For The Love Of Port

1 x 1964 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port.

John M. wrote:1 x 1964 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port.

Haven’t had that one in a very long time. Let us know how it is when you open it.

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Tue Mar 03, 2026 4:14 pm

John M. wrote:1 x 1964 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port.

Haven’t had that one in a very long time. Let us know how it is when you open it.

Yeah, they're pretty rare. You brought one up to Seattle not too long ago, and then I opened one for my 60th birthday, but those are the last 2 that I can remember.

It's low end "excellent" for me. Around 90-91 points, which is good enough to be the 2nd best Vintage Port from 1964 for me behind only the Graham's Malvedos.

Glenn E. wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Tue Mar 03, 2026 4:14 pm

John M. wrote:1 x 1964 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port.

Haven’t had that one in a very long time. Let us know how it is when you open it.

Yeah, they're pretty rare. You brought one up to Seattle not too long ago, and then I opened one for my 60th birthday, but those are the last 2 that I can remember.

It's low end "excellent" for me. Around 90-91 points, which is good enough to be the 2nd best Vintage Port from 1964 for me behind only the Graham's Malvedos.

Forgot about that one. It was 2022 if my records are correct.

A bottle of Graham 2011 for a tasting that we're going to have in London on 23rd April. I have some Graham 2011 in storage - but only halves or magnum / larger formats. No bottles!

One each of the following for a casual tawny tasting in April

Borges 20
Messias 20
Barao de Vilar 20
Quinta dos Murcas 10 (Mike's W recommends!)

4 x 1985 Taylor VP, two of which are going to John M.

I bought this bottle at auction - can anyone advise me on the style of the wine and the way it was produced; is it similar to a tawny port? I cannot see the vintage anywhere, so unsure how old it is.

Real Vinicola effectively no longer exists. Its assets were purchased by The Fladgate Partnership in 2011, but Real Companha Velha retained the rights to the Real Companha Vinicola do Norte name.

From what I can find, this wine is allegedly from 1944 and was bottled in 1987. It's a Tawny Port, but for some reason not bottled as a 1944 Colheita.

There have been a couple for sale in the last few years. They're not expensive, but are nevertheless difficult to find.

Think of it this way - if it is the same as what I've found on the internet, it's a 40 year old Tawny Port that has been in bottle for 40 years. It will likely taste fine, possibly even good, but will likely be showing its bottle age.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/article ... 47486.html

Mike J. W. was this you????

John M. wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2026 2:58 pm https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/article ... 47486.html

Mike J. W. was this you????

My bid was $3 too low.

Mike J. W. wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2026 3:04 pm

John M. wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2026 2:58 pm https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/article ... 47486.html

Mike J. W. was this you????

My bid was $3 too low.

I tapped out after 100K.

I bought a Krohn Vintage 1961 this week and fortunately it arrived in perfect condition. It was very well packaged. I’m very curious to see how this vintage port tastes. I haven’t decided on the exact moment to open it yet. How long would you recommend decanting it? I’ve read quite a few different opinions about that.

I’ve had the ‘61 Krohn a few times. It’s a lovely wine, elegant and refined which is full of secondary flavours. It doesn’t need a long decant - maybe start at 1 hour and drink it over the next 2 hours.

I will be having the 1961 Krohn in less than 3 hours from now, amongst a big Krohn tasting event here in Tondela, (near Viseu) in Dao region. I have 5 at home, and have had it a half dozen times, over the years. For me, it is one of the all-time greatest Krohn's and a remarkable achievement in the world of Colheitas.

The 1961 Krohn VP is one I have opened four bottles of in the past 2-3 years. It exceeds all expectations, given it is an off-year bottling and packs a nice punch and as Alex mentioned, requires an hour (or so, up to 90 minutes in decanter) not more.

4 x 1997 Gould Campbell, all 375mm. Won at auction---just needed to round out a case and looked like a decent deal. 10 are still available at WineBid.

Melis K. wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 10:27 pm I bought a Krohn Vintage 1961 this week and fortunately it arrived in perfect condition. It was very well packaged. I’m very curious to see how this vintage port tastes. I haven’t decided on the exact moment to open it yet. How long would you recommend decanting it? I’ve read quite a few different opinions about that.

I agree with Alex - an hour or two is all it needs. Give it an hour in a decanter, then enjoy it as it peaks over the next hour or so.

It is over 60 years old, after all!

Coincidentally, I just picked up 2 x 1961 Krohn Colheita's at a decent price (relatively speaking). I'm unsure when they were bottled, but based on the pics of the front of the bottles I'd say somewhere between 2006 and 2016. They will be delivered on Friday so I will update this post then.

Edit: I received my two bottles and they were in excellent condition with fill levels at mid-neck. They were bottled in 2013, so they sat in their barrels for 52 years (and then in bottle for 13 years). I'm looking forward to trying one in the next year.

Mike, Andrew K and Brad B went in together and bought a case of 1963 Smith Woodhouse and 10 bottles of 1966 Rabello Valente at that amazing Port Auction at Heritage.

Got beat out on 1994 Vesuvio and two different lots of 1970 Fonseca...hope they went to happy FTLOPers.

John M. wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2026 11:12 am Mike, Andrew K and Brad B went in together and bought a case of 1963 Smith Woodhouse and 10 bottles of 1966 Rabello Valente at that amazing Port Auction at Heritage.

Got beat out on 1994 Vesuvio and two different lots of 1970 Fonseca...hope they went to happy FTLOPers.

I got one of the cases of Vesuvio, and David got another one, so at least 2 of the 3 went to FTLOPers!

I also got the 1935 Graham (Whitwham's bottling, not the magnum), and David and I split the case of 2011 Graham's The Stone Terraces.

There were some truly amazing prices in that auction. If I had storage space, I'd have picked up all of the 1970 Graham because it went for around $600 per case. $50 per bottle is crazy for a top-tier 1970 VP!