What have you opened this week?

[Roy Hersh]

Warre's is definitely a solid name for LBV's but there are many, mostly Portuguese producers doing Unfiltered bottlings too, that are making outstanding ageworthy LBV's. Then again, I think Smith Woodhouse may be at the apex of the SFE stable of LBV's. I love that after aging in cask for four years, they hold them back for another four to allow further aging in bottle prior to release. When they hit the market, they are REALLY ready to be enjoyed. See if you can find some 1995, although the 1999 is also good, but the '95 is killer.

I am not surprised about the Niepoort ... esp. from the 1975 vintage. Dirk's father Rolf, was great with Colheitas and VP, but Niepoort did not get a reputation for their LBV's until Dirk took over in 1987.

[Keng Yong]

With much anticipation, I've just opened my first bottle of Graham's Six Grapes. Very dark red, like's Welch's grape juice. Nose is of very fresh grapes and alcohol. Taste is surprisingly light and smooth in spite of the sweetness, tannin and acid showing through. To me the structure is simply of grapes but I like it a lot. A glass wasn't enough and I had to have another. In fact I had a problem putting away the bottle to write this!

Even now the taste of grapes and tannins is still in my mouth. Have to go get some more ...

regards,
KY

[David Spriggs]

I've just opened my first bottle of Graham's Six Grapes

Nice! It's always been a favorite of mine. I'm glad you like it!

[Daniel R.]

2001 Croft LBV

[Al B.]

1987 Baldias LBV (traditional) - really nice and still quite a depth of flavour and structure. Slightly too acidic for my taste.

[Andy Velebil]

1987 Baldias LBV (traditional) - really nice and still quite a depth of flavour and structure. Slightly too acidic for my taste.

Was this the bottle you picked up while we were in Regua? I was wondering how it compared to the bottle we had at lunch?

[Marc J.]

1991 Niepoort Colheita. It took a few days to recoup from my weekend, but nevertheless the time had come to revisit this particular Colheita.

[Gary Richardson]

30 year Feist

-- Gary

[Al B.]

1987 Baldias LBV (traditional) - really nice and still quite a depth of flavour and structure. Slightly too acidic for my taste.

Was this the bottle you picked up while we were in Regua? I was wondering how it compared to the bottle we had at lunch?

It is the bottle I bought in Regua. I think it's slightly better than that one was - but then it has the benefit of 2 days in the decanter and it is much more mellow today than it was on either of the previous two evenings. And, as you know, I like my ports to be mellow. Plenty of fruit, but the acidity has suddenly softened.

[Andy Velebil]

Last night was a 1992 Warre's Quinta da Cavadinha VP. An emergency pop-and-pour when I got home late from work, so I'll revisit it this afternoon and get a proper TN written up on it.

[Monique Heinemans.]

Niepoort VP 1991.
I had this one a lot of times, as it was my first purchase of VP some years ago at a bargainprice. I must say it's not my favorite VP (as most of the 1991 aren't among my favorites), but I do like and enjoy this.
I'm not a experienced taster, but I'll try to describe what I taste (after just opening the bottle).....I taste dark fruit and plums, not to sweet. Dark or bitter chocolate too. It's medium bodied, the aftertaste is quiet long, but also with a hint of alcohol.

Monique.

[Al B.]

In celebration of the fact that I am a complete and total neutral in watching tonight's Superbowl, I have decided to open a mid-shoulder fill bottle of Graham 1963 VP. Despite the low fill, this is an extremely tasty bottle. It's also a bottle to cheer myself up for not being able to make an offline that was organised in London this evening where they're drinking Croft 1966, Delaforce 1966, Vargellas 1967 and others ...

[Daniel R.]

1970 Taylor's VP
2001 Dow 's Senhora da Ribeira
Taylor's 10 Year Tawny

[Andy Velebil]

I had to work during the superbowl, so I had a small pre-SB BBQ on saturday. We celebrated by opening a 2002 Broadbent LBV and a 1983 Krohn's Colheita. We also opened a madeira, a Douro white, and a Paso Robles Pinot Noir. It was a good day for sure.

[Marc J.]

1995 Taylor VP
1976 Warre Colheita

[Andy Velebil]

1995 Taylor VP
1976 Warre Colheita

How was the Warre's? I bought a couple of these and haven't yet tried it.

[Marc J.]

The Warre's was quite nice. The color was a deep orange and the palate was layered, fairly complex and quite enjoyable.

[Andy Velebil]

The Warre's was quite nice. The color was a deep orange and the palate was layered, fairly complex and quite enjoyable.

Good to know, thanks!

[Mahmoud Ali]

A 2003 Dow LBV (Bottled '08), an single bottle found amidst the '04s.

On the third day the nose is elegant with cherry/kirsch and a hint of spirit, the palate sweet with fruit but finishing with structure and tannins. In the drier style of Dow's. Nice.

Cheers................Mahmoud.

[Al B.]

I've just come back from a "half bottle" offline for which I opened a half bottle of a 2010 cask sample and a half bottle of Sandeman 1927. It was a great offline!