For The Love Of Port

Moses Botbol wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 7:29 am We started in on a bottle of Mouchão Sobremesa. I know it's not port... Takes a week in the decanter to really sing.

Is that better off aging or can you drink it young? Where in MA did you find it, Moses?

Mike J. W. wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 12:25 pm

Moses Botbol wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 7:29 am We started in on a bottle of Mouchão Sobremesa. I know it's not port... Takes a week in the decanter to really sing.

Is that better off aging or can you drink it young? Where in MA did you find it, Moses?

It's great young actually, I have a case to age out of curiosity. I bought it in Fall River, but I think anyone in MA should be able to get it.

I can gladly report that the 1985 Fonseca VP is in it's wheelhouse and still going strong. What I found was the second day it was even better. After a 3 hour decant it was still not settled down. I had a second glass a few hours later and it was getting better and better. I have more, it will probably live longer than I.

We’ve got temperatures in the low 90sF / low 30sC at the moment, which is unusual for the UK. That hasn’t stopped me drinking VP, it’s just being kept in the fridge and served very cold.

Al B. wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 11:21 pm IMG_3943.jpeg


We’ve got temperatures in the low 90sF / low 30sC at the moment, which is unusual for the UK. That hasn’t stopped me drinking VP, it’s just being kept in the fridge and served very cold.

You don't see that shipper very often. How was it, Alex?

1981 Krohn Colheita.

2000 Quinta do Noval LBV (unfiltered). Just cracked and sample taste is very good.

DR White 20....crowd pleaser....bottle is too small (lol)

John M. wrote:DR White 20....crowd pleaser....bottle is too small (lol)

Hah!

Mike J. W. wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 9:50 am

Al B. wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 11:21 pm IMG_3943.jpeg


We’ve got temperatures in the low 90sF / low 30sC at the moment, which is unusual for the UK. That hasn’t stopped me drinking VP, it’s just being kept in the fridge and served very cold.

You don't see that shipper very often. How was it, Alex?

I like Rebello Valente’s style, they made really nice VPs which have matured very well. This one was better on day 3 than day 1. It took some time for the alcohol and heat to integrate, but when it did the wine was delicious.

Al B. wrote: ↑Sun Jun 22, 2025 1:11 pm

Mike J. W. wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 9:50 am

Al B. wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 11:21 pm IMG_3943.jpeg


We’ve got temperatures in the low 90sF / low 30sC at the moment, which is unusual for the UK. That hasn’t stopped me drinking VP, it’s just being kept in the fridge and served very cold.

You don't see that shipper very often. How was it, Alex?

I like Rebello Valente’s style, they made really nice VPs which have matured very well. This one was better on day 3 than day 1. It took some time for the alcohol and heat to integrate, but when it did the wine was delicious.

Thanks Alex. That's really interesting that a 62 year-old Port took 3 days to fully integrate. It sounds like it has a lot of life ahead of it.

For Port Club this month, I opened:

S. Leonardo Very Old White (bottled 2019, aka their 50 Year Old White)
S. Leonardo 50 Year Old Tawny Port (bottled 2022)

Both were pretty spectacular.

Quinta de la Rosa 20 year-old Tawny.

Brunheda 40 yo.

Over the course of the past two weeks:

Villar d'Allen 20 year old Tawny Port - this was the 4th lot, produced by Quevedo. Very good, but I preferred the prior bottlings better.

A stellar bottle of Fonseca 1970 VP was opened by a good friend. Two of us drained it over a 3-hour window. Slowing down with age.

Dow's 1977 chosen from a grouping that I will get to over the coming months. The 1977 was not a great bottle, it seemed like some air had seeped in during a v. minor seepage.

It’s quite warm in the UK so it’s been whites and tawnies recently. The last few opened were:
Churchill Dry White
Kopke Fine White
Cockburn Fine White
Graham Blend No.5
Taylor Chip Dry
Quinta do Vallado White
Quinta do Vallado 10YO Tawny (bottled 2024)
São Leonardo 10YO Tawny (bottled 2024)
Quinta das Carvalhas 50YO Tawny (bottled 2023) - which is in my glass as I write this post.

All served from either the fridge or the wine fridge.

Quevedo 1976 colheita, bottled in 2023

1995 Vista Alegre (bottled 2010). It's no better than or slightly below average. Probably more time in wood would have helped it. Their 1985 Colheita which was bottled in the last year or two is spectacular.

2006 Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim VP. Just decanted for later. Initial sip was quite nice. Will report back.

Sta Eufemia 10 year White - took to "Darts Night", just lovely and perfect for the fun evening but it threw off a ton of sediment which of course I was not expecting. A little cloudy, but tasted spot on.