ThePortForum.com

JacobH wrote: ↑21:13 Fri 07 Aug 2020 When I first read this, I thought you would be referring to their 30-40-year-old tawnies or some ancient colheitas but it turns out they actually make a Port called “Very Old”!

"Very Old Port" is relatively new allowance on labels to give producers somewhere to put their non-registered family reserves, et al. As I recall, Very Old Tawny Port is also allowed. They can technically be sold as either "Very Old" or as "40 Year Old" Port. DR's L70 is fabulous and allegedly roughly 70 years old, thus the "clever" naming that everyone is doing these days. It can't say 70 years old on the label because that's not an approved category, so they name it Lot 70 or Glorious 50th Anniversary or CL and the true fans know what it is. Or even more blatantly, "60" or "100" with the quotes.

DR's L70 is the first and only time that I've seen my friend Vic give a Port 100 points. He liked it better than the 80-year old cask sample that we tried, and also better than the 1885. It's a very limited run of 200 bottles of which I have owned 10 (8 remain). IIRC Lisa and Vic bought 6 (4 remain).

Glenn E. wrote: ↑20:52 Thu 20 Aug 2020"Very Old Port" is relatively new allowance on labels to give producers somewhere to put their non-registered family reserves, et al. As I recall, Very Old Tawny Port is also allowed. They can technically be sold as either "Very Old" or as "40 Year Old" Port. DR's L70 is fabulous and allegedly roughly 70 years old, thus the "clever" naming that everyone is doing these days. It can't say 70 years old on the label because that's not an approved category, so they name it Lot 70 or Glorious 50th Anniversary or CL and the true fans know what it is. Or even more blatantly, "60" or "100" with the quotes.

This had escaped me. Thanks! These naming attempts aren’t always that successful since I’d assumed “L70” referred to 1970 rather than it being approximately 70 years’ old.

Looking forward to the first person to make a similar mistake with a bottle of the Fonseca Bin 27, too

Vinhos Borges declared their 2018 Borges Vintage Port (Source: Revista de Vinhos)

Quinta de la Rosa declared their 2018 Vintage Port as well (source: Quinta de la Rosa Facebook-page).

Thank you!

Please, as you see 2018 vintage Ports being advertised or announced continue to check whether they are on the list or not.

Quinta do Javali declared their Maria Luisa Vintage Port 2018 (source: website Quinta do Javali)

PCM wrote: ↑11:21 Wed 16 Sep 2020Quinta do Javali declared their Maria Luisa Vintage Port 2018 (source: website Quinta do Javali)

jdaw1 wrote: ↑21:04 Wed 16 Sep 2020 Quinta do Javali Vintage Maria Luísa 2018

The obvious abbreviation question has been asked.

Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo declared their 2018 Vintage Port, but very limited production: just 1350 bottles! ( source: Vinho Grandes Escolhas )

I hadn’t noticed before how declarations by smaller producers dribble out throughout the year. It seems to me that they are missing a bit of a trick here, publicity wise, since the wine press only really covers Port in April and at a Christmas. If it’s not possible to get the declarations out early for the smaller players, then I wonder if there is a bit of a gap in the market for a pre-harvest event when enough would be announced to get some coverage?

JacobH wrote:I hadn’t noticed before how declarations by smaller producers dribble out throughout the year. It seems to me that they are missing a bit of a trick here, publicity wise, since the wine press only really covers Port in April and at a Christmas. If it’s not possible to get the declarations out early for the smaller players, then I wonder if there is a bit of a gap in the market for a pre-harvest event when enough would be announced to get some coverage?

Not just small producers. Taylors isn’t releasing their 2018 to market until next year. Covid is slowing things down.

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑18:57 Thu 24 Sep 2020

JacobH wrote:I hadn’t noticed before how declarations by smaller producers dribble out throughout the year. It seems to me that they are missing a bit of a trick here, publicity wise, since the wine press only really covers Port in April and at a Christmas. If it’s not possible to get the declarations out early for the smaller players, then I wonder if there is a bit of a gap in the market for a pre-harvest event when enough would be announced to get some coverage?

Not just small producers. Taylors isn’t releasing their 2018 to market until next year. Covid is slowing things down.

Or maybe they are not aimed at the UK/US markets, so they have no need to worry about the traditional wine press or being drowned out by the Symingtons, TFP or other large producers.

I think you need to get rid of the 800 cases for Taylor, Alex. David just told me that they bottled 7.800 cases and the wine is a beauty (last part of the sentence was from me

Axel P wrote: ↑16:57 Thu 15 Oct 2020 I think you need to get rid of the 800 cases for Taylor, Alex. David just told me that they bottled 7.800 cases and the wine is a beauty (last part of the sentence was from me

Thanks; I've corrected the number of cases on the first page.

I'm glad you liked the Taylor, I was disappointed. Perhaps I had a poor bottle but I didn't think mine had a normal Taylor structure or balance.

I have tasted this amongst others which I thought should be medal candidates for the vintage and it really stuck out.

Perhaps it’s a matter of personal taste, but for me the Barros was the wine of the vintage, remarkable in its purity and elegance.

But it also seems that I need to revisit the Taylor, if the opportunity presents itself.

Quinta do Vale Meão declared their 2018 VP as confirmed by Luisa Olazabal to me in a chat!

PCM wrote: ↑16:49 Mon 19 Oct 2020 Quinta do Vale Meão declared their 2018 VP as confirmed by Luisa Olazabal to me in a chat!

Thank you, added to the list. Luisa didn't mention how many bottles they made, did she?

AHB wrote: ↑21:15 Mon 19 Oct 2020

PCM wrote: ↑16:49 Mon 19 Oct 2020 Quinta do Vale Meão declared their 2018 VP as confirmed by Luisa Olazabal to me in a chat!

Thank you, added to the list. Luisa didn't mention how many bottles they made, did she?

No, she didn't! She did say, that quantities were low, so they bottled only standard (0.75) bottles.

Quinta das Carvalhas (Real Companhia Velha) declared a 2018 Vintage Port, getting 95 points from Mark Squires!

Can't see that we've noted Pocas (sorry, no cedilla) as having declared.

Thanks Ian, now added.