For The Love Of Port

I was moving around some bottles in my cellar and when I grabbed my 91 Croft, several bottles showed seepage around the capsule and official Port label (I'm sure it has a real name, I just don't know it). I purchased a case upon release and about half of them show the seepage, the others are as immaculate as when I purchased them. Any ideas what could cause the disparity? They have always been together, so they were all subject to the same conditions. Very mysterious.

There is a good thread called "Caveat Emptor 1985" on page 2 of this forum that addresses the seepage issue. Other than 'cork settlng properly', there are many other factors which could cause the seepage, such as exposure to high temperature (at some point), inconsistencies in the cork wall itself, etc.

Given that David lives in Florida (we drank together ten days ago), there is a strong likelihood that the wines were kept on a loading dock a few hours too long, saw the back of an un-refrigerated delivery truck etc. I'd bet on heat in this case. I have a love for the Croft '91 VPs and have never seen a leaker in my own case.

By the way David, that is called the Seal of Guarantee in English, and it is the Port and Douro Wine Institute's (IVDP) seal that is put on the bottles which they have approved, which meet the organoleptic quality parameters in a blind setting, tasted by a panel of 7.