Lots of new faces ... please introduce yourself

[Moses Botbol]

That's the trouble; it really does fit our decor: Georgian-style Palladian.

house.jpg

Too bad it's a kilobuck, although I did find a place that was discounting it to US$663. Still, that's a LOT of good port.

Who took that picture of my parents' summer house?

[Roy Hersh]

I would imagine that finding builders that are "negotiable" these days, is an easy feat in Michigan.

[Peter W. Meek]

Who took that picture of my parents' summer house?

I should have mentioned: Copyright(C)2007 Stanley Livingston; used by permission.

I would imagine that finding builders that are "negotiable" these days, is an easy feat in Michigan.

Well, it wasn't when we started this place back in 1999. 300 man-years later it's about done bar some patching to the computer control system. BTW, my avatar is the floor plan of the central block.

[Moses Botbol]

Who took that picture of my parents' summer house?

I should have mentioned: Copyright(C)2007 Stanley Livingston; used by permission.

I would imagine that finding builders that are "negotiable" these days, is an easy feat in Michigan.

Well, it wasn't when we started this place back in 1999. 300 man-years later it's about done bar some patching to the computer control system. BTW, my avatar is the floor plan of the central block.

Nice. Is that your home? When is the port tasting, lol... :type:

[Peter W. Meek]

Nice. Is that your home? When is the port tasting, lol... :type:

Yep, it is. (Roy, that's where I'm offering to put you up if you come to visit next Christmas.) One of these days I will get some more of Stan's super pictures up on my website and post a URL here.

Port tasting every Monday night, right after the Champaigne/ProSecco/Popcorn movie. Of course it's a pretty boring tasting by FTLOP standards: one bottle after another of Nimrod.
Nimrod

I'd be happy to add more variety, but I don't have many places to buy interesting Ports around here, and my limited experience buying online has (so far) been a disappointment.

[Moses Botbol]

Is that an observatory on the left? Are you into astronomy?

[Peter W. Meek]

Is that an observatory on the left? Are you into astronomy?

As I said here many posts back, I have more hobbies than anyone should. Astronomy is one. There is a Meade 10" S-C inside.

[Steve E.]

Having already jumped in participating in the forums, I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Steve and I live in Bellevue, WA. I can't remember when I first was introduced to Port, but have enjoyed it during the winter wine tastings at George's Wine Shoppe in Bellevue. George doesn't have a large selection, but I can't think of a better place to taste.

My first real memory included a finale' of Three Centuries of Porto Rocha, which I purchased a bottle for my family's 100 yr anniversary of homesteading to the Pacific NW. For the last few years, I've donated a bottle to a charity auction that my wife is involved with. However this year, I'm going another direction with my wine donation (3L bottles).

With the 11th anniversary of my 29th birthday approaching earlier this year, along with time for another major vacation, I decided I wanted to spend the birthday in Porto, drinking Port.

A funny thing happened on the way to my birthday... (don't the best stories start this way?). Last winter I had come across Gary Vaynerchuk's Wine Library TV podcasts while searching for something to watch during my annual plane rides to see the families. So out of the blue, since he said he personally answers his emails, I decided to inquire about which Port Lodges I should visit for my birthday. The next thing I know, I'm getting an email from Gary saying, "TEAM lets make this happen..." with a CC to Brandon Warnke. Over the next couple of months things came together and on the morning of my birthday I found myself outside the doors of Ferreira Port Lodge with private tours of Ferreira, Offley, and Sandeman over the next five hours. These included the Ferreira archival room with Ports dating back to the 1800's, a tasting of Offley Cachuca (can anyone get some in the US!?!?!?) among others, and ultimately ending with a VIP tasting at Sandeman that included a gift of a 40yr tawny in honor of my birthday.

Regardless of my opinion, my wife later made the comment to a friend that she liked Port before the trip and now she loves it... 'nuff said. So that's where I am in this journey.

[Roy Hersh]

Steve,

As you mentioned you've already been posting, so I think it is very cool that you've done the "intro" thing. Although many choose not to do so, I truly believe the welcome is warmer when someone takes the time to 'splain their Port passion and its beginnings or current state of being.

So welcome aboard and hunker down, the ride is fun and I am confident that you will enjoy it here!

The fact that you are in very close proximity (10 miles) bodes well for your future Port drinking. Those of us here in Seattle have made a definitive mark, as the 5th largest Port market in the USA. My liver told me it was actually 4th, but I don't listen to such things.

So if you had to choose, do you prefer Vintage Port or Tawny/Colheita? Not a test question, just curious. The fact that your wife enjoys Port too, just means that you are one lucky man and that your future purchases will face less scrutiny, which is always a good thing.

Enjoy!

[Roy Hersh]

Peter wrote:

BTW, my avatar is the floor plan of the central block.

And here all along I thought it was the vintage Port section of your wine cellar.

[Peter W. Meek]

Peter wrote:

BTW, my avatar is the floor plan of the central block.

And here all along I thought it was the vintage Port section of your wine cellar.

Nope. The wine cellar would be a block in the basement just to the right of the lower-right small square and just a little bit smaller -- about 17' x 17'. The Port section is a bay and a half of the racks: 4 cases, 50+ uprights, and 24 flat bottles. The allocation could be expanded. The uprights and case shelves are full of Nimrod.

I have room for over 2000 bottles on the racks and shelves and have less than 1000, so there is plenty of room. It's getting a little damp in there: RF has crept up to 71% in recent weeks and things feel wet. I think I am going to have to make some adjustments.

[Gerwin de Graaf]

Hi everyone,

I've been following many of the topics on the FTLOP forum for some time now, and realized it would be nice to join you all port-enthousiasts.

I'm a wine and port enthousiast for some years now (wine for about 18 years, port for about 4 years), and it 'll be great to sometimes share some of my port experiences. I've been collecting some Vintage ports since the 2005 Vintage came out, since it's my 1st sons birthyear, and since my 2nd son was born in 2007, I am following all topics on the 2007 Vintage of course.

I am Dutch, living nearby Rotterdam in The Netherlands.

Hope to talk to you all soon!

Best regards,
Gerwin

[Glenn E.]

Hi Gerwin, welcome to FTLOP!

[Andy Velebil]

Gerwin,

Welcome to and thank you for a nice introduction. It's great that after reading for some you've joined us here. I look forward to your participation.

[Luc Gauthier]

Gerwin , on behalf of all of us in "La belle province" , bienvenue :hello:

[Roy Hersh]

Gerwin,

It is nice to know each and every time one of our long term "readers" actually decides to enter our midst and participate openly on the Forum.

Hopefully you have felt this is a friendly environment, supportive of both beginner through expert and welcoming to all. We are nost pleased that you've begun to post and look forward to sharing our collective Port wisdom with you and of course, enjoying your posts!




Roy

[Steve E.]

Steve,

So if you had to choose, do you prefer Vintage Port or Tawny/Colheita? Not a test question, just curious. The fact that your wife enjoys Port too, just means that you are one lucky man and that your future purchases will face less scrutiny, which is always a good thing.

Enjoy!

Thanks Roy,

I haven't had the opportunity to experience too many VP's as they are a bit cost prohibitive. The most recent was a 1987 (Porto Rocha, I think...) that I picked up over at Pete's when I had a few high school friends stop by. It was the first time the three of us (plus wives) had been together since 1987. I really enjoyed it. However I do like the appeal of slowly drinking the tawny over time - I'm trying to keep my liver from concurring with yours.

I'm looking forward to our tasting party in a month and visiting and revisiting many different Ports in one sitting.

[Eric Menchen]

Welcome to both Steve and Gerwin.

Gerwin, where more specifically do you live? I'm just curious, as I lived in Delft for a while, and have a friend that just moved to Rotterdam. Why did I live in the Netherlands? Well, you could ask my wife Marijke that :)

[Gerwin de Graaf]

Welcome to both Steve and Gerwin.

Gerwin, where more specifically do you live? I'm just curious, as I lived in Delft for a while, and have a friend that just moved to Rotterdam. Why did I live in the Netherlands? Well, you could ask my wife Marijke that :)

Hi Eric,

Currently I'm living in Barendrecht (a bit south of Rotterdam). Have been here for some 4-5 years now. I am, however, moving further south (neighbourhood of Breda) later this year or early next year. Sort of back to my roots so to speak (and closer to family and work)

[Gerwin de Graaf]

Gerwin,

It is nice to know each and every time one of our long term "readers" actually decides to enter our midst and participate openly on the Forum.

Hopefully you have felt this is a friendly environment, supportive of both beginner through expert and welcoming to all. We are nost pleased that you've begun to post and look forward to sharing our collective Port wisdom with you and of course, enjoying your posts!




Roy

Thank's Roy, I am feeling very welcome indeed!

Until now, I haven't had very many VP's yet, but it isn't the quantity (at least not always!) but the quality that matters. And since I've had a taste in 2007 of a VP from my father's birthyear (1945, an AA Ferreira in excellent condition which was absolutely fabulous and a revelation to me as of how beautiful a really matured portwine can be) I've been rapidly becoming more and more of a Port enthousiast.
The last VP I had was last week when there was a 1991 Croft VP to enjoy at a family gathering we had.
The fact that my wife likes Port a lot (since she's not very fond of most wines) helps too of course (+ the fact that both my sons give me good reason to build up a nice VP collection from their birthyears).