. This was one of the fun wine pairings that we had along with each course ... and there were many. Loaded with Cabernet character, this inexpensive old Portuguese wine was lively, balanced and fresh, given its nearly 20 years of age. A pleasant surprise, and great pairing, to say the least!
What Port are you going to open this weekend?This photo from last month at a dinner in Amsterdam. It was just one of the flights!
Ayesha learning the different Port grape types and photographing them during the 2015 Port Harvest Tour.
Some of the old-vine field blends planted on old "socalcos" (terraces) that help to make Taylor's Ports so incredible. It all starts with the vineyards, and this parcel at Quinta de Vargellas is known for excellence.
If you haven't tried this 1970 Taylor's Vintage Port before, it is one you should make sure to experience at least once in your life. There are others, but this Taylor's is extraordinary, especially when from a pristinely stored bottle!
How is this for a nice pairing of siblings?
A nice trio for breakfast?
Quinta do Noval
Ana Almeida of Quinta do Noval provided us with an excellent understanding of several categories of Port wine during our tasting amidst the harvest.
Harvest is here! "Triage" better known as the work that goes on at the sorting table, allows freshly picked grapes to be determined worthy or not by those trained what quality is acceptable and desired. The work here goes by quickly, in retrospect, but it should be underscored how important this is to a winemaker's success. Without great grapes, there can be no great wine!
The Dow's house style really appeals to what I love about great Vintage Ports and well-stored bottles of the Dow's 1966 vintage, remind me of this nearly every time I am fortunate enough to try one. This photo, from a pristine bottle in late July.
If you like Vinho Verde, you've gotta love Soalheiro!

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