Lots of new faces ... please introduce yourself

[Roy Hersh]

Paul,

Although we have a LOT of people who receive the newsletter who are from Austria, we've only had a couple who have ever participated here in the Forum. So thank you for participating and introducing yourself to us.

We look forward to watching you gain more experience and I hope to read your impressions when you do get to try a true Vintage Port. Getting started with Port while still in college is fantastic, as you will have so many years ahead to let your new discoveries age in your own possession.

and I am confident you will find this a rather fun place to spend some time sharing and learning along with the rest of us!

Come join us on Facebook too. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/For-Th ... 4629626664

[Paul G]

HI,

thanks for the very warm welcome!:)

Yes..it is great to start early! So I can buy a 2009 VP and enjoy it 2059!:)

I realy hope that maybe a opportunity arises that I can taste some or purchase like small tasting bottles or opened bottles (in case of LBVs, or Ports that makes sense to reclose! ). Maybe there is a port tasting somewhere around my area..:) could also be on the south of Germany!

Come join us on Facebook too. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/For-Th ... 4629626664

check!

[Eric Menchen]

Welcome to both Claus and Paul G. It is wonderful to have such an international crowd.

[Eric L.]

Hey all ,

Another Eric here, from the Toronto, Canada area. I've been here a bit to see what you are all about, as I have just reciently gotten into drinking port.
I've been a avid red wine collector for many years and have an average size collection of about 100 bottles +/- at any one time. I was at a wine show in Toronto last summer and decided to try some port and - wow I was hooked.
I currently have the following bottles of port:

1994 Delaforce Vintage Port - 1bottle
2003 Quinta Do Noval Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage - 3 bottles
2004 Croft Late Bottle Vintage - 1 bottle

I am looking to pick up a bottle or 2 of 2007 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port this weekend when it's released at our liquor stores.

I look forward to learning more and speaking to the members here.

Eric L.

[Andy Velebil]

Hi Eric,

to the Forum, it's great to have another Canadian with us! You've gotten off to a good start as those are are nice bottles. I know prices on wine/Port in your area can be quite pricey, but this group will have you buying and drinking lots of it in no time

And please don't hesitate to ask any question, no matter how trivial you may think it is. We're all here to learn and this group loves sharing their vast knowledge. Again, welcome and it's good to have you with us.

[Eric Menchen]

Welcome Eric L., from one of the many Erics now around here. Those are nice bottles you've started with, and while I haven't tasted 2007 SW, they are one of my favorite houses. If that is readily available, I would definitely jump on it and buy a few.

[Roy Hersh]

Nice to have you join us Eric. Sorry to be late to the welcome wagon, but I am not on the forum as often lately due to being in Portugal at the moment, but definitely wanted to say hi and thanks for your first of what will hopefully be many visits to the Forum to discuss our favorite beverage.

[Eric L.]

Thanks for the welcoming words all. This place looks like a great forum!

I picked up 1 bottle of the 2007 Smith Woodhouse for $72.95 cdn along with my weekly wine purchase. Next weekend, if I can I'll grab another 1 if there are any left. Only 6 bottles (5 left) at the store near me.

Have a great time in Portugal, Roy.

Eric L.

[Roy Hersh]

Thanks Eric, it was a fun time for sure. Have you opened the 2007 Smith Woodhouse or are you collecting them to drink later in life?

[Gunnar L]

Hi

My name is Gunnar Ljunglöf and i live in Sundsvall in the northern part of Sweden. I am 51 years old an working with computers.

I have been into wine for just over a decade and Portugese red wine and tawnies for almost as long but it took a couple of years before I got hooked to vintage.

It was at a dinner last year at Quinta de Napoles (Frederick B were also present) when Dirk Niepoort served us one 1975 and one 1950-something VP that the bug bit me.
And bit me hard.

For one thing I have bought more VP this year than any other type of wine.

We will also go to Portugal again this september (by car, 4000 km) and are planning to stay in Evora (Alentejo, for the Porco Preto!) and at Quinta de la Rosa in Pinhao. It took a new kitchen to get my wife to agree to this trip but it will be totally worth it.

The most recent VP:s I have bought is one 1987 Niepoort and the three last bottles for sale in Sweden of the Fonseca 2003. Unfortunately I missed the last bottle of 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio.
Daily (or weekly?) drinkers are mostly Colheitas and Tawnies but I am also planning to dive into the sea of LBV ports.

I hope to learn more about port and maybe also get some advice about what to buy and who to visit while travelling in Portugal. I also hope to eventualy be able to contribute to the collectve wisdom on FTLOP but right now that is just a dream...

[Eric Menchen]

Gunnar. There are quite a few Port lovers around here from your part of the world, but I'm not sure if any are as northerly as you. I suspect your location makes for good Port-drinking weather, although who needs an excuse like weather to open a nice bottle?

[craig l]

Hello,
My name is Craig Lewandowski and I currently live in West Virginia, having moved from Southern California in 1993. I discovered Port at a wine tasting at the Wine Club in Santa Ana, in roughly the mid 1980's-My teeth were cut on 1977, 1982(1983?) mostly 1985 (Graham, Warre) and a few special 1970 vintages to get a taste of more mature VP. I believe that my favorite would probably be the 1985 Graham, for its power and general fruitiness(hope to learn proper TN terms and post) -which is sadly gone About 10 years then passed with little consumption and only a single purchase of a mixed case of 1995 sqvp, vp to show in the cellar . So this year have recently rediscovered my fondness and have made a few purchases of LBV for near term consumption and am stuck with age (mine! 49) and aging concerns for buying recent VP's. I look forward to becoming a more active poster and enthusiast!
Cheers,
Craig

[Andy Velebil]

Gunner and Craig,

Just a quick to the forum, it's great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself.

[Roy Hersh]

Gunnar wrote:

It took a new kitchen to get my wife to agree to this trip but it will be totally worth it.

You clearly have your priorities in order and are a master negotiator, so to .

I am positive we will enjoy having you with us!

Roy

[Roy Hersh]

Hi Craig,

I have a half decade on ya, so don't fret about your age, it is just a number. In terms of even considering young vintages, my suggestion is to buy one and two bottles of specific producers you particularly like from the young vintages, but buy maybe six to a dozen producers in all to fill a case or two. That way, instead of having a lot from a single producer, you'll instead be able to explore a wider swath of that vintage when it or you reaches the age at which you think they're ready for enjoyment. Spread the wealth as you get older. Look to back fill when possible, but don't necessarily shy away from the great young years, as VPs from even 1985, 1994, 2000 and 2003 are both enjoyable and affordable today. Nothing wrong with 2007 either. For that matter, there are both fine vintages and producers whose VP's represent serious bargains, as they are under-appreciated.

for joining us!

[Gunnar L]

Thanks for the warm welcome. It is surely needed up here in the remote north (1° north of Anchorage, Alaska) where we today have sunny weather and a temperature around the freezing point (0°C). Actually quite nice weather after an unusually cold and snowy winter. Port wine weather indeed.

On the other hand I have been moving further and further south all my life. If i keep on like this I will live in Portugal in 400 years...

[Roy Hersh]

The question remains, can you see Sarah Palin from there?

[Gunnar L]

That question will remain unanswered...

[Roy Hersh]

Smart man, I couldn't get you to take the bait.

[Moses Botbol]

Nothing like putting port bottle into the snow bank to cool down!