For The Love Of Port

While searching on-line for books about port (I've read Richard Mayson's "Port and the Douro" twice since September) I came across James Suckling's "Vintage Port" published in 1990. Is this book now outdated, or can a newcomer such as myself still benefit from reading it? In a different thread, I saw that Roy mentioned he had read this book 5 or 6 times.

It's still a good read. Look for a first edition. You can send it to him and have him sign it.

While it's tasting notes are now outdated (it's almost 20 years old after all), the rest of the book is still full of valuable information. Some info has changed, mainly due to companies being bought and sold, but it is still a book that any Port lover should have in their library.

Moses Botbol wrote:It's still a good read. Look for a first edition. You can send it to him and have him sign it.

I've ordered a first edition from a used book seller and it is on its way. Less than $10 with the shipping, in hard cover, first edition.

Michael Hann wrote:

Moses Botbol wrote:It's still a good read. Look for a first edition. You can send it to him and have him sign it.

I've ordered a first edition from a used book seller and it is on its way. Less than $10 with the shipping, in hard cover, first edition.

Bravo!

Michael Hann wrote: Current value of James Suckling's port book

I've ordered a first edition from a used book seller and it is on its way. Less than $10 with the shipping, in hard cover, first edition.

Guess the value is $10 on the used book market...

I wonder if Mr. Suckling ever reads this forum? I bet he does. How could he not want to read about port? Too bad he is probably bound to keep his posts within WS...

Moses,

That is exactly the case, as I had reached out to James to join us as a Guest Corner Forum host, I thought he would make for an outstanding guest for .

Unfortunately, I can’t do any work for other web sites with my contract with Wine Spectator. Wish I could!

However, that doesn't mean he can't read here.

Nice to know he probably does lurk around here.

In that case, I will reiterate: I was looking for anything that could be construed as a mistake in his Youtube port decanting video.

No actual criticism to be implied.

Peter,

No worries.

Roy Hersh wrote: That is exactly the case, as I had reached out to James to join us as a Guest Corner Forum host, I thought he would make for an outstanding guest for .

Indeed he would be!

Roy Hersh wrote:

Unfortunately, I can’t do any work for other web sites with my contract with Wine Spectator. Wish I could!

That's very sad. As a compensation Mr. Suckling should do an update on his book. Furthermore a service for the next generations of portheads.

A nudge to Roy, James might be able to make a Guest Corner appearance these days. A lot has happened since 2009...

Al B. wrote:A nudge to Roy, James might be able to make a Guest Corner appearance these days. A lot has happened since 2009...

He did in 2011. You can read it all in the Guest Forum area.

Thanks John!

You beat me to it. Yes, it was two years after this thread was prominent (2009), but 2011, during one of the top vintages in the current millennium, James did actually show up on occasion as the guest corner host area. I've had the pleasure to taste Port with James in the past and it was fun. Anyway, his book is a classic and beyond some early British tomes on Port read in my late 20's, this was the most modern book on Port that I read in the early 1990's.

Then along came Rich Mayson's book(s) and modernity entered into play. Some day, I will go back and read Suckling again. Lots of technological changes as well as regulatory modifications, and it might be worth reading Port and the Douro beforehand, so you will learn by reverse chronology. But either way will be worth the read for sure.