For The Love Of Port

The issue I have with '63 vintage Ports is that as great as many were early, in the past decade, MANY have faded into tawnies with tertiary flavors developed and in some ways, more advanced than the '55s. There are very few '63s still showing their vibrancy at only 42 years old. Roy, it seems you a...

Stuart, Here is a simplified example that, I think, illustrates my point. You buy a case of Noval Nacional 1931 today for £50,000 and invest it in your SIPP. The tax man kindly gives you back 40% of your contribution so the total cost to you is £30,000. You don't pay VAT at this point because the wi...

Glad to see I'm not the only trash collecting freak on the planet! My favourite is a cork and empty bottle from an 1873 port bottled by White's of Licester - a long gone UK merchant. The bottle had been standing up due to leakage and the cork completely dried out - I lifted it straight out of the bo...

Alex,

If you every find yourelf in a position where you seem to have a self re-generating cellar full of port like you describe then I'm affraid you will already have past over to the other side and will be in no need of a pension!

Derek

I read this thread last week with interest as I had only just purchased 7 bottles of Graham's 1985 and have never (to my knowledge) experienced VA. Last Sunday I opened a bottle of the Graham's 85 to try it out - half hoping that VA would be present so that I would know what you were all talking abo...

Roy, I see you have a TN from 2002 for a Graham's Malvedos 1965. Can I ask you where you found this as I am trying to collect at least one bottle from each house that declared that year as it was the year I was born. I currently have 3 Fonseca Guimaraens, 4 Taylors Vargellas, 1 Dow's Quinta do Bomfi...

I have a bottle of Niepoort LBV 1975 that I bought in a wine shop in Portugal about 6 years ago. Has anyone tasted this?

I have 6 each of the 94 and 96 Vesuvio and have yet to taste any from this house. I have read very good things about Vesuvio, especially from Roy, and wonder whether or not these are best left alone for a few more years. I like my port mature rather than young and it sounds to me that most if not al...

Stuart, I work in the pensions industry and have been watching this with interest. From what I've heard you can basically "invest" anything of appreciating value in a SIPP providing the trustees of the scheme approve. Given wines status as a wasting asset this may prove difficult. I have a...

Roy,

The fact that you managed to persuade someone to carry out an experenment with a bottle of 1963 Nacional is more amazing than the chemistry !

Stuart, I have used Fine and Rare Wine a number of times and can recommend them. The only negative I have with them is that it very often takes 2 to 3 months for the wine to arrive as they appear to sell it on behalf of retailers all over the globe. However, when it does arrive, it is invariably as ...

Roy,

I was once told that the temperature the port is served at affects the amount of alcohol that comes through the nose. Aparently this is something to do with higher temperature causing more alcohol to evaporate above the wine. Is this true in your experience?

At the end of the day this all comes down to viability of the companies. In any industry, companies with strong finances and a bright future do not tend to be bought out. The very fact that the big boys are buying out these old houses suggests that their future was very uncertain and the only other ...

I have two favourite memories of Port - a 1966 Warre's with my family at Christmas in 2003 - exquisite wine - but my most memorable moment was opening and tasting a bottle of port from 1873 bottled by a UK wine merchant, White's of Leicester, with my then 10 year old son Ross. Both of us were facina...

I find this a very interesting debate. I live in the UK and love to drink all types of port, especially VP and Colheita. In the past 2 years I have visited the US (Virginia) and the Carribean (St Maarten) and on both occasions have have tasted premium port and did not enjoy the experience. When I dr...

As long as the glass is big enough to accomodate a decent measure of port and your nose it will be fine - if I am serving an old (30 yrs +) port I would want it in a red wine glass to get enough aroma into the glass as the wine deserves. Most port glasses, including those referred to above, are too ...

I'm no scientist but I do know that any wine will taste smoother with and will show less alchohol a few hours after opening. I love VP and can appreciate it after 5 minutes, an hour, 4 hours or 24 hours - all of which have a different taste and a different experience. ALL GOOD ! My recommendation to...

Let's not forget "Oporto" !

Andrew, I visited this cellar in February this year and bought a bottle of the 40 yr old. I too was give the 1912/1942 story and was somewhat suspicious but I suppose at least their story seems to be consistent. The only other reference I have found to Vasconcellos is their name being attached to bo...

I recently purchased a bottle of Niepoort Colheita 1957 that has no date of bottling stated on the label. The label and the bottle look quite old (20 years +) and I wondered if anyone had come across this wine at any time.

Any information would be gratefully received.[/img]