For The Love Of Port

Hi one and all

Im Nigel and live in south west uk.I have just started my Wset diploma course and one of the first exams we take in about 8 weeks time is fortified wines.Though i have some knowledge of the process of fortification of Ports,madiera and sherries i have little experience of tasting and specially writing tasting notes.

I was hoping from you guys on here that you could take me under your wings and explain the best way to get some tasting experience and tasting note knowledge.

Perhaps a plan of action over the coming few weeks from someone and i will work to action it.Feeding back through here as well.

Im always checking out the pages here and think the knowledge on this board is awsome.Keep up the great forum.

Best Wishes
Nige

Hi Nigel,

Nice to have you join us. Please take no offense that you have not received any answers to your posting. We welcome you here but you should read the reason why nobody has been quick to respond.

It seems every year we have a British WSET student come in here for as long as it takes for them to get the answers to their questions and then they never show up again. I should not say "never" because about 1 of the five or six that have visited FTLOP have remained loyal posters and actually, yet another is a regular lurker but she does not post at all, but does keep in touch by email.

The best way to get some tasting experience is to join a tasting group or even go to offlines. Watch our offline area as occasionally folks will post about Port tastings they are planning. The best way to learn to write tasting notes is first to read them. We have a Port Tasting Note Forum right here on the For The Love Of Port Forum and you can read nearly 1000 that have been posted there by amateurs like us. By reading them you will get a feel for their style.

Usually TNs can be very descriptive with lots of sensorial and experiential impressions, like how the wine appears in terms of color and clarity, the aromatic and flavor profile, body weight and texture, structural components, finish/aftertaste etc. Most people score using either a 20 point scale or 100 point scale but others like Broadbent use 1-5 stars and some folks use A-F with pluses and minuses just like in school. There is no better way to get your feet whet in writing notes (after you've read a bunch) then to jump in the pool.

I am pleased that you have stopped by to start the process and let us help you. As long as you continue on with us, I am sure others will quickly warm up and be willing to help. Good luck and we'll look forward to seeing you here again soon! :)

If you really want to win us over, go to the other thread here in the PORT BAICS Forum about TO ATTACT A YOUNGER CROWD TO PORT ... and as someone new with fresh ideas, please add your own two cents. It would be much appreciated.

Best regards,

Roy

Hi Roy...and other viewers

Thank you for the reply and i can see totally what you are saying.I have actually been lurking in the background for a good few months just checking out the posts and the best way to get involved in a subject which is both large and diverse.Finally i did decide to take the plunge and post.It was almost as if i shouldnt have really because i feel there is such a vast array of knowledge through this board on this subject.......i almost felt unworthy of posting.I didnt want it to seem i was just after course advise.

I think the problem with the likes of myself is where to start to gain experience of fortified wines.When the range of styles,vintages,producers,etc is so large.Which is another reason for joining the board.

This subject is required for my course and it is only by involvement with and chatting to port and indeed fortified wine lovers that one can gain experience of the subject.I am looking forward to being active on posting and hope my posts are as relevent as can be.

Regards
Nigel

Nigel,

Welcome to the forum. Please feel free to ask away with questions, as this is a very knowledge group with a wide variety of experiences. Good luck on your studies.

Nigel,

Well if your first few posts here are any indication, I can assure you we will all go out of our way to be as helpful as possible. Ask lots of questions, please don't be intimidated here as there are a bunch of folks who are eager to welcome newbies on the FTLOP Forum and make them feel right at home.

Your last post was a great way to win friends and influence Portophiles.

Nigel,

Do you ever travel to London? The reason for asking is that there is a group of us who seem to be able to meet occasionally during the year in London and share some port. If you were able to make it to London (or probably also Cheshire) then I am sure that we could give you the opportunity to taste some port and the chance to practice making some tasting notes and seeing whether you can pick up the differences between syles of port wine and the shippers' house styles!

Alex

Salut Nigel , et bienvenue .
You're not the 1st to have such feelings .
One of the feelings I had were intimidation .
What , If anything could I bring to the table , that Roy or Andy or the other Vintage members haven't already heard . . .
After a few bumps on the road , I quickly realised that fear was unfounded .
Part of what makes FTLOP special is the openness towards new members and the depth of knowledge to be shared .

Salut !

Thanks for the kind and helpful words guys.....i can see im going to enjoy being part of this forum and post as often as i can.

Alex....i do get up to London as often as i can and to be able to be involved with a tasting group would be great.I try to attend the larger wine fairs such as the LIWSF and The Wine Show in the city but if i can make it to an offline i will.Baring in mind i live in deepest darkest Devon....oh arrrrrr.....Please e-mail me with some info in possible my addy is on my profile.....Thanks

Luc...Great to hear from you and hello to you....i dont think intimidation was how i felt just a bit nervous to post in fear of asking the wrong sort of questions of such a very learned group of port lovers.I think knowledge comes with being involved and participating so hopefully that will be my move forward through here and i look forward to this very much.

BR
Nigel

Nigel,

Glad to hear that you're not intimidated and of course as Luc aptly pointed out, there is no reason to be. If we don't have some folks who come in here with great questions, it winds up as Port geek speak (I am definitely one of the guilty-est).

I think you would be very wise to accept the generous offer by Alex. He and his fellow Port fan(atics) are a great group of guys, extremely well versed in all aspects of Port and have plenty of well-aged Ports that they open often. Who knows, maybe we can convince you to write up your experience as a Guest Corner article for the FTLOP Newsletter that you could then use for your WSET finale!

I am serious about that offer if you would like to ponder it. Alex can fill you in on the details, or I'd be happy to, as well.

Cheers!

Nigel,

As and when we organise something, I'll drop you an email and let you know. Let's also try and work it the other way round, as well. When you have plans to be in London then drop a post in the forum and we'll see if we can use your visit as an excuse to organise a get-together.

Incidentally, this is an open invitation to everyone who posts or lurks on this forum - if you are going to be in London and would like to share some port with some fellow port cogniscenti, then please leave a post and let us know. We'll see what we can do.

Alex

Al B. wrote: When you have plans to be in London then drop a post in the forum and we'll see if we can use your visit as an excuse to organise a get-together.

Incidentally, this is an open invitation to everyone who posts or lurks on this forum - if you are going to be in London and would like to share some port with some fellow port cogniscenti, then please leave a post and let us know. We'll see what we can do.

Alex

Nigel,
Alex and the rest are a great group of guys and they have quite the fun offlines. Don't be shy about droping them a line. I've met a few of the guys around your area, some a few times now , and can personally vouch for them.

The same too goes for anyone members that visits my area of California (Los Angeles / Orange County). Drop me a line and hopefully we can meet up and share some good Port.