For The Love Of Port

1992 Fonseca VP (750 mL)

(Update: Wow! This beauty is still so youthful and vibrant! Cellartracker says that the drinking window is through 2029; I would say through 2050!)

Jonathan S wrote: ↑Fri Oct 23, 2020 6:04 pm Cellartracker says that the drinking window is through 2029; I would say through 2050!

Cellartracker is a good resource for a variety of information, but not great; and distinctly off for drinking windows IMHO.

Eric Menchen wrote:

Jonathan S wrote: ↑Fri Oct 23, 2020 6:04 pm Cellartracker says that the drinking window is through 2029; I would say through 2050!

Cellartracker is a good resource for a variety of information, but not great; and distinctly off for drinking windows IMHO.

I’ve noticed that, as well, but it was glaringly off on this one!


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1965 Kopke Colheita

Ramos Pinto 30 Year Old Tawny Port (Bottled in 2012)

1982 Smith Woodhouse Madalena VP

Mystery Bottle of Taylor VP. I say mystery because I won it at auction. It was without any labels and the auction house knew it was a Taylor but didn't know the year. I took a chance on it because it had a hard wax capsule. I could be wrong, but I thought that would mean it was an older Taylor, The ones I've seen back to '77 have some iteration of a green foil top not the hard wax (not sure if Europe bottles would be different), so that's why I assume that it's older.

The fill was mid to top shoulder. I pulled 2/3 of the cork out and it was soaked and dark. I could confirm it was Taylors because I could make out the writing on the side of the cork. Unfortunately I couldn't make out a year. My best guess is it's a 1970 because it's similar in taste to one I had a little while back. But who knows?

It was a little bit oxidized, but still good. I'm enjoying it...whatever year it is.

Cellartracker is a good resource for a variety of information

The most useful aspect of Cellartracker (IMO..) is the ease with which you can see which vintages of any well marketed claret house are the popular winners. Rather than look up critics' tasting notes (which are often far adrift from the median popular perception), good years and bad years, left bank, right bank etc., you can quickly see which years worked well for the particular vineyard, by comparing the average scores.

Tom Archer wrote: ↑Sun Oct 25, 2020 2:48 am

Cellartracker is a good resource for a variety of information

The most useful aspect of Cellartracker (IMO..) is the ease with which you can see which vintages of any well marketed claret house are the popular winners. Rather than look up critics' tasting notes (which are often far adrift from the median popular perception), good years and bad years, left bank, right bank etc., you can quickly see which years worked well for the particular vineyard, by comparing the average scores.

By and large, I agree with you Tom. There are some good comments on there, but I use it not only to see what vintages are good but also to get a feel for the consistency of the producer. Any house can have a bad year or two, but typically I'll tend to buy from a house that shows consistently above the norm. That being said, if a house has a stellar vintage out of the blue, I'll happily try it, but my money is usually spent with the more consistent houses.

Had a 1970 Cockburn VP on Saturday. Spirity and on lean side. Great color. Good port, but not a stunner of the vintage. Been a few years since I last had one.

10 Yr Old Porto Morgado
https://www.fortheloveofport.com/ftlop ... 12&t=43306

Moses Botbol wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:22 am Had a 1970 Cockburn VP on Saturday. Spirity and on lean side. Great color. Good port, but not a stunner of the vintage. Been a few years since I last had one.

You are just lucky that is wasn't corked!

Inspired by the Seattle area virtual group tasting (which I was not in), and since this might be the current mode bottle in my cellar:
1997 Quinta do Vesuvio VP

2001 Cockburn Quinta Dos Canais SQVP. It's the strangest thing. I decanted it and it was completely devoid of any smell. And then I tried a small sip like I always do right after I decant just to get a a first impression before it sits in the decanter for several hours. It was completely tasteless, almost like I was drinking water.

Six and a half hours later, I poured a glass after dinner. By now there was a slight aroma of blackberries, but very slight. I tasted it and again only the very, very slightest hint of fruit on the palate. Virtually no detectable viscosity and only the slightest acidic aftertaste. At the moment, it truly is a null tasting Port. I don't know if this is in a dormant phase or if this is just how this Port is. I've never experienced the near total absence of aroma or taste. Maybe by tomorrow night it will open up. Very weird.

Mike J. W. wrote:2001 Cockburn Quinta Dos Canais SQVP. It's the strangest thing. I decanted it and it was completely devoid of any smell. And then I tried a small sip like I always do right after I decant just to get a a first impression before it sits in the decanter for several hours. It was completely tasteless, almost like I was drinking water.

Six and a half hours later, I poured a glass after dinner. By now there was a slight aroma of blackberries, but very slight. I tasted it and again only the very, very slightest hint of fruit on the palate. Virtually no detectable viscosity and only the slightest acidic aftertaste. At the moment, it truly is a null tasting Port. I don't know if this is in a dormant phase or if this is just how this Port is. I've never experienced the near total absence of aroma or taste. Maybe by tomorrow night it will open up. Very weird.

Sounds like it’s in a funky phase. When they close up they tend to lose that fruit taste sensation you’ve mentioned. Curious how it may change with a long aeration.

And then I tried a small sip like I always do right after I decant just to get a a first impression before it sits in the decanter for several hours. It was completely tasteless, almost like I was drinking water.

I assume you checked your ability to smell and taste other things - you're not going down with 'the bug' by any chance..?

Tom Archer wrote: ↑Sun Nov 01, 2020 2:33 am

And then I tried a small sip like I always do right after I decant just to get a a first impression before it sits in the decanter for several hours. It was completely tasteless, almost like I was drinking water.

I assume you checked your ability to smell and taste other things - you're not going down with 'the bug' by any chance..?

That's the first thing I checked when I couldn't smell it. My sense of smell and taste are working fine, thankfully. I think it's like Andy said, it's in a funk right now which is surprising to me for a lesser known 19 yo SQVP.

1985 Croft

If this bottle was representative, this Port is basically fully mature and drinking very nicely. No reason to hold them any further - drink 'em up and enjoy!

If this bottle was representative, this Port is basically fully mature and drinking very nicely. No reason to hold them any further - drink 'em up and enjoy!

My experience of Croft '85 is that there are a lot of duff bottles out there..

Tom Archer wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:53 am

If this bottle was representative, this Port is basically fully mature and drinking very nicely. No reason to hold them any further - drink 'em up and enjoy!

My experience of Croft '85 is that there are a lot of duff bottles out there..

Agreed. '85 Croft has been a the butt of jokes when talking about a crappy port. That being said, I had one about a year ago and it was way better than I expected. Probably 89 points on that occasion?