What have you opened this week?

[Andy Velebil]

1983 Gould Campbell. Outstanding. It's a real shame that the Symingtons have retired this brand, as the Ports are among the most consistent in the business. Right up there with Graham in terms of reliability year after year.

I like Gould a lot, but the last 2 1980's I had were badly corked and the '77 I had was off as well. I'm hoping I hit a bad patch with them and that's the end of it. I have a few more 63's, 80's, '83's, 91's and 00's still to drink through.

The late 70’s to mid 80’s was not a good time period for the cork industry. There are a lot of issues with a lot of producers from all over the world that have nothing to do with the wine itself or the producer of the wine. For Port there’s 77 Dows, 77 Fonseca and Taylor’s, 80 Graham’s, 77 Gould (more so with UK bottles for some reason) to name a few.

[Andy Velebil]

1983 Gould Campbell. Outstanding. It's a real shame that the Symingtons have retired this brand, as the Ports are among the most consistent in the business. Right up there with Graham in terms of reliability year after year.

It’s not retired. Taking an extended vacation is probably a better description. And yes, very consistently good.

Perhaps you could convince a new generation of the family to make it go back to work. :)

[Andy Velebil]

1994 Quinta de la Rosa VP.

[Eric Ifune]

2003 Noval LBV.

[Glenn E.]

2003 Noval LBV.

How's it doing? I have 5 left out of a 6-pack that I purchased specifically to age. I tried the first one at 15 yrs old and felt like it still needed a lot of time.

(I also have 5/6 of 2003 Quevedo LBV left in the same experiment.)

[Eric Ifune]

For me, it's just about at peak. Absolutely wonderful stuff! I should have gotten more.

[Eric Menchen]

1991 Croft VP

[Mike J. W.]

1992 Taylor's LBV. Delicious!

[Glenn E.]

1985 Taylor VP.

[Glenn E.]

1985 Graham VP

I neglected to decant this so it started out pop-and-pour, but was still delicious. But it has been opening up over time and is one of the better bottles of G85 that I've had in a while!

[Mike J. W.]

1983 Messias Quinta do Cachao SQVP. A slight hint of VA, but not unbearable at all. It's drinking nicely. I paid $38 for a 38 year old VP so it's definitely a good deal. 2 more left.

[Moses Botbol]

1992 Vesuvio VP.

[Eric Ifune]

Quevedo 40 year old.

[Andy Velebil]

A very tasty Graham’s 30 Year Tawny (bottled 2019).

[Moses Botbol]

1970 Dow VP. Pop and pour and was really something else! Showed better than the last bottle a month ago. Was for after dinner and we had an '88 Delas CdP which was terrific as well.

[Thomas V]

1999 Fonseca Quinta do Panascal VP. Very tasty with a nice minty aroma. In the semi mature state with amicable tannins which is enjoyable. A little heat on the aftertaste. 91p

[Glenn E.]

1985 Fonseca. This bottle came down on the "gorgeously mature" side of what seems to be a Port in transition (some bottles are still very young and somewhat closed) and was so delicious that 2 of us drank the entire bottle in about 3 hours. And then drank half a bottle of 1976 Kopke Colheita.

I don't think it's possible to own too much of this Port.

[Mike J. W.]

1996 Calem Quinta Da Foz. It's a nice bottle of Port. Not a world beater but very drinkable.

[Mike J. W.]

1985 Fonseca. This bottle came down on the "gorgeously mature" side of what seems to be a Port in transition (some bottles are still very young and somewhat closed) and was so delicious that 2 of us drank the entire bottle in about 3 hours. And then drank half a bottle of 1976 Kopke Colheita.

I don't think it's possible to own too much of this Port.

I feel that way about the '94 Fonseca as well. I own a lot of both.

[Glenn E.]

1985 Fonseca. This bottle came down on the "gorgeously mature" side of what seems to be a Port in transition (some bottles are still very young and somewhat closed) and was so delicious that 2 of us drank the entire bottle in about 3 hours. And then drank half a bottle of 1976 Kopke Colheita.

I don't think it's possible to own too much of this Port.

I feel that way about the '94 Fonseca as well. I own a lot of both.

I should own more of the '94 than I do, but it's just so much more expensive than the '85 that I have difficulty rationalizing the purchase.