Greetings
- JacobH
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
- Posts: 3300
- Joined: 16:37 Sat 03 May 2008
- Location: London, UK
- Contact:
Greetings
Hi everyone,
I stumbled across this forum when looking for some more sources of port Tasting Notes and thought I would join up. As an introduction, I’m another Londoner and currently doing some postgraduate study to try to make myself a bit more employable. Due to the lack of gainful employment, I mostly drink LBVs and younger (SQ)VPs. I’ve made a few efforts to start building up some sort of collection for ageing, but, unfortunately, the bottles never seem to survive very long!
As I only tend to buy single bottles, the biggest challenge is finding new sources of interesting ports, as most (even independent) wine merchants only seem to have a never-changing selection of four or five types.
-Jacob
I stumbled across this forum when looking for some more sources of port Tasting Notes and thought I would join up. As an introduction, I’m another Londoner and currently doing some postgraduate study to try to make myself a bit more employable. Due to the lack of gainful employment, I mostly drink LBVs and younger (SQ)VPs. I’ve made a few efforts to start building up some sort of collection for ageing, but, unfortunately, the bottles never seem to survive very long!
As I only tend to buy single bottles, the biggest challenge is finding new sources of interesting ports, as most (even independent) wine merchants only seem to have a never-changing selection of four or five types.
-Jacob
Re: Greetings
That's indeed a challenge. It takes a lot of Googling and even some traveling to find bottles by the different port houses.JacobH wrote:the biggest challenge is finding new sources of interesting ports, as most (even independent) wine merchants only seem to have a never-changing selection of four or five types.
I hope (and assume) it's easier in the UK than over here in The Netherlands though.
A hartly welcome, Jacob!
Frequently Ask Questions
- RonnieRoots
- Fonseca 1980
- Posts: 1981
- Joined: 08:28 Thu 21 Jun 2007
- Location: Middle Earth
Jacob,
Welcome from another new boy! I got introduced to TPF through a "friend of a friend" but it has helped feed what was already an interest with a lot more knowledge.
I also need to balance my enjoyment of Port with certain financial constraints and have been trying to find enjoyable Ports at the lower end of the scale for general consumption. Then I can save my money for the occasional treat!
What I have found is that some of the Supermarket's can provide good variation. I will leave you to assess the quality for yourself, but two I have tried recently and found to be perfectly drinkable everyday ports are:
These may not quite match the quality of some of the bigger brands of similar age but they will at least provide good benchmarks for the odd occasion I am lucky enough to try something more spectacular!
All 3 of these are reviewed in the "Tasting Notes" section which is well worth a read.
If you do try any of these, I would be interested to know what you think. I have yet to open the last one but the other two have served me well!
Welcome from another new boy! I got introduced to TPF through a "friend of a friend" but it has helped feed what was already an interest with a lot more knowledge.
I also need to balance my enjoyment of Port with certain financial constraints and have been trying to find enjoyable Ports at the lower end of the scale for general consumption. Then I can save my money for the occasional treat!
What I have found is that some of the Supermarket's can provide good variation. I will leave you to assess the quality for yourself, but two I have tried recently and found to be perfectly drinkable everyday ports are:
- Tesco 1994 Vintage Port (bottled by Symington family) @ £15.99
Gran Cruz 1989 VP from Morrisons @ £10.99
These may not quite match the quality of some of the bigger brands of similar age but they will at least provide good benchmarks for the odd occasion I am lucky enough to try something more spectacular!
All 3 of these are reviewed in the "Tasting Notes" section which is well worth a read.
If you do try any of these, I would be interested to know what you think. I have yet to open the last one but the other two have served me well!
Ben
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Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
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Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
- KillerB
- Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
- Posts: 2425
- Joined: 22:09 Wed 20 Jun 2007
- Location: Sky Blue City, England
Hello Jacob and welcome to the Port Forum.
Your penchant for SQVPs is admirable, I see them as being a fantastic level where you can enjoy high quality Port at a reasonable price. Another alternative is unfiltered LBV, the Noval that has already been mentioned is excellent as well as Warre. Look out for bargains, we will post them on here when we see them. Always buy as much as you can afford and then hide it somewhere cool and dark.
I have a distinct dislike for the Cruz, hated it first time and found it better but odd on a blind taste. I have a bottle of the Tesco VP which is Symingtons and should be pretty good, especially as 1994 is an early drinker.
Have fun here, Cheers,
Alex
Your penchant for SQVPs is admirable, I see them as being a fantastic level where you can enjoy high quality Port at a reasonable price. Another alternative is unfiltered LBV, the Noval that has already been mentioned is excellent as well as Warre. Look out for bargains, we will post them on here when we see them. Always buy as much as you can afford and then hide it somewhere cool and dark.
I have a distinct dislike for the Cruz, hated it first time and found it better but odd on a blind taste. I have a bottle of the Tesco VP which is Symingtons and should be pretty good, especially as 1994 is an early drinker.
Have fun here, Cheers,
Alex
Port is basically a red drink
- JacobH
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
- Posts: 3300
- Joined: 16:37 Sat 03 May 2008
- Location: London, UK
- Contact:
Thanks everyone for the replies and the warm welcome.
Ben; I had not idea that Tesco sold own-brand Port, especially VP, but I’ll have a look for it the next time I’m there. I’m a bit curious (there is some discussion of this in the TN thread) as to how it is made, as the Symington Family own at least half-a-dozen of the major shippers. I suppose the best way would be to do a horizontal taste-testing of it with the other 1994 Symington VPs for comparison
I’ve had a couple of bottles of the Quinta do Noval 2001 LBV but it never quite worked for me. I appreciate this puts me in a small minority (probably of one) as it’s had great reviews from other people…perhaps I’ll have to try it a third time at some stage.
I do keep a look-out in Tesco for when it sells the Dow 2001 LBV at half price (c.£5). Although it’s not the best of the 2001 LBVs, at £5 a bottle, I think it’s hard to go wrong!
Alex, I’m glad there’s another SQVP fan out there! I don’t think that I’ve ever been disappointed with the quality of one and they give the lower end VPs a good run for their money. On a more sentimental/romantic level, I also like the direct connection between the bottle and the Quinta which is a bit lost with blended Ports (I hope this makes sense!).
Ronnie and Derek; Thanks. I’ll keep an eye open for the next off-lines and certainty make an effort to come if at all possible.
-Jacob
Ben; I had not idea that Tesco sold own-brand Port, especially VP, but I’ll have a look for it the next time I’m there. I’m a bit curious (there is some discussion of this in the TN thread) as to how it is made, as the Symington Family own at least half-a-dozen of the major shippers. I suppose the best way would be to do a horizontal taste-testing of it with the other 1994 Symington VPs for comparison
I’ve had a couple of bottles of the Quinta do Noval 2001 LBV but it never quite worked for me. I appreciate this puts me in a small minority (probably of one) as it’s had great reviews from other people…perhaps I’ll have to try it a third time at some stage.
I do keep a look-out in Tesco for when it sells the Dow 2001 LBV at half price (c.£5). Although it’s not the best of the 2001 LBVs, at £5 a bottle, I think it’s hard to go wrong!
Alex, I’m glad there’s another SQVP fan out there! I don’t think that I’ve ever been disappointed with the quality of one and they give the lower end VPs a good run for their money. On a more sentimental/romantic level, I also like the direct connection between the bottle and the Quinta which is a bit lost with blended Ports (I hope this makes sense!).
Ronnie and Derek; Thanks. I’ll keep an eye open for the next off-lines and certainty make an effort to come if at all possible.
-Jacob
Interesting idea. Perhaps we could expand that and have a BOB Off-line with the own label VPs from all the major UK stores?JacobH wrote: I suppose the best way would be to do a horizontal taste-testing of it with the other 1994 Symington VPs for comparison
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- JacobH
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
- Posts: 3300
- Joined: 16:37 Sat 03 May 2008
- Location: London, UK
- Contact:
Hmmm…how many stores produce their own labelled VPs? Off the top of my head, I can only think of M&S, Fortnum’s, Harrod’s, BBR (who do quite a few different versions), apparently now Tesco’s. Lots of places have their own Rubies and Tawnies, presumably as those are they are a bit easier to sell.Derek T. wrote:Interesting idea. Perhaps we could expand that and have a BOB Off-line with the own label VPs from all the major UK stores?
-Jacob
- KillerB
- Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
- Posts: 2425
- Joined: 22:09 Wed 20 Jun 2007
- Location: Sky Blue City, England
Sainsbury's! Quinta do Crasto 1996, but they have got another in stock now.JacobH wrote:Hmmm…how many stores produce their own labelled VPs? Off the top of my head, I can only think of M&S, Fortnum’s, Harrod’s, BBR (who do quite a few different versions), apparently now Tesco’s. Lots of places have their own Rubies and Tawnies, presumably as those are they are a bit easier to sell.Derek T. wrote:Interesting idea. Perhaps we could expand that and have a BOB Off-line with the own label VPs from all the major UK stores?
-Jacob
Port is basically a red drink
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15009
- Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK