Search found 3028 matches

by Andy Velebil
15:44 Mon 05 Jun 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1998 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port
Replies: 0
Views: 996

1998 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port

from 375ml bottle that I bought in 2006 for $22, per my records. Color is medium ruby and indicates in a period to consume. Has a nose reminiscent of some 1980's VP's, woody, licorice but not TCA. While the palate has still has some tannins, the fruit is fully matured and into its secondary phases n...
by Andy Velebil
00:46 Tue 30 May 2023
Forum: Reviews
Topic: 1983s, Thu 25 May 2023, at B&F
Replies: 10
Views: 3805

Re: 1983s, Thu 25 May 2023, at B&F

Really nice to read people’s impressions of this vintage. I would agree, it’s a vintage that didn’t turn out so great for many producers. While I have my own thoughts, I’d love to sit down with a few of the “old guard” and ask what caused the early 80’s to be such a mine field. I’m sure there is no ...
by Andy Velebil
03:03 Mon 15 May 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1997 Quinta do Noval Silval
Replies: 1
Views: 297

Re: 1997 Quinta do Noval Silval

I’ve had many of these, the last around 6 yrs ago. Your note is reminiscent of what I experienced.
by Andy Velebil
04:24 Thu 11 May 2023
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: O-PORT-UNIDADE treading Party 22nd September
Replies: 9
Views: 5983

Re: O-PORT-UNIDADE treading Party 22nd September

Doggett wrote:Very disappointed to say that I can’t make it Axel… but I wish the project every success, hope that everyone has an amazing time and look forward very much to drinking the port that is made! Very best of luck!
Same :(
by Andy Velebil
14:13 Fri 28 Apr 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Taking a 1963 port to a restaurant?
Replies: 14
Views: 10270

Re: Taking a 1963 port to a restaurant?

#3 would be my choice for reasons stated by others already.
by Andy Velebil
13:20 Thu 20 Apr 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Wagners Port
Replies: 3
Views: 1996

Re: Wagners Port

The Selo is the first release of the new style in the early 1970’s, which does indicate a later ex-cellars release. Looks like someone either bought a bunch and got private labels made, or removed the originals and applied their own. Regardless, looks genuine to me. A darn good VP.
by Andy Velebil
03:42 Thu 20 Apr 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Old Reading Abbey Brand
Replies: 15
Views: 5438

Re: Old Reading Abbey Brand

To me that foil looks like it's been reused from another bottle. You should however bear in mind I am a cynical tax lawyer and have been wrong before about genuinity. The proof of the pudding will be in the cork - we all know what 55 year old corks look like when extracted - and the contents. I was...
by Andy Velebil
03:51 Tue 18 Apr 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1991 Vesuvio
Replies: 1
Views: 518

Re: 1991 Vesuvio

Agree. In the recent year or so I’ve had a number of these from 1/2 bottle, bottle and magnum. Magnums have showed best. but it is quite clear that 1992 was a far better vintage for it. It’s still an enjoyable drink, but one that needs to be enjoyed in the near future as it’s now on its slow downwar...
by Andy Velebil
23:56 Sat 15 Apr 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Old Reading Abbey Brand
Replies: 15
Views: 5438

Re: Old Reading Abbey Brand

Anything old in a Hong Kong auction, in general beware. Never heard of such. Who was the US importer?
by Andy Velebil
05:03 Fri 31 Mar 2023
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Thu 30 March 2023 - An Online Tasting with Friends
Replies: 60
Views: 71938

Re: Thu 30 March 2023 - An Online Tasting with Friends

Sorry to not have joined. Given the time difference to west coast, work got unexpectedly very busy and I wasn’t able to pop in for a bit to say hi. I’ll try for the next one.
by Andy Velebil
20:42 Sat 11 Mar 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1991 Vesuvio
Replies: 1
Views: 803

Re: 1991 Vesuvio

I've had mags of this in the past 6 months. It is fully mature, if not a tad past. Still enjoyable but don't hold on to them much longer.
by Andy Velebil
05:50 Tue 28 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The 1980s & quality
Replies: 33
Views: 22246

Re: The 1980s & quality

There are some fantastic VP’s from the ‘80s. Sadly, depending on producer and the specific vintage, there’s a lot of TCA, VA, aguardente quality and bottle variation issues. While I enjoy a lot from this decade, and have bought a good amount, it is a decade that one needs to do much more research on...
by Andy Velebil
23:39 Sun 19 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The Warre 2006 LBV mystery
Replies: 7
Views: 2566

Re: The Warre 2006 LBV mystery

What airline carries it? I know Lufthansa has Graham's TWAIOA and LBV Lufthansa used to, but they seem to skip around the producers - they were heavily into Niepoort for a while, and I think they served me Taylor once. Thai has always had Warre, and IIRC it was also on board Turkish and EVA when I ...
by Andy Velebil
19:42 Fri 17 Feb 2023
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Thu 30 March 2023 - An Online Tasting with Friends
Replies: 60
Views: 71938

Re: Thu 30 March 2023 - An Online Tasting with Friends

I’ll put it on the calendar, but as the 8 hr time change not sure I’ll be able to get day off work yet. At worst, I may be able to join for a bit just to say hi during a work break. What, you can't just have Zoom on a side monitor and sit there and drink Port at your desk like I do? :lol: Since I c...
by Andy Velebil
16:14 Fri 17 Feb 2023
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Thu 30 March 2023 - An Online Tasting with Friends
Replies: 60
Views: 71938

Re: Thu 30 March 2023 - An Online Tasting with Friends

I’ll put it on the calendar, but as the 8 hr time change not sure I’ll be able to get day off work yet. At worst, I may be able to join for a bit just to say hi during a work break.
by Andy Velebil
16:05 Fri 17 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Which Vintage Did He Drink?
Replies: 4
Views: 2003

Re: Which Vintage Did He Drink?

Only one bottle and he behaved like that? He’d never survive a TPF tasting.

(And hopefully they send him to jail for that behavior)
by Andy Velebil
15:58 Fri 17 Feb 2023
Forum: Travel
Topic: Lodges again
Replies: 24
Views: 11047

Lodges again

Having been to Porto twice within a month last year, I spent some time being a tourists to see how some of the lodges have changed (generally didn’t do the tours, just the tasting room). Was surprised that some sold BTG what is retail significantly more money per bottle for €1-5 more for a glass tha...
by Andy Velebil
06:05 Fri 17 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The Warre 2006 LBV mystery
Replies: 7
Views: 2566

Re: The Warre 2006 LBV mystery

I can't recall ever seeing the red capsule version, though I may have and just don't remember. What airline carries it? I know Lufthansa has Graham's TWAIOA and LBV in Business and First. Generally speaking and not specific to Warre's. Unfiltered LBV's tend to be bottled based on a number of factors...
by Andy Velebil
15:20 Tue 07 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Hotel or Restaurant Price List of the Week
Replies: 169
Views: 119307

Re: Hotel or Restaurant Price List of the Week

Niepoort had a horrible wine naming issue, with ports and even more so table wines. It’s confusing as all get out. So much so that I’ve stopped buying certainly of his wines because I can never figure out where they actually fall in his lineup. I generally stick to the old standbys. The style of Bio...
by Andy Velebil
03:55 Thu 02 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Sandeman Tawny 20YO (bottled 2022)
Replies: 1
Views: 513

Re: NV Sandeman 20YO Tawny (bottled 2022)

Always a good tawny and usually at a good price in my area too.
by Andy Velebil
04:54 Wed 01 Feb 2023
Forum: Travel
Topic: Lodges again
Replies: 24
Views: 11047

Re: Lodges again

agree on all the others already mentioned. And add in Cockburn’s for a larger lodge tour. Ask for an upgraded tasting for the upstairs tasting room. They usually have some moderately older things to try.
by Andy Velebil
05:39 Wed 28 Dec 2022
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1872 Quinta do Bom Retiro
Replies: 4
Views: 664

Re: 1872 Quinta do Bom Retiro

I can't be certain, but I suspect it was what we would today consider to be a relatively young colheita when it was bottled. Perhaps bottled 20-25 years after the vintage. The bottle was certainly old and - to my eye - from the late 1800s. I probably would say closer to 10 years, but yes, I’d guess...
by Andy Velebil
04:08 Fri 23 Dec 2022
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Bottling dates on LBVs (& others)
Replies: 13
Views: 2900

Re: Bottling dates on LBVs (& others)

JacobH wrote:On the Quevedo it says "Lote: LA-AABA" but that was too cryptic for me!
Very cryptic until you decipher it that is. Lol. Email Oscar and ask.
by Andy Velebil
05:58 Wed 21 Dec 2022
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Bottling dates on LBVs (& others)
Replies: 13
Views: 2900

Re: Bottling dates on LBVs (& others)

I appreciate that a bottling date is only really essentially for buying colheitas and almost every producer bottles their LBV in the 5th year after harvest but I do like to check just in case they are doing something unusual (e.g. bottling it in the 4th or 6th years). Hmm... I would have said that ...
by Andy Velebil
15:19 Mon 19 Dec 2022
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Bottling dates on LBVs (& others)
Replies: 13
Views: 2900

Re: Bottling dates on LBVs (& others)

I would assume it’s in case they have to do another batch at a later time or decide to hold it in tank longer than originally planned.

Many modern bottling lines laser etch a code on the glass. These often have the date/time of bottling for quality control reasons. Did these have that?