For The Love Of Port

Did not drink much in the way of port or champagne in 2020, also fewer of the better wines that might have come out for dinners and tastings with friends. The best port I had was earlier in the year when I opened a 1988 Fonseca Guimaraens . Another candidate was supposed to be a 40 year old colheita...

Another 1980 vintage port that stands the test of time. Initially they were not highly regarded and how I wish I hadn't heeded the critics. There are exceptions of course but in all things vinuous my mantra now is producer, priducer, producer, and ignore the vintage.

Mahmoud.

On the topic of buying older port from retail stores and 80s Fonseca, a few years ago I spotted a stray bottle of 1988 Fonseca Guimaraens for about $40 Canadian. I threw all caution to the wind.

Cheers ................. Mahmoud.

Noval Late Bottled Vintage Port (20%) Bottled 1999 This is the 9th of a case of 12 bottles. Naturally this is the most advanced of all, the colour has lightened considerably, now a dark terracotta red centre with an orange brown rim. I decanted this and served it right away - it was ready to go wit...

1996 Ferreira LBV - Bottled 2000 (20%) I had a bottle of this many years ago when it was a young pup, liked it a lot, saw that it was "traditional" in style since it was bottled after only 4 years, and thought it needed cellaring. So three bottles went in to the cellar. That was over a de...

Andy Velebil wrote:Do tell more about your Paprika Hendl.

Not mine, but a recipe from Martin Zwick in the Wine-pages forum. Quite simple really:

http://www.wine-pages.com/community/thr ... endl.7476/

Picked up a couple of half bottles of Quinta do Quevedo 2011 LBV ....

Mahmoud.

My oldest is a bottle of Jose Maria de Fonseca's 20 Year Old Moscatel du Setubal. It has a bottling date of 1989 and I drank a bottle in 2009, thereby making it a 20 year-old 20 Year Old. It was drop dead wonderful, superlative to be exact. I had been told when I bought it that they should be drunk ...

Last week we sat down in front of the telly to watch Peter O'Toole and Omar Shariff in David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia . Dinner was a new recipe that I was trying, something called Paprika Hendl. A week earlier, while ferreting through the cellar looking for a few things, I came across a couple of b...

It's been discussed before but the 1985 Graham's came in two different bottles, black and green. No explanation was offered but apparently it was even seen at the lodge.

I did not drink much port last year but overall it was the 1985 Warre's Vintage Port.

Mahmoud.

My preference would be the white port first, then the rubies, and finally the tawnies. With the rubies, I could be convinced either way but since you will be opening them in advance, sample them and then decide which way to go. As for the tawnies, I think younger before the older, though once again,...

Al B. wrote: - I shared a magnificent bottle of Taylor 1924 with my daughter's boyfriend earlier this year.

Can I be your daughter's boyfriend? Please?

Based on your notes it sounds like the Vinha da Ponte has developed along similar lines as the Reserva Old Vines from the same vintage that I had a few days ago. Both have reached 15 years of age very well however your notes suggests that the Ponte is bigger bodied and has more oak influence which m...

Sounds like the 2008 is doing well at 10 years. My 2003 wasn't in the best shape at the ten year mark. Since you've had the Reservas from 2004 to 2015, I was wondering if you have noticed vintage variation and maybe winemaking style playing a role in cellar development?

Cheers .............. Mahmoud.

Andy Velebil wrote:Crasto may not make top flight VP (it’s not their focus), but they sure do make some darn good LBV’s.

I rarely come across it but, based on the bottle of 2006 LBV that I was served a number of years ago, I would agree.

Mahmoud.

2003 Quinto do Crasto Reserva Old Vines (14.5%) I just bought a few bottles of the 2014 vintage of the Reserva and, since it is only four years old, couldn't resist putting it away for a bit. However I made it a point to pull out an older vintage. Since I had a few of then out came the 2003 Reserva...

Found some 2014 Quinto do Crasto Reserva Old Vines for C$21 (about US$16) which is about half price I reckon. Not the best vintage but should be nice for current/midterm drinking. That’s a good price for a daily drinker. I went to pick up the three bottles I had on hold and found the store very bus...

Found some 2014 Quinto do Crasto Reserva Old Vines for C$21 (about US$16) which is about half price I reckon. Not the best vintage but should be nice for current/midterm drinking.

Thanks Andy. One of the reviews mention the difficult year, however I was quite impressed by the strict selection that was made. Apparently a number of vineyards were omitted from the blend but grapes from the Maria Teresa vinyard were included. First, said Manuel Lobo, normal production was cut not...