For The Love Of Port

I just purchased a Warre's Otima 20-yr old, which comes in a 500ml bottle, for $44 which is the equivalent of $66 for a 750ml bottle. My usual 20-yr old Ports come in 750ml bottles and cost $50-$55 at retail. So the 500ml bottle does seem to be a price increase for me as well.

I'm really not fond of the 500ml bottles. Even though I don't drink that much Port, I can still make it through a 750ml bottle before anything goes bad so I see no reason to switch to something smaller. And for those occasions when I won't be able to finish a 750 in time, there are always the 375s instead.

Go back to page 1 to see what prompted Glenn's post.

Glenn, I agree with everything you say on this. I am convinced that the 50cl bottle only serves the purpose of selling less port for more money.

The more 500ml bottles I've had, the more I don't care for the bottle size. Seems to be either not enough or just a tad too much left, usually the later. I would rather have a 375 or a 750...just my

As I usually enjoy VPs alone, I definitely prefer the 375ml format and usually quickly snatch up any I find for sale in Vancouver. For the bottles I plan to lay down for many years, I do go for 750mls.

I do like the idea of pouring half of a 750 into a 375 and saving it for a few days (I think I could find two occasions to drink a VP in a week ). Do you just use an old rinsed out bottle of port for this?

Markus D. wrote:I do like the idea of pouring half of a 750 into a 375 and saving it for a few days (I think I could find two occasions to drink a VP in a week ). Do you just use an old rinsed out bottle of port for this?

Yes. Sometimes with a T-stopper, sometimes with the vacu-vin.

Markus D. wrote:As I usually enjoy VPs alone, I definitely prefer the 375ml format and usually quickly snatch up any I find for sale in Vancouver. For the bottles I plan to lay down for many years, I do go for 750mls.

I do like the idea of pouring half of a 750 into a 375 and saving it for a few days (I think I could find two occasions to drink a VP in a week ). Do you just use an old rinsed out bottle of port for this?

same here. From top notch vintages and producers, 375's are for short term drinking and 750's I put away for long term storage.

When I open a 750 and I know I won't drink it all in one day, while decanting I pour 1/2 of it into an old (clean) 375 that I put a t-cork in and then refridgerate it. This works well in keeping it fresh for day 2 or 3.

I have used a small grolsh style beer bottle several times filled up to the top and when closed 100% of the air is out. Seems to work fairly well.

I also have heard about freezing the small bottle. Alas, I didn't have the patience to let frozen 375s thaw out.

I still say, bring on the 500 ml (to replace the 375) and keep the 750. There's never enough in a 375 ... especially for 2 people, no less one.

Raj Patil wrote:I also have heard about freezing the small bottle. Alas, I didn't have the patience to let frozen 375s thaw out.

I have a decanted bottle of Grahams Malvedos '88 in my car while my girlfriend is at work. It is way below freezing today -9 Cel. We have to bring it to a party tonight and my girlfriend can't bring the bottle into her school, so it's sitting in the car...

Decanted at 6:00 AM.

Moses Botbol wrote:I have a decanted bottle of Grahams Malvedos '88 in my car while my girlfriend is at work. It is way below freezing today -9 Cel. We have to bring it to a party tonight and my girlfriend can't bring the bottle into her school, so it's sitting in the car...

Good thing that it is Port, which would need to get to about -12 Celcius to freeze. A lower alcohol wine might freeze at -9.

I wouldn't store any wine in the freezer. I've stuck a bottle in there to chill it fast and forgotten about it. The result was a pushed cork and leaky mess, which it better than the other possible alternative of a cracked bottle. Most freezers are set at a temperature cold enough to freeze wine, even Port.

Eric Menchen wrote:

Moses Botbol wrote:I have a decanted bottle of Grahams Malvedos '88 in my car while my girlfriend is at work. It is way below freezing today -9 Cel. We have to bring it to a party tonight and my girlfriend can't bring the bottle into her school, so it's sitting in the car...

Good thing that it is Port, which would need to get to about -12 Celcius to freeze. A lower alcohol wine might freeze at -9.

It's cutting it close.. If it freezes and stains the leather I will be pissed!

Moses Botbol wrote:

Raj Patil wrote:I also have heard about freezing the small bottle. Alas, I didn't have the patience to let frozen 375s thaw out.

I have a decanted bottle of Grahams Malvedos '88 in my car while my girlfriend is at work. It is way below freezing today -9 Cel. We have to bring it to a party tonight and my girlfriend can't bring the bottle into her school, so it's sitting in the car...

Decanted at 6:00 AM.

Moses,
I want a TN from you of this bottle in the VIrtual Tasting section. This months theme is any VP from 1980-1989

Andy Velebil wrote: Moses,
I want a TN from you of this bottle in the VIrtual Tasting section. This months theme is any VP from 1980-1989

Will do, but I may be half in the bag by the time I start drinking it. Refer to my last notes on this vintage

Moses Botbol wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote: Moses,
I want a TN from you of this bottle in the VIrtual Tasting section. This months theme is any VP from 1980-1989

Will do, but I may be half in the bag by the time I start drinking it. Refer to my last notes on this vintage

Then a half bag TN will work

Andy Velebil wrote:

Moses Botbol wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote: Moses,
I want a TN from you of this bottle in the VIrtual Tasting section. This months theme is any VP from 1980-1989

Will do, but I may be half in the bag by the time I start drinking it. Refer to my last notes on this vintage

Then a half bag TN will work

I can tell you it was dark and had a boquet when decanting this morning.

Moses Botbol wrote:
I can tell you it was dark and had a boquet when decanting this morning.

A start.... now don't forget the rest

I froze mine in a plastic bottle as I didn't want the glass to break. I'll never freeze port again, just tried it out on a LBV.

Moses,

It most likely won't freeze in the car - I wouldn't worry. At least you'll be able to keep your hands off it at the party, since you'll have to wait for it to warm up. I graduated HS in 1988, let me know if this is a thumbs up or down bottle.

Raj Patil wrote:Moses,

It most likely won't freeze in the car - I wouldn't worry. At least you'll be able to keep your hands off it at the party, since you'll have to wait for it to warm up. I graduated HS in 1988, let me know if this is a thumbs up or down bottle.

I graduated in '88 too! I don't think I had ever tried port at that point, but had tried Maetus and Lancers. I have had this Malvedos a few times. It's more "distinctive" than the regular Grahams. Maybe that's the Malvedos Quinta coming through?