For The Love Of Port

Jonathan S wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 10:58 pm
The 1994 Warre's is showing beautifully right now! It has exceptional balance with plenty of fruit still! Of the seven or so VPs I've opened since December, it has been my favorite.

I totally agree! It's very impressive!

NV Brunheda 40 Year Old Tawny Port, 2019 PHT edition

You kind of have to list the bottling date for Brunheda 40s because it seems like they're never the same blend. The original bottles brought back from a PHT "simples not for sale" were fairly dark and brooding - powerful and well-aged tawny Ports. I've also tasted ones labeled "+40 Years Old" and those seem to be a more "modern" style of 40 like a DR or S. Leonardo. This bottle smelled and tasted like it was probably a 50/50 blend of tawny and aged white. Delicious, but very different than those original bottles!

Moses Botbol wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2020 8:22 am 1995 Vesuvio VP. Pop and pour. One hour later it was all gone. Was hoping to have some left over for today. Oh well.

Should have opened a magnum, or at least two bottles. It's a damn fine Port perhaps unfairly overshadowed by the (justified) reputation of the 1994.

1995 Vesuvio VP from magnum. Tasty stuff

Just decanted a 1998 Cockburn Quinta Dos Canais VP. Inspection sip was very promising. Still very dark in color as well.

I thought for sure I had opened an '85 Graham last night until 15 minutes into drinking the bottle our guest says, "wow, never had an '80 Graham before..."

So much for actually looking at the label. Was kind of mad as '80 is harder to find and kind of been saving those. Upon further discussion, I realized I've never done an '80 Horizontal and that would be pretty interesting. I couldn't say what my favorite '80 vintage is as I never had them side-by-side.

Moses Botbol wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2020 5:33 amUpon further discussion, I realized I've never done an '80 Horizontal and that would be pretty interesting. I couldn't say what my favorite '80 vintage is as I never had them side-by-side.

On Port Harvest Tour 1 in 2015, Dominic Symington lead us on a matrix tasting of four 1977s and four 1980s, so that makes for a small horizontal. My full TNs can be found in the TNDB. My scores for the 1980s were 95, 94, 92, and 91 points for Warre, Dow, Graham, and Smith Woodhouse, respectively.

Eric Menchen wrote: ↑Mon May 18, 2020 7:56 pm

Moses Botbol wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2020 5:33 amUpon further discussion, I realized I've never done an '80 Horizontal and that would be pretty interesting. I couldn't say what my favorite '80 vintage is as I never had them side-by-side.

On Port Harvest Tour 1 in 2015, Dominic Symington lead us on a matrix tasting of four 1977s and four 1980s, so that makes for a small horizontal. My full TNs can be found in the TNDB. My scores for the 1980s were 95, 94, 92, and 91 points for Warre, Dow, Graham, and Smith Woodhouse, respectively.
sym_small.jpg

I'd like to see where '80 Ferreira, Sandeman, GC, and Taylor would fare. My hunch is '80 Ferreira or GC would be the best.

1999 Quinta de Roriz Vintage Port

1982 Andresen Colheita. One of my favourites. Just delicious.

Thomas V wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 11:30 am 1982 Andresen Colheita. One of my favourites. Just delicious.

I bet!

1980 Gould Campbell for a Zoom meeting tonight with some of the NY crew.

John M. wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 7:16 am 1980 Gould Campbell for a Zoom meeting tonight with some of the NY crew.

One of my favorite '80's Port and you can still get them relatively cheap.

I've opened a 1966 Fonseca in honor of my wife's birthday. I'm looking forward to trying it tonight after dinner.

Moses Botbol wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2020 4:22 am I realized I've never done an '80 Horizonta

We just need to make that happen. 1980 is maybe one of the best forgotten vintages. I'm always impressed by the energy and longevity in these 1980's

For the May/June Sammamish Port Club Virtual Meeting:

2017 Graham Vintage Port
2016 Graham Vintage Port
2011 Graham Vintage Port
2017 Graham's The Stone Terraces Vintage Port
2016 Graham's The Stone Terraces Vintage Port
2015 Graham's The Stone Terraces Vintage Port
2011 Graham's The Stone Terraces Vintage Port

Yes, it was a spectacular evening. I decanted and filled 2 oz sample bottles which I delivered to all of the club members for the tasting, then we all met in a Zoom meeting to taste and talk.

2000 Warre's VP

Just popped a 2011 Fonseca LBV. Very impressed given the price point.

1994 Warre's Vintage. As good as others are saying.

1970 Warres VP, for the online tasting.
Very tasty, and improved after the initial 2.5 hour decant. But my bottle was fully developed and I wouldn't hold onto these for too much longer.

1992 Pocas Colheita. Bottled 2016. Good stuff. Tasting note to folllow.