For The Love Of Port

How many people would be interested in attending a UK based tasting of the 2003 wines? I am trying to persuade one of the UK wine merchants that there would be enough interest to make it worth while to organise.

I would expect that we would pay for the wines that were tasted.

Please post a reply here if you would be interested (venue and date permitting, of course).

Many thanks,

Alex

Alex,

I would be interested in this or in tagging along to the 04 tastings that will be held for the chosen few in the trade!

Derek

Absolutely....

Oh go on then - I'll bring along a hammer-drill to chip the tannins off our teeth.

I guess as I'm sitting on 7 cases it would be a good chance to compare them. I just hope Taylors and Grahams aren't my top ports as these are the only 2 top ports of the vintage I don't have!

Tasting 2003 ports after wines from the 60's was a bit of a struggle a couple of months ago so I ought to give these babies another chance.

bridgema wrote:[...] I am trying to persuade one of the UK wine merchants that there would be enough interest to make it worth while to organise. [...]

Alex - Will this Tasting feature only Wines available at that particular UK shop or could other 2003 VPs also be brought ??.
/MF.

Justin,

Thanks for the memories. I agree. It was not easy to taste through the 12 bottles of 1963/1966/1970. But just think how much more difficult it would have been to taste the aforementioned vintages AFTER tasting the 2003s.

Thanks to Mario for bringing them and exposing most of you to the 2003 vintage for the very first time.

I think I would be interested but as a novice do you think it would be beyond me at this point, i.e. tasting notes and things?

If I manage to persuade Berry Brothers to offer a 2003 VP tasting then I would have to leave the choice of wines they show in their hands - I would expect that they will show the wines that they are looking to sell.

And to answer Trev's point - I don't think a 2003 tasting would be something to be seen as beyond someone who was just starting a port tasting life. You have a 20 year advantage on me to build up the experience of tasting these wines young and seeing how they turn out in the years ahead. Maybe your style of tasting and note taking will change over that time, but don't let that stop you from starting. And watch how quickly that wine storage cabinet fills!

Alex

Thanks for that. In that case I would love to come, count me in!

OK.

I spoke to someone at Berry Brothers in Basingstoke today. He feels that if there are a minimum of 3-5 of us who would be able to firmly commit to attending a tasting then he should be able to organise a tasting of around 6 of the 2003 ports that they have in stock and are offering to customers. The ports tasted will depend on what is in stock at the time of the tasting but would probably include the Taylors and the De La Rosa (BBR selection).

The tasting would take place at Berry's Basingstoke wine warehouse after the wine shop closes - starting somwehere between 6pm and 8pm.

Anyone interested in attending and willing to pay in advance for their share of the wines that will be opened please either reply here or send me an email or a private message giving the dates when you would be able to attend. If enough other people commit to attending then I will see if I can confirm arrangements.

Thanks,

Alex

bridgema wrote:If I manage to persuade Berry Brothers to offer a 2003 VP tasting then I would have to leave the choice of wines they show in their hands - I would expect that they will show the wines that they are looking to sell.

I'd be interested.

Trevor,

With Alex there I think you will have a heck of a good time and learn alot and even moreso with the addition of Nicos, who knows as much about Port as just about any enthusiast I have ever met.

I'm sending private messages to everyone who has expressed an interest. Please check your inboxes and reply as appropriate.

Thanks,

Alex