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- 18:43 Sat 27 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: UK available 40 year old tawnies
- Replies: 9
- Views: 214
Re: UK available 40 year old tawnies
From my empirical evidence of tasting the Dow's in the new packaging, yes, they changed the blends. They've improved the quality of it. That’s interesting. Looking at my notes, I don’t think I’ve tried any Dow aged tawny. How to they compare with Graham? I notice that the marketing talks about bein...
- 13:05 Sat 27 Feb 2021
- Forum: Reference
- Topic: Foot Trodden - Portugal & the wines that time forgot
- Replies: 6
- Views: 198
Re: Foot Trodden - Portugal & the wines that time forgot
Hi Ryan,
Welcome to
! I’m really looking forward to this book. What sort of Ports are you into?
Best wishes,
Jacob
Welcome to

Best wishes,
Jacob
- 10:12 Sat 27 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: UK available 40 year old tawnies
- Replies: 9
- Views: 214
Re: RE: Re: UK available 40 year old tawnies
Dow’s 40 is available in the UK. I hadn't realised this since the Dow website only goes up to the 30 year old. One wine merchant which sells it says that it was relaunched in 2019 having not been made for a few years. The bottles for all their aged tawnies have a new design so I wonder it they twea...
- 15:32 Fri 26 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: UK available 40 year old tawnies
- Replies: 9
- Views: 214
Re: UK available 40 year old tawnies
I’ve tried the Valriz 40-year-old in Porto and seen the Royal Oporto and Quinta de Santa Eufêmia ones for sale too. There’s probably a Casa de Santa Eufêmia one, too. A quick look at Garrafeira Nacional turns up some that I have never come across like Amável Costa, Quinta da Vacaria, Cálem, and Quin...
- 13:06 Fri 26 Feb 2021
- Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
- Topic: Informal Outdoor Summer Tasting?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 75
Informal Outdoor Summer Tasting?
Considering that: a) the availability of restaurants etc. for large gatherings remains a little uncertain; b) some of the recent :tpf: tastings have become fully reserved within minutes of someone suggesting them; and c) the informal virtual meetings have been great fun, would anyone be interested i...
- 12:30 Fri 26 Feb 2021
- Forum: Beer, Spirits, Cigars, and Pork Pies
- Topic: Cloudwater "Closer To The Truth" - imperial stout aged in single use port barrel
- Replies: 14
- Views: 362
Re: Cloudwater
I appreciate this makes little sense for someone who is quite happy to drink quite a lot of Port, but I actually like most of my alcoholic drinks to be fairly light. I get a little frustrated that there aren’t more bitters (as opposed to best bitters) and milds about in the <4% range!
- 11:14 Fri 26 Feb 2021
- Forum: Beer, Spirits, Cigars, and Pork Pies
- Topic: Cloudwater "Closer To The Truth" - imperial stout aged in single use port barrel
- Replies: 14
- Views: 362
Re: Cloudwater
No: I only bought one as I couldn’t carry any more! I’m sure you are right that it can age a bit and improve. By the alcohol being aggressive, I didn’t mean so much that it was too spirity (which can be a problem with some beers) but that its strength made it feel like a bit of a slog to get through...
- 22:23 Thu 25 Feb 2021
- Forum: Beer, Spirits, Cigars, and Pork Pies
- Topic: Cloudwater "Closer To The Truth" - imperial stout aged in single use port barrel
- Replies: 14
- Views: 362
Re: Cloudwater "Closer To The Truth" - imperial stout aged in single use port barrel
I saw a 2019 Siren Maiden yesterday which I am trying tonight. I'm rather in two minds about it. I really can see the attraction but I think it is just a bit too much for my taste. The nose is lovely: freshly baked caramel biscuits. In the mouth, it's got a thick mouthfeel with incredible sweetness ...
- 16:19 Wed 24 Feb 2021
- Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
- Topic: POSTPONED: Wednesday 24th February 2021 - Online Churchill tasting with the Port Forum
- Replies: 68
- Views: 4907
Re: POSTPONED: Wednesday 24th February 2021 - Online Churchill tasting with the Port Forum
I’m afraid something has come up and I may not be able to join you tonight. I hope that doesn’t cause any inconvenience, especially since I think the plan is just for an informal session. If it does, I apologise.
- 14:20 Tue 23 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: 2019 Declaration - Sogevinous
- Replies: 5
- Views: 238
Re: 2019 Declaration - Sogevinous
The Dow range is rather odd in its lack of premium products. For example, Graham now has all of those “Single Harvest” colheitas, including some “lodge only” special editions; the “Ne Oublie” ultra-old tawny; and the Stone Terraces VP. There are also some premium everyday Ports like the № 5 White an...
- 12:12 Tue 23 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: 2019 Declaration - Sogevinous
- Replies: 5
- Views: 238
Re: 2019 Declaration - Sogevinous
The reports of 2020 seemed very variable. I think some extremely good wines were made, although I am not sure if in enough quantity to result in a general declaration. Especially in light of the number of general declarations in recent years. I am sure we will get a few very good vintage ports and p...
- 16:47 Mon 22 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: 2019 Declaration - Sogevinous
- Replies: 5
- Views: 238
Re: 2019 Declaration - Sogevinous
I can’t believe it’s that time of the year already.
Interesting that they’ve gone for another full declaration of all their houses. That makes it four-out-of-five for Cálem doesn’t it? 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
Interesting that they’ve gone for another full declaration of all their houses. That makes it four-out-of-five for Cálem doesn’t it? 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
- 17:52 Sun 21 Feb 2021
- Forum: Beer, Spirits, Cigars, and Pork Pies
- Topic: Cloudwater "Closer To The Truth" - imperial stout aged in single use port barrel
- Replies: 14
- Views: 362
Re: Cloudwater
Barrel aging seems to be a bit of a dark art, the Americans have been at it longer so they've got more experience but brewers like Cloudwater and Siren in the UK are now catching up. A lot depends on the barrel (is it fresh from the previous producer or have you used it a couple of times already) a...
- 14:42 Sun 21 Feb 2021
- Forum: Beer, Spirits, Cigars, and Pork Pies
- Topic: Cloudwater "Closer To The Truth" - imperial stout aged in single use port barrel
- Replies: 14
- Views: 362
Re: Cloudwater
I presume it doesn’t actually spend that long in the barrel, so wouldn’t get as much chance to pick up the flavours as, say, a Port-barrel-aged whiskey would? I’m a big fan of dark beers but am a bit disillusioned with the way that brewers, both on the craft and real sides of the market, have been g...
- 11:59 Sun 21 Feb 2021
- Forum: Reference
- Topic: Foot Trodden - Portugal & the wines that time forgot
- Replies: 6
- Views: 198
Re: Foot Trodden - Portugal & the wines that time forgot
I thought this was quite intriguing and although crowd-funding isn’t the sort of thing I usually go in for, I’ve “pledged” for a copy. I’d quite like, this year, to broaden my knowledge of Portuguese wines outside the Douro and this seems like a good way in.
- 22:20 Fri 19 Feb 2021
- Forum: Beer, Spirits, Cigars, and Pork Pies
- Topic: Beer in the cellar
- Replies: 4
- Views: 427
Re: Beer in the cellar
A progress report is most definitely required! The problem I find with beer is that if it is not in a bottle or a pub I just get bored too quickly to drink enough of it to avoid having throw out a lot of it. I often think I would like a go at some home brewing but then think I’ll never get through a...
- 22:12 Fri 19 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: 1882 Magazine from Symington Family Estates
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1080
Re: 1882 Magazine from Symington Family Estates
Ah. That’s what I’ve tried (albeit made with the Six Grapes and CSR). As you say, it’s excellent. The shops are also rather nice if you are in Porto and fancy a coffee with a piece of chocolate. I thought the Royal Warrant on the box was for the chocolates rather than the Port! This could have been ...
- 18:54 Fri 19 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: 1882 Magazine from Symington Family Estates
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1080
Re: 1882 Magazine from Symington Family Estates
That’s a good selection! I’m very envious! Interesting that the Symington’s are doing another chocolate range. I’ve had the chocolate truffle bars made by Chocolataria Equado with either Graham’s Six Grapes or Cockburn Special Reserve (both of which are excellent) but the Royal Warrant on the box su...
- 18:13 Fri 19 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: 1882 Magazine from Symington Family Estates
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1080
Re: 1882 Magazine from Symington Family Estates
This is now available online (also in Portuguese) for those of us who don’t feel like we spend enough time staring at screens...
- 12:41 Thu 18 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: Pointless Statistics
- Replies: 218
- Views: 79956
Re: Pointless Statistics
Thanks very much to Tom- a huge improvement in appearance!


- 22:27 Tue 16 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: The Queen's cellar
- Replies: 6
- Views: 468
Re: The Queen's cellar
Two dozen of these miniature bottles + some spares seems to me to less than a glass of liquid from the original bottles. I hope they had a good party with the leftovers once the filling process was complete! (PS. Can you imagine them doing this today: they’ve had to make a miniature T-Cork, a miniat...
- 16:22 Mon 15 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: The Queen's cellar
- Replies: 6
- Views: 468
Re: The Queen's cellar
The dolls’ house is absolutely spectacular. They tried to reproduce all sorts of things from the period so there are barrels of Scotch, books in the library which were written by famous authors, genuine works of art etc. etc. Well worth looking at if you have a chance!
- 12:09 Mon 15 Feb 2021
- Forum: Site Stuff
- Topic: Photographs
- Replies: 2
- Views: 679
Re: Photographs
Sorry: I missed your post. Thanks very much. I’d be amazed if phpBB doesn’t start baking this in to their standard release in the near future since people are taking so many more digital photos than in the past so there is no rush to preempt them.
- 18:47 Fri 12 Feb 2021
- Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
- Topic: Quevedo Taste at Home - Blend Your Own 20 Year Old Tawny - Online Tutored Tasting 31/03/21
- Replies: 7
- Views: 408
Re: Quevedo Taste at Home - Blend Your Own 20 Year Old Tawny - Online Tutored Tasting 31/03/21
This is a great idea. Thank you for sorting it out. I think I have already persuaded a few friends to buy a pack.
At some stage someone should twist Oscar’s arm to do another round of blend-your-own Vintage Port!
At some stage someone should twist Oscar’s arm to do another round of blend-your-own Vintage Port!
- 15:18 Fri 12 Feb 2021
- Forum: Port Conversations
- Topic: Little known port identification
- Replies: 13
- Views: 781
Re: Little known port identification
I saw that Vintage Wine and Port is selling a 1929 Vintage French Brandy from Short’s. A nice touch on the label is that they describe themselves as “Wine Merchants since the Reign of King George the First”!