Holiday Dilema

[Derek T.]

I am going on holiday to a remote cottage by the sea with my partner Jo, a log fire, no kids, no phones, no internet and no other people for 6 days. Please help me choose which special bottle to take with me.

[Andy Velebil]

You wimp, take 'em all :twisted:

You got 6 days....Jo will probably want to go shopping anyways and you can start on a fresh bottle each day while you get the bedroom...er, I mean fireplace, ready for her return.

[Derek T.]

Where we are going there is no shopping other than fresh fish from the small harbour 10 yards from the front door of the cottage.

If I take all of these what am I supposed to do with the Warre 66, SW83, GC91, Niepoort 92 and Noval Nacional 78 that are already packed and ready to go?

Derek

[Andy Velebil]

Put that "Dent" in the cellar and drink them all

I did chose the Graham's Malvedos 1965 though...Since Jo will put a stop to THAT much Port consumtion

[Andy Velebil]

BTW, the Niepoort 92 is drinking quite nicely right now. I just had it at the end of November or early Dec.

[Jay Powers]

Derek

I voted for the Malvedos 65. I was born in 65 and recall in the Douro you mentioned the Malvedos for me to look up on Wine-Searcher when I got back to the US. Sadly, I was unable to find it and will need to live vicariously through your eventual note!

Jay

[Richard Henderson]

I like the Malvedos and recently have had good luck and pricing ( US $20) on the 1995. It is the backbone of the Graham's declared vintage years, yet a relative bargain on undeclared "Malvedos" years. A 1965 would be my choice of the bunch but any of your choices would be good. Ask the beloved if she has a choice?

[Al B.]

I voted for the '66 on the basis that
(i) if you're going to be eating fresh fish 3 times a day you won't want to wash it down with port

(ii) if you're going to drive with this bottle to the remote cottage you'll shake up all the sediment and render the bottle undrinkable

(iii) you probably will find that the previous occupants of the cottage stole the corkscrew; and

(iv) you'll only end up bringing the unopened bottle back from the cottage with you at the end of your holiday.

Don't bother taking a bottle wasn't one of the options on your poll!

Have a great time.

Alex

[Mike C]

I'm one of the outliers who voted the Fonseca. This seems like not such a serious and weighty occasion and I think that port will suit the mood better. Less gravitas.

However, my heart is with Alex; since you'll be washing your glasses in tidal pools anyway, why fret too much? :o

[Roy Hersh]

I chose the Dow '66 because it is at a beautiful stage in its evolution and will now reward those that have been patient.

[Derek T.]

Thanks for the comments guys. I have decided to take the Malvedos 65, the Dow's 66 and the Fonseca 85. I plan to decant, re-bottle and re-cork all three before I leave the house to avoid the trauma that Alex described. All 3 will be tasted on the first night and then allowed to develop over time.

Just in case it's really cold and these bottles don't make it past day 2 I have packed a Niepoort 92 and a Noval 63 for emergency stock and will take the risk of bottle shock. I have only actually experienced this once, with a bottle of Burmester 63, and have travelled with and then opened VP's on many occassions without any serious impact. That said, I may open the Noval 63 rather than the Fonseca 85 before leaving to reduce the risk. After all, Fonseca 85 isn't old enough to have thrown a crust

So there we have it. 5 nights, 2 people, 5 great VP's, a bottle each of Louis Roederer Cristal 1999 and Bollinger La Grande Annee 1997 and a few decent dry reds to wash down the food - sorted 8)

I will miss you all

Derek

[Richard Henderson]

Roy will tell us it is an "off-site" note but I am curious about the Cristal 1999. I think I have a bottle floating around the cellar.

[Derek T.]

Hi Honey, I'm home !!!!

It's 2 weeks since I returned home from this holiday and the first night I have visited the Forum in 3 weeks. The 6 day holiday was a Portfest - the last 2 weeks have been torture :?

Good to be back.

The following bottles made the trip and didn't come home:

Graham's Crusted 2000
Quinta do Crasto 1996
Warre's 1966 (I thought it was Dow's until I pulled the cork )
Quinta do Noval 1963
Graham's Malvedos 1965
Niepoort's 1992
Fonseca 1985

I can confirm that Jo did not taste one single sip of port in 6 days. That left just me, 6 nights and 7 bottles of port

What can I say? It was cold, it got dark at 4pm, I had a log fire in front of me, I was on holiday, I slept very well each night 8)

I will post some TN's for these wines but the basic story is:

Warre's 1966 - this is what VP is all about - fabulous 8)
Noval 1963 - yummy, but drink now
Fonseca 1985 - don't do it - stick them away for at least 10 years
Niepoort 1992 - great juice to drink now or hold (thanks Nicos )
Graham's Crusted 2000 - at £7.50 a bottle buy all you can find
Quinta do Crasto 1996 - no note taken but very nice for drinking now
Malvedos 1965 - enjoyable but past it's best - my birth year so the case of 12 will last many years- hopefully :?

Lessons learned:

1. Go and buy soem Warre's 1966
2. Do not drink Fonseca 1985
3. Take more than 7 bottles next year

Derek

[Roy Hersh]

Welcome back Derek.

I can confirm that Jo did not taste one single sip of port in 6 days.

So while you were drinking she just sat and watched?

Congratulations!!! When is she due?

[Andy Velebil]

So while you were drinking she just sat and watched?

Congratulations!!! When is she due?

About 8 months and 2 weeks

[Dave Johnson]

Wow...7 bottles in 6 days ! That has to be the modern day international individual solo record for consumptiion of Port.
My record is one bottle of VP in a weekend !

[Derek T.]

John,

You need to get yourself on one of Roy's trips to the Douro - a bottle each by lunchtime is mandatory

Roy/Andy - I can confirm that both Jo and I have already done our bit in terms of contributing to the human race. Just because she wasn't drinking port doesn't mean she wasn't taking care of a few bottles of wine

Derek