What have you opened this week?

[Thomas V]

10 Anos White from Andresen
2007 White from Dalva
1955 Colheita fra Burmester

[John M.]

After a long time with no Port (Mainly just too hot) yesterday I opened a 1983 Gould Campbell (375mm). Considering the TNs here I was very stoked....alas the bottle is flawed--yet I could make out some underlying berry--no one else would drink it. Drinkable but not as enjoyable as it should be. Looks beautiful and perfect.

[Al B.]

I opened a bottle of Delaforce 1977 on Monday to share with fellow port lovers

[Tom Archer]

I opened a bottle of Delaforce 1977 on Monday to share with fellow port lovers

A very pale but pleasant wine - from my notes this seems typical of De77

My own bottle was a Fonseca Guimaraens '68 - dark and perfectly mature, an impressive performance for a port from a year that writers were billing as 'drink up' as long ago as 1985..

[Mike J. W.]

Pocas Junior 30 yo Tawny. It was pretty spirity when I first opened it late last week, but it's mellowed and is pretty good now.

[Luc Gauthier]

10 yr old Offley with Stliton blue cheese with my girlfriend

[Andy Velebil]

20 Year Taylor Fladgate Tawny Port. Quite tasty I might add.

[Tom Archer]

Cockburn '91

Such a dreary wine, bereft either class or composure. I'm reminded though just how uninspiring wines like Dow '75 were at this age, and whilst no superstar, D75 now drinks tolerably well, so here's hoping..

Scored 1-2 - in hope..

[Al B.]

With my other half I went to a wonderful dinner last night where we drank our way through bottles of Cockburn 1955 (slightly oxidised, but still full of caramel and apple), Fonseca 1955 (rich, deep and full of fruit) and Fonseca 1927 (wonderful full of gingerbread, but slightly less impressive than the 1955).

What a fabulous evening.

[Eric Menchen]

S. Leonardo 20

[Andy Velebil]

20 Year Ferreira Tawny

[Tom Archer]

Butler Nephew '60

Like all BN VPs this wine was pale in the decanter with distinct tawny notes on the nose. No indication of bottling date, but I would be unsurprised if this was a third year bottling after being aged in standard pipes.

But such an elegant nose and refinement on the palate - and no sense that this is going to go anywhere bad over the next 58 years.

Sadly I have just two bottles left now..

Score 8-8

[Glenn E.]

Opened another 1964 Krohn Colheita Branco for my birthday last week. After going through a "phase" over the last couple of years that made me think it was time to drink these up, they seem to have recovered for me as my last couple of bottles have been very nice again. Still not a bottle for long-term aging, but I guess there's no real hurry to drink them.

[Phil W]

Opened another 1964 Krohn Colheita Branco for my birthday last week. After going through a "phase" over the last couple of years that made me think it was time to drink these up, they seem to have recovered for me as my last couple of bottles have been very nice again. Still not a bottle for long-term aging, but I guess there's no real hurry to drink them.

An interesting wine; when were yours bottled?

[Glenn E.]

Opened another 1964 Krohn Colheita Branco for my birthday last week. After going through a "phase" over the last couple of years that made me think it was time to drink these up, they seem to have recovered for me as my last couple of bottles have been very nice again. Still not a bottle for long-term aging, but I guess there's no real hurry to drink them.

An interesting wine; when were yours bottled?

I have several different bottlings, so I'll have to check to see which one this particular bottle was. Probably 2009, but that's just a guess.

[Thomas V]

Tasting in my club.

10YO Noval
20YO Noval
40YO Noval
2000 Noval colheita
1986 Noval colheita
1976 Noval colheita

2011 Noval LBV
2009 Noval LBV
2007 Noval VP
2003 Noval VP
2001 Silval
1998 Silval

I really enjoyed the bouquet of the 07 VP. The 03 was very voluptuous and delicious and my favourite of the night. Best QPR was the 1998 Silval that is drinking nicely now. The LBVs were a bit of a let down. Seemed way to light and no backbone.

In the tawny range the 86 was very good after 10+ hours of decant time. Really needed to blow of the spirits. The 1976 was nice, but not better than the Wiese & Krohn which is 25%-40% cheaper. The 40YO was very solid and would definitely buy that at 110$. Fun night exploring the house style of Quinta do Noval. Will follow that up with a visit at the Quinta 10 days time.

[Glenn E.]

I love the 2003 VP also. It was the first VP that I bought in any sort of quantity (about a case and a half) because it was so delicious when young. I'm glad to hear that it's still holding strong!

The Novel 40YO is an amazing deal at retail. Really hard to understand why it is $110 or so when other names are $150 to $180. Especially when those other names aren't any better! It was inexpensive at that price 5-10 years ago, and the price hasn't changed. Great QPR!

[Mike K.]

I would buy Noval 40 all day long at $110. It’s fantastic. Around here is is $170

[Mike K.]

The LBVs were a bit of a let down. Seemed way to light and no backbone.

Interesting. I opened a Noval ‘09 LBV today. I’m a big fan of most things Noval, but I have to agree, LBV’s are not their strength. I think I’ll let the rest of these age a while longer and hope they improve.

[Tom Archer]

The LBVs were a bit of a let down. Seemed way to light and no backbone.

Bear in mind that Noval make two different LBVs

The ones with white labels are filtered and intended for near term drinking, but the black label ones are unfiltered and intended for aging.

- Which ones did you try?