Vertically speaking: CROFT
A brief departure: one of our flights during a great visit in Madeira, to Henriques & Henriques. We had a much broader tasting, but these four were also exceptional. Coincidentally, on my flight from Porto to Frankfurt yesterday, Humberto Jardim the managing director of H&H was on the same plane, along with Juan Texeira (Justino's) and also Jorge Dias (C. da Silva).
Quinta do Noval's Ana Almeida loves Port wine!
Overlooked.
Speaking of 1966 ... a few more Vintage Ports from this excellent year.
Unless you've ever participated in the actual grape picking in the Douro, you have NO idea how hard this work is.
At their Port lodge, the new Taylor Fladgate visitor's center in Vila Nova de Gaia has many intriguing artifacts to see and interact with. I love old maps of the sibling cities of Gaia/Porto and especially cool maps like this of the Douro region. There is a lot more to see there too, but this map captivated my attention. Notice the way the words, "Rio Douro" meander around the river itself. Awesomeness!
Spending time with Isabel Vieira of Bulas, during the re-opening of the AVEPOD shop in Porto. Oh, you didn't know the shop reopened? Yes, seek it out for a wide swath of great small, family owned producers making great Port and Douro wines!
Some of the socalco terraces with old-vine field blends at Quinta do Bomfim, best known for Dow's Ports.
In the previous photo here, you can see the vineyard from which these Dow's Ports came. In this pic, the Dow's 20 Year Old Tawny and a 1999 Quinta do Bomfim Vintage Port, alongside a pair of the latest Symington Family Estates: Altano white and red bottlings.
Although I've enjoyed dining at Restaurante Adega de São Nicolau in Porto on several occasions, we finally introduced this fine eatery to one of our groups during harvest time this year. If you have yet to try it, experience their excellent food and well thought out wine list the next time you visit Porto.
Is it any wonder?At the ripe young age of 17, while working as a stock boy at a wine shop (in Douglaston, NY) and learning all I could, the owner's son allowed me to try this Vinho Verde from Aveleda, (Casal Garcia). And so, my adventures with Portuguese wine began many decades ago, and little did I know that someday this would become my raison d'être.
A fine collaboration!
I needed to have something that I can swallow while watching tonight's 2nd Presidential Debate. This is likely the only thing I will enjoy about tonight.
Portugal's progressive Syrah specialist: Quinta do Monte D'Oiro.
2016 Port Wine Day celebration in Porto. Thanks to the IVDP!
Susana Ferraz presents the most current release of Niepoort's Late Bottled Vintage Port, from 2012, bottled earlier this year.
Now who is "THE BAD GUY"?
Always a great time when visiting this good friend in Madeira! If only I could convince this man to sell me one of those pipas!
Dow's 750 and 1500 ml bottles from 2000 back to 1908 at Quinta do Bomfim.

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