ThePortForum.com

+ 20hrs Not greatly changed from last night. A very sound wine but very immature. The only negative I can give this is a very slight element of dilution, but that's really being a bit picky! However, the raw tannins do make this bottle hard work (for me, anyway) What amuses me is the 'drinking windo...

I don't have any recent notes on SW77 but I popped a Warre last December, noting that it was 'unremarkable for 48hrs, but then perfect'

I scored it 9-9, so no rush to drink.

Tom

An odd bottle, part of a job lot bought a couple of years ago, the others all now history! Very sound cork extracted in one piece. Decanted last night, average amount of fine gritty sediment. Excellent colour. First sip - superb nose, free of bottle stink, young. + 2hrs, a nightcap. Approachable, bu...

I personally take the view that most vintage ports are drunk far too soon after decanting, and that most of the lore regarding deterioration in decanter can be put down to the wine getting too warm. Decanters that are kept 'cellar cool' will normally show well for up to a week. That said, immature w...

What's a warre mouthfeel That's a bit like asking 'what do oranges taste of?' As a signature it registers (to me) as a slightly smokey note on the roof of the mouth and the rear lower gums. ~~~ I decanted this bottle on Saturday, and was sufficiently unimpressed on Sunday to contemplate ditching th...

I consumed a bottle from the same case last September.

Was not hugely wowed, giving it a 4-3 score, but noted that 'it transformed itself between 24 & 48 hours'

Tom

I am now wedded to my antique silver plate decanting funnel, which I use in preference to the more modern design with the gauze inset. It has the great advantage of having a flat perforated inner plate that clearly shows fine sediment the moment it starts to come out of the bottle, much easier than ...

22hrs,

Darker and earthier now, but also, I detect, very slightly corked.

Even without the minor taint, this is not a star performer. The wine is bereft of body and has an overly hot finish. Not one I shall be stocking up on, I think.

Tom

So far, the weather in the Douro is not very promising. Cold and lots of rain.

Certainly very wet of late, but that's not a disaster (yet..)

The Sym's site is still missing it's 'insider' report for April..

Tom

Re-visited after 5 hrs

Slightly darker, but still woefully lacking in colour, better nose but a bit hot.

My instincts tell me that it will be better tomorrow - so I'll wait!

Tom

Although quite often offered at auction, this wine has had little attention of late. Having a couple of bottles in the cellar, and wondering whether to invest in more, I gave myself the perfect excuse to open one. Decanted 6pm - cork reduced to crumbs.. :roll: Came cleanly off a very small amount of...

An odd bottle with Dow on capsule and cork, but Fells name on the label. A very nice quaff, very much in the nature of a VP of similar age, although more in the 'Portuguese' style than that of Dow. Some time back I doubted the ability of Crusted ports to perform much beyond their 20th year, but Alex...

Excellent it was too

Indeed - Derek seemed perfectly in his element as he dominated the stove, with three gas rings in full flame...

Tom

How DID we get through all those mushrooms??

Tom

PS: It was admitted last year that the 'units' system for alcohol consumption has no scientific basis whatsoever. It was no more than 'inspired guesswork'.

I surfaced at around 6.30am, before taking an extra hour, but did have the advantage of spending some time comatose at the table. Julian surfaced at the crack of noon.. I have never previously been able to pin a specific 'signature' on the '80 vintage, and I'm not a lot the wiser now; but several of...

Offley decanted, looking good.

Go on Alex, get decanting - too little time in decanter is more risky than too much, and you can sup all the dregs tonight..

Tom

KB, I have eleven flavours of '77 downstairs. You ought to have a Dow in the line-up, and it's not clear who's sourcing that one in the thread - I can fix you a bottle with a BN level for £35. Smith Woodhouse is another one not to be missed - can supply a bottle with good level for £30. Can also sup...

I plan to decant the Offley (already stood up) the previous evening, returning it to the bottle for the journey down.

As I shall be driving, does anyone need any supplies?

Tom

Showed very much better as a midnight nightcap (+30 hrs) and is still showing very well now as I sup the last glass (+72 hrs) To score: For immediate gratification this comes over as a fully mature and well composed wine; its only de-merit being a bit of a lightweight. Where's it going? - I sense th...

I have the following Delaforce vintages in my cellar:

2003
2000
1994
1985
1977
1970
1963
1960
1950
1935
1917

- and a ten year old Tawny

I have it in mind to preserve the '17 until its centenary, but any of the others can be made available.

Tom

An Oporto bottling, one of four purchased a couple of years ago. Bottle selected for having extensive wine staining on the guarantee slip, although as there is no evidence of ongoing seepage, this could have come from another bottle at some point in the past. Decanted 7pm yesterday. Sampled at 10pm ...

Broadbent liked it, but he was also quite positive about the regular N85, which has otherwise had a fairly lukewarm press.

As a US retail price, $400 is about right, but not a huge bargain. I'd want some provenance before shelling out.

Tom

A Nacional '24 would face a small credibility problem..

..I believe the Nacional vineyard was planted in 1925!

Tom

I am very nervous of the brick cleaner suggestion as it sounds a bit dangerous

Not really if you're careful - the same acid occurs naturally in your stomach!

Alkali and bleach burns are much nastier than acid ones - they hurt and take ages to heal.

Tom

I would avoid using alkaline methods - bicarb, bleach etc - they can sometimes interact with the glass and take a lot of flushing. They won't shift limescale. The little ball bearings do work, but take time... Concentrated nitric acid is the best glass cleaner of them all, but it has to be handled w...