Lockdown Drinking

Anything to do with Port.
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nac
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Lockdown Drinking

Post by nac »

As a follow-up to a similar theme at Christmas, thought it might be nice to encourage a bit of vinous conversation amongst the TPF family.

So, during these days (and nights) of being forced to stay at home, what interesting wines are we imbibing from our racks, cabinets and cellars?

To kick things off, over the last couple of weeks Mrs NAC and I and have sampled:
- Coudelet de Beaucastel 2010
- Two Hands “Deer In Headlights” Barossa Valley Shiraz 2007
- Finca Villacreces 2006
- Contino Reserva 2005
- Cranford “John Zilm” Barossa Valley Shiraz 2004
- and a 1/2 of Chateau Beaumont 2011

With dinner this evening (as we’re having salmon and it’s Friday), Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne 2004.

Over to you...
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

This evening we opened a bottle of Denbie's Cellarmaster's Choice Whitedown Brut NV (bottle fermented) that we were given at Christmas. It was OK, but not something I plan to purchase more of. In the week before lockdown and the week just finished we also opened bottles of Altano Branco 2017 (lovely light drinking), Poeira 2008 (trying to be a bit too serious) and LAN Gran Reserva 2010 (the star of our drinking so far) - plus I got to finish off the remnants of my Vesuvio 1994 this evening.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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SushiNorth
Martinez 1985
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by SushiNorth »

Quinta Eira Velha 1994 VP, which was lovely at +0, got a bit harsh shortly there after and didnt stand up to the meal, but later in the week (fridge time) rounded out quite nicely tho it lost any subtlety.

It lasted a week, at a glass or two a night, from small bottles in the fridge. Tomorrow is a new week, and a new port.
JoshDrinksPort
Image Port wine should perhaps be added -- A Trollope
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

Being drunk in stages over the next few days...

- Hautes Cotes de Beaune 2012, Maison Belle Lies
- Warre 1979 LBV (unfiltered) (Bottled 1984)

Already consumed over the past week...

- Chateau Musar 2011, half
- T83

There were some really fine wines flowing over my tonsils in the 14 day period before that... none drunk alone, however, and largely less elevated stuff will now be coming out for a while.

- Meursault 1er Cru Les Cras 2009, Domaine Vincent Latour-Labille [a rare red Meursault]
- T63
- Corton-Renardes Grand Cru 2008 Domaine Parent
- Chateau Ausone 1966 - an absolutely astonishing bottle of St-Emilion, the best I have ever drunk
- 2011 Chablis 1er Cru Montmains, La Maison Romane
- T70
- Vosne-Romanee 2010, Domaine Audiffred
- Puligny Montrachet Tremblots 2014, Domaine Joly

… and a duff bottle of Dow 1985, too 'hot' to drink.
Constandia
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by Constandia »

Nice thread :) this week we finished off a delicious 2014 Atlante Italian Cab.Franc from Umbria, a 2011 chateau laffitte laujac (medoc), a dolcetto d'alba Burlotto, a ferrari blanc de blancs from Trentodoc to celebrate my house mate's getting the keys to his newly bought house. Planning to have a taster of a tokaji szamorodni Amethyst my bestie Ben brought from Hungary. We are not drinking much honestly.. Oh not to forget a 20 y.o. tawny (Kopke this time) that alongside a 10 y.o madeira (Blandy's this time) are always open, ready to pour at any time in our household.
Glenn E.
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by Glenn E. »

My wife gives up alcohol for Lent, so there has been no wine consumed in the house so far during the lockdown.

I'm just finishing up an S. Leonardo 40 Year Old Tawny Port and have started pondering what to open next. I think it will be a VP, and probably an older one, but I haven't figured out which one yet. I'll have to check my inventory and see which 1970 I have the most of - Fonseca, Graham, or Taylor.
Last edited by Glenn E. on 20:16 Tue 31 Mar 2020, edited 1 time in total.
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flash_uk
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by flash_uk »

winesecretary wrote: 10:33 Sun 29 Mar 2020 Being drunk in stages over the next few days...
When I read this first line, I thought you were advising us about the state you expected to be in :lol:
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I'm trying not to drink alcohol today or tomorrow, but have run out of non-alcoholic drinks I want to drink. Off to the shops assuming I can dodge the Derbyshire police road blocks and name-and-shame drones.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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uncle tom
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by uncle tom »

My little bit of home grown software for choosing my next bottle of VP (some 1800 lines of Excel VBA) has decided my bottle for tonight should be a T92

Checking my records I see I last opened one of these at home on April 23 2008 - my note read: Way too young and immature, come back in 2020..

..so I have!
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
Andy Velebil
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by Andy Velebil »

uncle tom wrote: 16:16 Thu 02 Apr 2020 My little bit of home grown software for choosing my next bottle of VP (some 1800 lines of Excel VBA) has decided my bottle for tonight should be a T92

Checking my records I see I last opened one of these at home on April 23 2008 - my note read: Way too young and immature, come back in 2020..

..so I have!
Don't hear much about this vintage. Do look forward to hearing how it is now showing.
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I rate T92 as an outstanding Port - it really is impressive; deep, dark and full of structure. I wish I had more but can't justify spending that sort of money on a bottle.

My Lockdown Drinking for the last couple of days has been two bottles of alcohol free wine, a bottle of Altano Branco 2017 and a bottle of Gould Campbell 1977 (that wasn't TCA contaminated and was absolutely delicious).
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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uncle tom
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by uncle tom »

I rate T92 as an outstanding Port
Sadly I don't concur. It looks massive and dark in the glass, but on day 1 it was desperately hollow and bereft of complexity, and then on Day 2 a little better, but still disappointing.

There is something about it that makes me wonder if this is a single varietal - 100% Touriga Nacional perhaps? It's shallow nature reminds me of varietal table wines.

Still has some way to go, but to my mind seriously overrated. Scored 5-7
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
TLW
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by TLW »

2000 Taylor, a very pleasant drink shared over the last couple of days with wife and daughter. I realize it is too young, but Armageddon rules apply.
winesecretary
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

A glossy Chambolle-Musigny 2014, Domaine Odoul-Coquard, all blackcurrant and chocolate, was my reward for one of the longest working weeks of my life (everything that needs any discussion seems to take much longer by email/phone/videoconference compared to popping round to someone's desk for two minutes). Some Niepoort 2000 is in the decanter. More fruit and power and weight than the Secundum, but with the same freshness that I think is rooted in the slightly higher acidity than its peers. Young, but very promising.
winesecretary
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

Tom - without wishing to commit lese-majeste - are you sure your bottle of T92 was right? I have a strong [sufficiently strong to be slightly irrational] anti-Parker prejudice, but I've had T92 twice in the last eight months, and been wowed by it. 'Hollow' is not a word I would have used to describe it.
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uncle tom
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by uncle tom »

winesecretary wrote: 21:59 Sat 04 Apr 2020 Tom - without wishing to commit lese-majeste - are you sure your bottle of T92 was right? I have a strong [sufficiently strong to be slightly irrational] anti-Parker prejudice, but I've had T92 twice in the last eight months, and been wowed by it. 'Hollow' is not a word I would have used to describe it.
From a case I've owned since 2006 and in good order, so no issues there.

On Day 3 (last night) it was showing very closed. That a decanter has survived three evenings in my care (and with 25% still remaining) speaks volumes by itself..

This is still too young a wine for a final verdict I think - one to re-visit when it turns 40 in twelve years time.
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
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nac
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by nac »

TLW wrote: 14:04 Sat 04 Apr 2020 2000 Taylor, a very pleasant drink shared over the last couple of days with wife and daughter. I realize it is too young, but Armageddon rules apply.
Four of us shared a bottle of T2000 at the last tasting pre Zombie Apocalypse. It was drinking extremely well and was a clear WOTN, but still very young.
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nac
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by nac »

Vinous highlights this week:

- Jaboulet Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 2006
- Passopisciaro 2012
- Le Difese 2015 (this is the junior sibling of Sassicaia - after Guidalberto)
- Sarrazine, Clos de Cazaux Gigondas 2004
- Equipo Navazos, La Bota de Fino Jerez No.54 (June 2014)
- and a half finished Barou Viognier 2009 in the 'fridge (which I'm intending to kill off in the garden later this afternoon)

For the reds, all showing well, but the Passopisciaro was particularly good. However, stand-out wine was the Fino. Incredibly powerful, rich and long, and demanding to be drunk with food. Definitely not an aperitif Fino.
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Last night’s lockdown drinking consisted of several Graham Blend No.5 White Port with tonic (and ice and mint), followed by a bottle of Coates & Seely Brut NV.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Andy Velebil
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by Andy Velebil »

Lets see;
1997 Crasto VP (horrible)
1977 Delaforce VP (very nice, very mature)
2- 20 Yr Ramos Pinto (bottled 2004, but still hanging in there, drink up)
2005 Niepoort Colheita (young and nice)
2003 Quinta do Crasto Vinha Maria Teresa Douro wine (WOw!)
1995 Fonseca G. (always good)
2017 Post Scruptum (excellent QPR)
Beer, Gin and Tonic, Old Fashion and some other things...
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SushiNorth
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by SushiNorth »

Eager to try something younger, i opened a warres 2000 on sunday. It remains quite a nice port, plenty of earthy complexity, chocolate and tannins. A bit of pine tar in the flavor profile strikes a discordant note. This did not stop me from having four glasses of it this evening, however.
JoshDrinksPort
Image Port wine should perhaps be added -- A Trollope
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nac
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by nac »

Since last update have sampled:

- Fonseca Panascal 1999 (at the virtual tasting)
- Dujac Chambolle-Musigny 2009 & 2010 (at 67 Pall Mall virtual tasting with Jasper Morris MW)
- Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas 2005
- Russian Jack Sauvignon Blanc 2018
- Whispering Angel 2018
- La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 2005
- and finished off a Taylor's 325th Anniversary Reserve Tawny that's been open (but Vac-u-Vin-ed) for a while
winesecretary
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

- Croft Roeda 1980 (at the virtual tasting)
- TV 1995 (en demi)
- Mons Helios 2009, Domaine Florent Garaudet, Monthelie
- Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero 1996
- Quinta de la Rosa 1991 (in decanter, and very pleasant)
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

In the last week or so I've enjoyed a bottle of Coates & Seely La Perfide 2009 Rosé, a bottle of Penfold's Bin 707 1996 and compared that against a bottle of Penfold's Bin 707 1997 - a very interesting comparison. Both were fabulous but the 1996 was richer, sweeter and more rounded while the 1997 was a little more austere and had a much bigger tannic structure. The 1996 was a lovely wine to sip while sitting in the garden as the sun went down and the 1997 was a brilliant accompaniment for the roast lamb on Easter Sunday.

And, of course, there has been some Port. Currently I have a bottle of Fonseca 1985 in the decanter.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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Doggett
Morgan 1991
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Re: Lockdown Drinking

Post by Doggett »

AHB wrote: 12:28 Tue 14 Apr 2020 In the last week a bottle of Penfold's Bin 707 1996 and compared that against a bottle of Penfold's Bin 707 1997 - a very interesting comparison. Both were fabulous but the 1996 was richer, sweeter and more rounded while the 1997 was a little more austere and had a much bigger tannic structure. The 1996 was a lovely wine to sip while sitting in the garden as the sun went down and the 1997 was a brilliant accompaniment for the roast lamb on Easter Sunday.
I have been saving a 1996 707 Since release having drunk the other five very early (doh!) Would you say it is for drinking now or wait a bit longer? It has a 96 Grange alongside it which may or may not accompany it as a point of comparison.
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