ThePortForum.com

I would not buy that bottle of 2000. If you are just starting out, stick with aged tawny and LBV. LBV is close enough to vintage to get your feet wet. Your investment dollars should go to proper port glasses and a decanter. Have you considered buy port online? In and of itself, I don't think half bo...

Ask RWC who their vendors are in NJ

jdaw1 wrote:Alex’s replies are all very fair except that I’m not at all fond of Taylor 1975. Your mileage might vary.

Everything else is pretty good.

Tawny ends the night in my opinion unless Madeira is being served. Well, if a vintage port is older than the tawny or colheita, I would have to have them side by side. Tawny or colheita shold more oxidized and acidic.

I like Colheita and Tawny on the cooler side, it brings out the acidity more. Think of it as this, the port will warm up no matter what, but it won't cool down unless you put it somewhere cold.

AHB wrote:Personal preference speaking here, but I would decant a colheita 4-6 hours before drinking and serve it slightly chilled - pop the decanter into the fridge for half an hour before drinking.

Sounds about right to me.

How many people are attending and what is the "per head" cost you'd like keep it at. I'd go with one house like Graham, Dow, or Taylor; picking basic bottles of each style, with one 20+ old VP, basic, 10 and 20 year tawny, basic ruby, and current LBV. The current LBV vs. older VP will be c...

There's no shortage of good port wine stores in person or online in NY-NJ area. Shouldn't be hard to find convincing deals.

I've had '63 Cockburn many times. Some bottles are close to the big boys, others are just nothing special, but they "tend" to be priced well. I'd put '63 Cockburn on the level of '63 Croft; glad to drink it any day, but it's hardly Fonseca, Dow, or Graham. Would give even Sandeman a slight...

Sure, why not?

Elys and I should be able to attend if it is on a Saturday in NYC. Pretty light on Grahams, have '63, '70, and '94.

If you are ever in Boston and want to do a port tasting, let me know. If you have family in Fall River or New Bedford who may be interested in one, I can travel!

I've been close to working with a producer to bring something over special, but it would follow the 3 tier process all the way to my local B&M. Nothing ever materialized because I did not push the topic, but I think if you know a producer and everyone is getting their cut, it shouldn't be an iss...

Would like to see the list before considering going.

I recently had a stunning '63 Dow that still had 20+ years to it, easily. Bottle was shared with SeanC and we both gave it around 97 points which is much higher than I expected. Bottle had great color, and was from a cellar that was not very humid. I would be in no rush to drink, but 50 years stored...

I don't like the stand over style tongs as much, but I know others feel the opposite. For me, the stand over style assume the bottle is dinner table height and I usually tong bottle on my kitchen counter. Secondly, it is much easier to touch the wax (which you don't want to do) withe stand over styl...

How about post some pictures? If one bottle is a tawny and that old, very slim chance it will drink like anything you'd want to try again.

Highest rated ports I have had without thinking too much:

1908 Grahams
1931 Noval
1945 Croft
1948 Taylor
1952 Delaforce Colheita
1970 Niepoort

None were scored "100", but probably should've been.

Portal's olive oil is just out of this world.

1985 Dow is far from being ready to drink IMO...


What Symington vintages have been recorked by them are available?

I had a stunning Dow and Graham 1963 a few weeks ago. Both SeanC and I rated the Dow 97ish points. One of the best Dow's I have ever had and have had this vintage many times. Could not think of one thing wrong with either bottle.

The largest bottles in my collection are 3L's of 77 Taylor. The largest bottle I know about of a recent vintage is 9L from 2007.

RAYC wrote:But for some reason i have in my mind that Derek and Julian are among the least convinced of the merits of old Sandeman VP.

Really? Old Sandeman rocks. The went downhill quick after 1980 and emerged came back 1994. Similar story with Croft.

I'll take one too if this applies to USA

Had saffron and indian spiced bread pudding with 1980 Gould Campbell VP; great combo.