What have you opened this week?

[Moses Botbol]

2003 Fonseca VP. Wife wanted port and the dog needed to be walked. If she picks out the port, I ask her to pick two bottles. Just in case she picks something too fancy. Since I elected to walk the dog, she selected two bottles of port. One was 1985 Niepoort and 2003 Fonseca. I didn't feel like something as serious like the Niepoort, so the Fonseca it was.

On the 2nd day there was a distinct cinnamon taste to the port and not much nose. Was good but was expecting more from it.

[Glenn E.]

2008 DR White Port (bottled 2021)

I don't know if this is a second bottling that isn't quite as special as the first one, or if at a mere 4 years in bottle these are getting too much bottle age, but this one had some cognac-like alcohol protruding from the palate. I'm normally around 94 points for these, but this one was probably only 92.

[Al B.]

2003 Fonseca VP. Wife wanted port and the dog needed to be walked. If she picks out the port, I ask her to pick two bottles. Just in case she picks something too fancy. Since I elected to walk the dog, she selected two bottles of port. One was 1985 Niepoort and 2003 Fonseca. I didn't feel like something as serious like the Niepoort, so the Fonseca it was.

On the 2nd day there was a distinct cinnamon taste to the port and not much nose. Was good but was expecting more from it.

I love that idea! I must try that with my other half - she can pick two bottles and I’ll choose which one we open. That’s a great way to do it.

Whatever though, this evening we opened a bottle of Quinta de Val da Figueira 10YO Tawny. It’s as fabulous as ever and continues to be a very strong candidate for best 10YO on the market.

[Roy Hersh]

DR L-70 was opened for Bartholomew Broadbent and Elizabeth George, Brand Ambassador from his company. It was a 2023 bottling.

Last night I opened a 1991 JH Andressen Colheita, which was a 2024 bottling and was everything I expected from this excellent Port.

[Martin H]

Dalva's 10 year old Tawny. I could easily mix it up with 20 year olds in blind tasting.

[Lucas S]

2014 Noval LBV.

Unfiltered but the deposit came up short of expectations.

Needed plenty of air. A decent enough Port, with adequate tannic support but a bit thin, and with a very dark almost "evil" flavor with noticeable spirit - save this one for a Halloween.

The 2014 Sandeman LBV I had recently is much better with more potential, and brighter.

[Eric Ifune]

1985 Croft magnum.
Clean, no trace VA. Youthful. A very nice VP. Perhaps not the most profound, but excellent. Maybe 93 points and well worth the 400 GBP for the 6.

[Al B.]

1985 Croft magnum.
Clean, no trace VA. Youthful. A very nice VP. Perhaps not the most profound, but excellent. Maybe 93 points and well worth the 400 GBP for the 6.

You were lucky. I’ve stopped opening Croft 1985, I’ve just had such a run of bad bottles.

This weekend so far I’ve opened Quarles Harris 1995 (now there’s an oddity) and Taylor Vargellas 1998. The QH was fully mature, tasty and enjoyable but not going to get much better.

The TV98 is a serious wine, chock full of fruit and still very youthful but just starting to show some maturity. This one is a wine for aging.

[Moses Botbol]

1994 Sandeman VP.

Drier than I expected on the pop and pour. "Good", but nothing special so far.

[Glenn E.]

1985 Croft magnum.
Clean, no trace VA. Youthful. A very nice VP. Perhaps not the most profound, but excellent. Maybe 93 points and well worth the 400 GBP for the 6.

You were lucky. I’ve stopped opening Croft 1985, I’ve just had such a run of bad bottles.

When clean they're really very good. I have 2 left and am saving them for this summer... 1 to open and 1 as backup.

[Andy Velebil]

2001 Quinta do Vesuvio VP.

[Mike J. W.]

2001 Quinta do Vesuvio VP.

How is that drinking, Andy? I have a few of those but I haven't tried one in a while. Never mind. I just saw your tasting note.

[Mike J. W.]

20 y.o. Quevedo Tawny bottled 2020. Nice, dry almost madeira like. Tasting note to follow.

[Glenn E.]

Opened an Andresen 20 Year Old White Port last weekend for a "Champagne and Fish" dinner. Worked really well, and I thought it paired better with a couple of the dishes than the Champagne did!

[Eric Menchen]

2003 Croft VP, from a 375.

[Al B.]

A magnum of Gould Campbell 1977 - still way younger than a nearly 50 year old VP should be.

[Moses Botbol]

A magnum of Gould Campbell 1977 - still way younger than a nearly 50 year old VP should be.

I have a magnum of that as well. You've put my curiosity at bay at least.

[Eric Menchen]

I have a magnum of that as well. You've put my curiosity at bay at least.

+1
There must have been a lot of that put in magnums.

[Glenn E.]

I have a magnum of that as well. You've put my curiosity at bay at least.

+1
There must have been a lot of that put in magnums.

It sure seems like it. I've been present for the opening of at least ... 5? 3 of which were mine, and I still have 8 more.

In my experience, there's a pretty distinct difference between magnums and 750s of this Port. While the 750s are still very nice, they don't still have the youthfulness that the magnums carry. If you have both, I'd start drinking up the 750s and let the magnums continue to sit. Check back in another 5-10 years.

[Moses Botbol]

1991 Warre's VP. Great clarity and balance. Was most enjoyable on day 2 and 3.