ThePortForum.com

A special "merci" goes to everyone who took the time to answer my many questions, in order to help me have a wonderful experience tonight!

Then, Billy shared his opinion. He said it started with grapes, then prunes, dried dates. I guess I wasn't too far from the dark fruits I couldn't name. He also added in a 3rd row caramelized orange, cacao and hints of coffee. To be honest, I never smelled the coffee! Finally, as my anxiety finally ...

My right eye was always spying on Billy, my sommelier friend who's usually very vocal. But he wasn't at that moment. While my nose was taking big breaths of the port, as smelling is always a very enjoyable part of drinking good alcohols for me, I was staring at Billy wondering what was going on in h...

Then, one by one, my friends got to my house for dinner. Without telling them what I saved somewhere in the basement, I always had a special thought about my fabulous port! After 5 hours and a half of decanting, I got upstairs with something in my hands. My friends, who knew me for a while already, ...

Then, a strange thing happened to me. I started wandering around the decanter, smelling it every 5 to 10 minutes for the next few hours. I looked like a hobbit in love with his precious ring of invisibility! It was like I felt attracted by the fortified wine. Always wondering if it would smell bette...

The next steps was pouring the port into the decanter, which went smoothly. No, I didn't answer about any calls while pouring it in, to avoid any more chaos into the wine. The sediments and remaining cork parts in it was enough, I didn't want to disturb it more, you can trust me!

One thing I liked about the idea of opening two bottles at the same time was the fact that I could compare two bottles that have been stored exactly the same way, but with one that leaked and the other didn't. In fact, as it was my very first experience with vintage Port, I didn't know if the leaked...

Then, with all the pressure in had in myself in order to remove the precious cork in one piece, I gently pressed my best corkscrew on the cork... just to see it fall inside the bottle. At that very moment, I am glad that nobody saw me, as my facial expressiom must have been very explicit. I guess it...

About five hours prior to drinking my G70, I went upstairs to open it. As I removed the wax cover, I found a very sticky substance on the top of the port bottle, along with some red stains. As most people do with vintage ports, I took care to clean up my bottle.

Then, user LGTROTTER asked that I wear a tall hat as well. Sadly, the hat couldn't stand on my head while being upside down. Here's a picture of me and my tallest hat:

Tonight was the night. I received a few friends for dinner, and finally had the chance to try my very first port vintage. A Graham 1970. But the road towards it wasn't easy, trust me! It all began with the purchase of a pair of Grahams 1970 when they aren't too expensive, if you can say it for a pai...

Thank you for the translation SIR

Wow I never thought a cork could fall off by itself!! That's crazy!

I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with your expression "doff cap". What does it mean?

On a side note, i wonder if its normal or usual to be able to push a cork so easily inside a bottle with barely no strenght??

I didn't take any chance and opened my second bottle. I can definately see a difference in power between both of them, the first smelling more like my grandma! ;) I agree that the leaked bottle did gain a bit of strenght in the past hour and a half, but seems to be nothing compared to the good bottl...

Good afternoon, I just opened my first vintage bottle about 10 minutes ago (Graham 70), to let it breath a few hours before drinking. As i removed the plastic cap to see the cork, i could already see that the piece of paper was glued to the bottle, along with a small smell of wine. I could also see ...

Thank you both of you! Since I already have a few graham's 70, I might go for both Dows 94 and cockburn 2000. I like the idea of having a few bottles that are around 21 years old!

Here in Quebec, there is a law that forbids anyone to import alcohol from other countries, along with a few exceptions that can not be used by me for the moment. Every alcohol sold has to go through a monopoly called the Société des alcools du Quebec (SAQ). Right now, there are a few bottles of port...

Here's a picture if you are curious. I forgot to say that I put a door that it meant for cold winters outside, to avoid losing cooler temperature. The wardrobe/wine cellar goes deeper on the left of the picture.

PS: The two ports are standing up for a good reason on the picture

It might not be the best idea for you, but here's what I did last year. Since I couldn't afford a real wine cave, I converted a big wardrobe into a wine cellar. I chose a wardrobe downstairs, to make it cooler and less attractive to thieves. I stripped down the walls, to put the best isolation I cou...

Keep us updated and congrats on your hard work!

First of all, thank you very much for your consideration,,entertainment AHB! I will definitely consider everything you said, and I will make sure to write down as much as I can about my first good vintage! :D I like the idea of eating steak with more recent vintage ports. I suppose that the stronger...

I read the same about 85! Slowly but surely I'll try to buy more, starting off with some of your suggestions when ill be able to find any!! About the 2011, I have no problem waiting! I plan on opening a 2011 every 10 to 20 years and leave one or two bottles for my kids someday!

Here are my latest and only buys so far (being new to the port community):

2x Graham 1970,
1x Taylor flatmate 1985 (I am born in 85),
3x Fonseca 2011,
5x Dows 2011.

And some tawny Andresen 10yrs white port and Ramos Pinto 20yrs to drink meanwhile!

I agree with you Andy!! And Daniel, I would love it! As long as I can study it for a few months!! will you travel to me in Canada??