ThePortForum.com

rich_n

Excellent! I'll be arriving late afternoon on the 26th and have work calls I'll have to attend to on the 27th so how about drinks in the evening on the 27th or lunch on the 28th? I'll make the necessary arrangements for lunch on the 28th (the drunks have to be wrangled). If I can make it on the 27t...

rich_n

I have just booked a short city break in Porto for a few days at the end of January and was wondering if anyone else is likely to be in the city around that time - if you are please let me know! I might be, I'll wrangle up a few drunks and we can have lunch, if you're available. Just let me know wh...

rich_n

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑13:54 Mon 12 Jan 2026 Unfortunately, not me. But January is a nice time to visit, it's much quieter - but beware of short working days and venues closing early.

Good to know, thanks!

rich_n

I have just booked a short city break in Porto for a few days at the end of January and was wondering if anyone else is likely to be in the city around that time - if you are please let me know! I might be, I'll wrangle up a few drunks and we can have lunch, if you're available. Just let me know wh...

rich_n

I have just booked a short city break in Porto for a few days at the end of January and was wondering if anyone else is likely to be in the city around that time - if you are please let me know!

rich_n

Apologies for the slow response on this one - I cannot make the 9th and the 10th is now looking a little shaky. I didn't acquire any Fonseca pre-2000 that I can contribute so I would suggest that I might be dropped to the reserves in favour of someone who can definitely make it and contribute.

rich_n

Thanks all for the thoughts, I decided to grab a bottle and see if it suited my palate. I'll try to remember to report back when I've tried it.

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rich_n

I came across this in Lidl a couple of days ago and was interested to hear if anyone has tried it (or the same style from a different producer):

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rich_n

I really do want to attend one year, particularly as I have family near Koln who I would visit, but this year is not that year, with my studies I suspect it might have to wait for a few years.

rich_n

Pretty much here, unless I'm looking for VP scores en primeur. There are people with great connections and they will often share news here that's not generally mentioned online, since a lot of the wine sites seem to see port as a niche that's fine to just dip into from time to time.

rich_n

I'm going to have to drop out, hopefully there will be others who are keen.

rich_n

Port in January? Sounds ideal, please count me in.

rich_n

The Central London Wine Society (who hold their tastings at The Civil Service Club, just off Whitehall) are doing a 1994 horizontal for their Xmas Port Tasting this year. Tickets are £50. If you're interested, let me know & I'll forward contact info. I might be interested depending on the date.

rich_n

I was aiming for 7pm, I'll keep an eye on here to see if Neil is able to start the meeting sooner than 8.

rich_n

Yates Bros 1983 can also be added to the list. Is this still being maintained? It looks unlikely since the Dow 2013 I've just decanted for tonight isn't on there. I believe there is at least one Graham missing (also bottled 2013) and there are two relatively recent Churchill bottlings (2007 and 201...

rich_n

Looks fantastic! Will have to consider adding a visit in the future - looks like a very indulgent and fun day.

rich_n

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑14:33 Thu 18 Sep 2025
rich_n wrote: ↑11:47 Thu 18 Sep 2025 That is very tempting!
I know! But it’s already a very busy time of year in my diary…

That's the only reason I haven't already purchased a ticket...

rich_n

That is very tempting!

rich_n

Welcome! Good to see another port fan from a similar vintage to myself! I suspect we live in the shadow of 1983... but still a good year for port and exceptional to Bordeaux. :) I'm 1981 which is a year that lives in infamy as far as vintage port is concerned! (Although I had a Kopke 1981 Colheita ...

rich_n

Welcome! Good to see another port fan from a similar vintage to myself!

rich_n

I won't be in the area in October, but which lodges have you not visited yet? Maybe we can help with suggestions of which ones to go to. I'm also trying a black glass blind tasting at the Quevedo tasting room on my next trip - that might be a bit of fun! Hi Alex, Might visit Quevedo then, someone w...

rich_n

winesecretary wrote: ↑17:16 Sun 07 Sep 2025 I was wondering whether his glass got switched.

Quite possibly - I noted the note below also didn't align with the rest of the tasting notes (but does align much better with these...):

2017 Maynard Organic

rich_n

Tasted blind. Very deep red; opaque. Big nose of sour fruit. Dense fruit on the palate, tasting slightly baked. Lots of tannins and purple fruit with a touch of high tones, the tannins being very firm. Baked fruit and brioche on the nice finish. Good length. 87-89/100. When revealed this must surel...

rich_n

Hi Martin - and many thanks for your reply. I did ask BBR about BBX auction and they told me that they only auction items from bonded storage and as these bottles are duty paid no can do. They did offer buy-back at £46 / bot but this seems too low for me so I am therefore looking into a private sal...

rich_n

...except for a valuation on a late 00s Taylor VV, which it values at £300+ for 6 bottles! I'd buy that! '00s VVV is typically $200 per bottle here in the US. Not sure it's worth that (for me) in London, though, because I then have to get it to WA which adds significantly. Is that at retail? Or wha...

rich_n

Any guesses on how they're finding market valuations? From Seckford's site, Market Price Guide If available, this guide valuation shows the best listed price for a wine in the secondary market. To calculate it, Liv-ex, a global trade fine wine exchange, look at list prices from a large group of tru...

rich_n

Any guesses on how they're finding market valuations? Could be using a data service from someone like wine-searcher: https://www.wine-searcher.com/trade Possibly, but then that would surely need to be adjusted since Seckford is not just a straight retailer and my assumption is that Wine Searcher ar...

rich_n

I'm aware that a fair few of the regular posters on here either have a Seckfords account or have purchased wine from them. I recently noticed that they added a market valuation function to their site for reserves held in account. Has anyone else seen this and if so, how accurate do you think it seem...

rich_n

I'd be keen to take a couple if anyone wants fewer than 6 and is available in London to sort out collection (and then for me to collect from them when I'm in London). No problem if this doesn't work out but this is a delicious wine and I'd like to have a couple more bottles of it for near-future dr...

rich_n

I'd be keen to take a couple if anyone wants fewer than 6 and is available in London to sort out collection (and then for me to collect from them when I'm in London). No problem if this doesn't work out but this is a delicious wine and I'd like to have a couple more bottles of it for near-future dri...

rich_n

You have some very lucky friends! I hope one day to be able to do similar tastings for some of my closest amigos.

rich_n

Unfortunately I’m going to have to drop out of this tasting due to diary congestion. There is a tiny chance that I’ll be able to make it at the last minute, but I’ll have to take my chances on there being a seat available. :-( Alex - I've placed you on the reserve list - Richard your in .... And ba...

rich_n

winesecretary wrote: ↑11:33 Thu 21 Aug 2025 @rich_n - on the list

Many thanks.

rich_n

Waitrose are running their "buy 6 bottles and get 25% off" sale again until Tuesday 26th August. This is when I restock on Kopke 10YO White and maybe buy an extra bottle or two of Warre 2011 LBV. Pocas 2016 available too, and at a price that ends up being under £25 a bottle. Very tempting...

rich_n

Please can you put me down for a half dozen of the regular oil.

rich_n

I can now attend, please add me and I'm happy to adopt as preferred.

rich_n

Light orange fading to fully translucent at the rim. Not a big nose, faint orange blossom. Velvety entry, almost treacle in it's weight but not nearly as sweet as I had expected from this wine. Its certainly not dry but it's got a way to go to get to PX levels of saccharine. The entry carries honeye...

rich_n

Tasted at the Quevedo location in central Vila Nova de Gaia, which is a lovely space to drink in and well worth a visit for anyone nosing around that part of the city.

Very easy drinking. Fruit, caramel and orange notes. Not an overly complex wine but extremely drinkable. V good.

rich_n

Tasted at the Churchill lodge in Gaia, at the end of a not significant amount of port tasting (including 5 wines at the Graham lodge). My note is unsurprisingly short, and reads: It's not complicated. It's delicious. If you like an aged white you should be drinking this. I bought some to bring back ...

rich_n

Tasted at the Churchill lodge in Gaia. Brick red, opaque to near the rim. Very vegetal on the nose, lots of herbs and maybe spinach and courgette (as crazy as that sounds). A little acidity. Maybe even meaty?! Glorious on the palate. So amazingly balanced - muted red fruits and marmite. Redcurrants ...

rich_n

Tasted at the Churchill lodge in Gaia. Maroon red to brick red at the rim, very opaque. Light red fruits on the nose. A touch of minerality and a herbal note. Maybe honeycomb and a little orange? Fairly muted. Lush entry on the palate. Dominated by red fruits and a caramel and milk chocolate orange ...

rich_n

Tasted at the Churchill lodge in Gaia, alongside the 2007 bottling. Purple to brick red on the rim, opaque. Nose is fairly dumb, mostly mineral. Not overly inviting. The palate is an entirely different story! Lush candied strawberries on the entry flooding the senses with caramel and vanilla - these...

rich_n

Tasted at the Churchill lodge in Gaia, alongside the 2012 bottling. Red brick, opaque to the rim. Redcurrants, strawberries and a little cranberry on the nose. Some acidity cutting through the sweetness. An elegant entry to the palate with red and black cherries leading the way, followed by a raspbe...

rich_n

Tasted at the Graham's Lodge.

Very opaque purple.

Nose is heavily blackcurrants - Ribena!

Much more on the palate - a blackcurrant and strawberry compote. Maybe some blueberry. Caramel and milk chocolate. Gentle tannins and some minerality (and maybe a little salinity). V good.

rich_n

Tasted at the Graham's Lodge Fascinating colour! Gold and green on the rim. Nuts and citrus on the nose. Maybe some butterscotch and a little Tonka bean. On the palate it leads with the citrus acidity and butterscotch. Then walnuts and almonds, along with caramel. Tonka beans and almost a slight mea...

rich_n

Tasted at the Graham's Lodge as part of their Super Premium tasting package. Totally opaque purple, opaque almost to the rim. Fairly muted nose. Maybe a touch of cherry. A little mineral. Lovely elegant entry with a load of black cherries and milk chocolate. A touch of caramel sweetness. Surprisingl...

rich_n

Tasted at the Graham's Lodge as part of their Super Premium tasting package. Mostly opaque, maroon but fading brick red to the rim. Cherries on the nose, but with a note I'm struggling to place. Found it later - it's a citrus orange note. Big sweet black cherries, followed by strawberries and milk c...

rich_n

Tasted at the Graham's Lodge as part of their Super Premium tasting package. Brick red, fades to edges with a touch of green on the rim. Beautiful nose, red fruits dominated by strawberries and sweet red cherries. A slight herbaceous note. Stunning entry - sweet red fruits with strawberries and cara...

rich_n

Tasted at Bonfim in the Douro thanks to Alex Bridgeman! Mostly opaque starting to go brick red. Muted nose, a little red fruit and some minerality. Lush on the palate red cherries with an immediate tannic grip and eucalyptus note. Rich caramel in the mid palate. Maybe touch of mint on the finish? De...

rich_n

Tasted at the Factory House thanks to a very fortunate set of circumstances and a very generous offer from Alex Bridgeman. Brick red in colour, fading to almost transparent at the rim with a touch of green. Butterscotch, almonds, and a little red fruit tartness on the nose. On the palate this is a d...

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