For The Love Of Port

Glenn - Richard tasted the 2011 in 2023 when it had had the benefit of 10 years of bottle age. He rated it a perfect wine.

What’s your view? Do you agree?

Inspired by a friend’s recent experience with this Port, I opened one yesterday. It’s finally starting to mature. It’s damn delicious!

Well my 1912's cork was branded S H Day & Co. Vintage 1912 - bottler put his own stamp on it. Drank well however, with characteristics that made us suspect Croft or Sandeman. Bit disappointing it didn't reveal a major shipper's name tho' Not the oldest bottle drunk last night, that was a rather...

Since I couldn’t get hold of a bottle of the Otima 20yo in the UK so I’ve gone for something which we don’t see very often — Quinta da Corte 20YO Tawny, bottled 2022. Warm brick red in colour, 60% opaque. Warm strawberry jam on the nose, like jam tarts cooling from the oven. Sweet strawberry syrup o...

The (Google) translated article reads: Mello Group extends to Douro and Vinhos Verdes The owner of the Ravasqueira brand entered the Douro and Verdes regions with the purchase of a farm and the rental of two others. With these deals, she becomes the owner of the Krohn Port wine brand. Edgardo Pachec...

After making various enquiries it turns out that the Warre Otima 20 Year Old is not marketed in the UK. The only way I could get a bottle is to buy it from a Portuguese online retailer and have them ship it to me - which would cost around £25 in service fees and another £8 in taxes. I'll have a look...

I don’t have a Warre Otima 20YO in the cellar. I’ll see if I can get hold of one. If not, I’ll open a different 20YO.

It was my 60th birthday recently and I managed to get a few friends together in Portugal to celebrate. I had to open something special so I opened a bottle of Noval Nacional 1963. But the Nacional 1966 was better than the flawed bottle of the 1963. So was the 1964 with the 1958 taking 3rd place in t...

Back on topic, (but the diversion was really, really interesting), this week I’ve opened a handful of bottles for some really special dinners. A bottle of Nacional 1983 to be shared with a specific couple of friends in their 40th years, a Croft 1945 and a Noval 1934 - all great wines shared with som...

That’s a lovely line up. I’d enjoy drinking any of those - but I’d probably only get to drink half of the bottle since colheita / 20YO is my better half’s sweet spot.

I discovered a forgotten cardboard box in a corner of the cellar yesterday which contained 6 bottles of Graham Crusted Bottled in 2000.

Now there are only 5. This is delicious, soft and smooth but just soooo full of raspberry fruit. Yum!

I just checked my cellar software and my longest complete vertical is of Noval Nacional. This vertical spans the period from 1960 to present. Apparently I also have an almost complete vertical of Taylor from 1955 to present, but there are a couple of holes that need to be filled. Marc, I have some ...

For some Port over the weekend I decanted a bottle of Quinta de Val da Figueira 2000 VP. Really lovely, smooth and still so full of fruit. Despite having been in the bottle for 20 years, still quite primary and fruit-forward needing more time to develop the secondary spice character that good VP wil...

I’ve just been to the recycling and dropped off a half bottle of Gould Campbell 1963, a magnum of Gould Campbell 1977 and bottles of Mackenzie 1963, Kopke 1966 Colheita, Churchill Crusted 2014 and Andresen 10YO White.

The “rumour” is true. The sale by the family has happened.

Miguel has left his job at Quinta do Mourão and is looking for his next project.

I can't tell you much, but I did once own a bottle of Quinta do Rei 1960 Vintage Port. The tasting note for the bottle is here. I recall that the label confirmed the estate was owned by Messias, but I don;t remember anything else useful.

Quinta do Seixo at number 42 was a bit of a surprise. Good to see though.

Moses Botbol wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2023 4:55 am 1977 Grahams VP on Saturday. Had bottle stink going on. Kind of musty. Day two was certainly less, but it's not most memorable '77 Grahams that's for sure. Cork was perfect too. Just a couple of glasses into the bottle.

Plan to finish on the 4th.

Could it be mild cork taint?

Offley Boa Vista 1963. Sadly the cork had failed a little so the wine was oxidised and tired. It happens.

Half bottles of Smith Woodhouse 1994 and Taylor 1955. Very different and both delicious!