For The Love Of Port

Rocha 40 Year Old Tawny for Thanksgiving dessert. This had been long in the bottle, but was still quite nice.

A bottle of 100 year old Tawny that I was saving for New Year's Eve, the S. Leonardo wound up getting opened yesterday. Not only happy that the 123rd newsletter was complete and sent out; but also that after one final appointment with AIMA the Portuguese gov. (agency responsible for keeping immigration flow slow and at a target that they are comfortable with) and several years "in process" ... on Tuesday, I was granted residency status.

So instead of digging for something else worthy, I just grabbed this as it was already in my drink soon section. I forgot how insanely dark this Port is. We drank just more than half of the bottle and left enough for about 2 glasses apiece, for maybe this weekend. So darn good. I only have one left of these and it is in my U.S. collection, so someday in 2026, I hope to have those bottles back in my possession.

Roy Hersh wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 10:25 pm ... I was granted residency status.

Parabéns! I'll drink to that

Thanks Eric. Now I can't wait for it to become official ... by receiving my card. But it will take a few months. Kind of like everything to deal with bureaucracy.

Roy Hersh wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 10:25 pm ... also that after one final appointment with AIMA the Portuguese gov. (agency responsible for keeping immigration flow slow and at a target that they are comfortable with) and several years "in process" ... on Tuesday, I was granted residency status.

Congratulations!

Thanks Glenn!

Next time I am able to return to Sammamish, we'll drink well together, that is for sure. But that would happen anyway.

Roy Hersh wrote:A bottle of 100 year old Tawny that I was saving for New Year's Eve, the S. Leonardo wound up getting opened yesterday. Not only happy that the 123rd newsletter was complete and sent out; but also that after one final appointment with AIMA the Portuguese gov. (agency responsible for keeping immigration flow slow and at a target that they are comfortable with) and several years "in process" ... on Tuesday, I was granted residency status.

So instead of digging for something else worthy, I just grabbed this as it was already in my drink soon section. I forgot how insanely dark this Port is. We drank just more than half of the bottle and left enough for about 2 glasses apiece, for maybe this weekend. So darn good. I only have one left of these and it is in my U.S. collection, so someday in 2026, I hope to have those bottles back in my possession.

Congrats! Some things are worth the wait.

Thanks Andy!

As the Grateful Dead lyrics go: "What a long strange trip it's been!"

Congratulations, Roy!! Love that you are Living the Dream/Best Life!

Roy Hersh wrote: ↑Wed Dec 03, 2025 11:14 am Thanks Eric. Now I can't wait for it to become official ... by receiving my card. But it will take a few months. Kind of like everything to deal with bureaucracy.

As they (used to) give out 'verde' cards in the US, does Portugal issue a Ruby Card or a Tawny Card?

Congratulations, Roy! Within this past year, I just opened up my last bottle of 100, during an occassion of a wedding celebration (not my own) of some very special friends in the wine world (Sassicaia) and whose ancestors are deeply related to Portugal. What a wine! (The '60' might still be my favorite of the line, though.)

2004 Krohn Porto Quinta do Retiro Novo. The cork was completely saturated and it seemed a little oxidized. It was drinkable but pretty unremarkable.

Graham's 20
2018 Dows LBV

Grahams is fine, rather an acidic bite on the end. Not my fav 20, but is widely available here and enjoyable.

Half the Dow bottle was used to make a Port reduction sauce for a couple pork loins. Been a long while since I've had one, jammy and dry.

1970 Dow VP that was most off bottle I've had in recent memory. Had an acrid, Elmer glue taste with off putting spirit. Totally undrinkable. From the same case with bottles that showed well. So sad.

Enólogo 20-Year-Old Tawny Port - Pop and Pour.

Wow! Uncorking was akin to I Dream of Jeanie...immediate wafts of toffee and hazelnuts that filled the space. Lovely orange amber color, but dense. The whole experience was saturated but never unbalanced. 94 Points, yeah--it's that good.

John M.,

Thanks man, keep in touch. waiting to hear about the article. :) I am going to visit NJ again, with more than a day available in 2026. Will be great to meet your tasting group and see friends like Mike and Matt too. Does Jeff Ghi ever join you guys?  As for the Enologo 20 Tawny -- did you think I was going to disappoint you with something in the buying op?  :)


Randy Katz,
If dates don't collide with my Azorean Tour in April, and if Mark T. is healthy enough to do another event, you might even see me return to the ATL for the first time since Covid.  Warm regards to you and your wonderful wife Kris!


Mark L.
I have consumed a bunch of the "60" over the years, and there is no argument that it remains in great shape. Some friends believe it is fading a bit, I have not experienced that though. The 100 was killer. Loved it, so sharp and concentrated like few Ports are. But the 60 has better overall balance and is easier to drink more of. Either way, 60 or 100, you can't go wrong. Now under new ownership, I've not been back and it is a shame. But there are lots of great quintas that have been around forever, and plenty of new ones popping up, too.



 

For a wine-focused Christmas party tonight, a magnum of 1977 Smith Woodhouse VP.

This is a fairly large party - usually 40-50 people through the night - but most of them are wine drinkers. A few of us bring Port, and we're slowly converting the others. I've brought magnums of 1977 Gould Campbell the last few years, so thought I'd mix it up a bit tonight. But not too much!

This is the party where Roy brought a magnum of 1977 Gould Campbell and I identified it blind, much everyone's astonishment (including me). I enjoyed it so much that I went out and found magnums on the internet, and eventually purchased a total of 11 of them! I'm now down to 7, so I've evidently been opening them for this party for the last 4 years. SW this year, though!

2002 Quinta de Roriz VP. It's sitting in the decanter for tonight, but I did have a small sip and it tastes and smells great!

Decanted a 1997 Ferreira VP for tonight. Will report back when tasted.

Glenn E. wrote: ↑Sat Dec 13, 2025 12:23 pm For a wine-focused Christmas party tonight, a magnum of 1977 Smith Woodhouse VP.

I would love to get your take on this. That wine has long been a favorite of mine, and I was thinking of opening a magnum of it soon for a celebration.