Search found 49 matches

by VJR
22:22 Sat 15 Jan 2011
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Fonseca 85 or Taylors VVV 00
Replies: 9
Views: 5564

Re: Fonseca 85 or Taylors VVV 00

I remain skeptical of the 'superpremium' initiative from Taylors - this is no Nacional vineyard.
at maturity, I even doubt the VVV will ever be superior to the normal vintage...
I'd go for Fonseca 1985 - tried and proven... and great.
Cheers, Victor
by VJR
16:36 Mon 02 Aug 2010
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Sandeman Vertical
Replies: 65
Views: 35605

Re: Sandeman Vertical

Axel,
I'll bring the '58 and the '75.
Best, Victor
by VJR
11:49 Mon 02 Aug 2010
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Sandeman vertical
Replies: 21
Views: 7854

Re: Sandeman vertical

Axel,
Look forward to this tasting. When the exact date firms up, please let me know.
Best, Victor
by VJR
11:40 Mon 02 Aug 2010
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting
Replies: 77
Views: 37868

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

This would have been of great interest; unfortunately I cannot make Oct. 12th.
Have fun - look forward to the TNs.
Best, Victor
by VJR
22:05 Tue 04 May 2010
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1963 Croft
Replies: 0
Views: 2304

1963 Croft

Opened a '63 Croft on Mayday. Top shoulder. Radiant tawny colour. Aromatics of molasses, prunes and strawberries. Perfect texture, alcohol well-integrated. Bottle was in very good condition. Long and persistent. Superb rendition - 94 points.
Best, Victor
by VJR
21:55 Tue 04 May 2010
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Comparing the bottlers
Replies: 12
Views: 7199

Re: Comparing the bottlers

Interesting suggestion - Agree provenance needs to be impeccable to render useful results.
I have pristine F70 A+N and John Harvey bottlings and T63 Grants of St. James.
When is this scheduled for?
Best, Victor
by VJR
21:47 Tue 04 May 2010
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 1980 Horizontal - Leverkusen, 2nd of March 2012
Replies: 48
Views: 31822

Re: 1980 Horizontal - Leverkusen, early spring 2012

Wolfgang - great initiative with a vintage that deserves more attention - please put me down.
VJR
by VJR
23:19 Tue 16 Feb 2010
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2007 Niepoort
Replies: 2
Views: 3041

Re: 2007 Niepoort Vintage Port

Tannin management pushed to perfection. Not sure this should be the objective though. OK, it's a good achievement but not in the same league of my faves of 2007 Taylors, Noval, Grahams, Fonseca (in that order). Extremely "modern", a touch drier, velvety texture, hugely opulent with layers ...
by VJR
22:54 Mon 15 Feb 2010
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1997 Niepoort
Replies: 3
Views: 5025

Re: 1997 Niepoort Vintage Port (progress report)

Cracked a half bottle from my little stash - the first one in a decade - out of pure curiosity after ongoing reports about VA problems in this release (as Niepoort fans will be aware). As pointed out by Dirk van der Niepoort, apparently tell-tale signs of affected bottles are cork leakage. I don't s...
by VJR
11:01 Mon 15 Feb 2010
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2007 Quevedo
Replies: 2
Views: 2991

Re: 2007 Quevedo vintage port

For me the 2007 VP was one of the most exciting newcomer highlights at Axel's 2007 Vintage Presentation last Friday. Not only is Oscar Quevedo an obviously very talented winemaker but with his open and immediately likeable nature, he is likely to make many new friends that will follow his ventures w...
by VJR
10:19 Mon 15 Feb 2010
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional
Replies: 0
Views: 2376

1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional

An opportunity to drink Noval Nacional is always ultra special - yesterday was my first encounter with the legendary 1963. The bottle was opened, decanted and then refilled into bottle some 2-3 hours prior to tasting. Radiant, translucent ruby colour, vibrantly healthy-looking at the centre, verging...
by VJR
16:48 Sun 14 Feb 2010
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 2007 Vintage Port Tasting in Germany
Replies: 25
Views: 9977

Re: 2007 Vintage Port Tasting in Germany

Congratulations on what for Germany was a truly groundbreaking port event, Axel.
The response was terrific and I'm sure that the multiplier effect will ensure an even broader reception next time
- keep up the great work!
Cheers, Victor
by VJR
22:36 Wed 27 Jan 2010
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria
Replies: 25
Views: 29847

Re: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria

Glenn, Look forward to meeting you someday!
Best, Victor
by VJR
22:31 Fri 22 Jan 2010
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria
Replies: 25
Views: 29847

Re: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria

OK, let's do this. How about a little contest - winner takes the rest of the mags... no difficulty guessing my position. 88) Afraid, I never buy mags - have enough trouble finishing off singles. Actually from vintage 1997 on, I have started purchasing halves, which for home use do the trick rather n...
by VJR
10:02 Tue 19 Jan 2010
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria
Replies: 25
Views: 29847

Re: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria

LOL - not known to jump queues - but the suspense probably won't kill me. Coffee Filter - OMG. Let's try that with a White Burgundy, shall we? Meanwhile I better do something useful and get those tastebuds into synch :tpf:

:wink:
by VJR
23:29 Mon 18 Jan 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The 1000 finest wines ever made
Replies: 72
Views: 18001

Re: The 1000 finest wines ever made

Guess what my sister gave me for Xmas... :oops:
by VJR
23:23 Mon 18 Jan 2010
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria
Replies: 25
Views: 29847

Re: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria

Theoretically the result might vary among tasters and their experience (as well as their sensory faculties after a few flights!). Purely on a visual plane, the radiant brilliance of a well-rested and decanted bottle is part of the excitement. Compare that to the opaque, murky colour of whirled-up se...
by VJR
09:12 Sun 17 Jan 2010
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria
Replies: 25
Views: 29847

Re: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria

Yep, the guy that removed a good many of the corks and did the decanting with WS1. whilst there was a discussion about the merits of handling mature VP (bring & filter thru' muslin/odorless cloth as opposed to rest & decant with care) in the background. BTW I'm 100% in the latter camp. :!: B...
by VJR
10:00 Wed 13 Jan 2010
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria
Replies: 25
Views: 29847

Re: Bio and Season's Greetings from Bavaria

Thanks Julian, Hopefully there'll be a chance for that again soon - I think we met briefly at last year's '70 Horizontal in the RAF Club. Amazing tasting!
Best, Victor
by VJR
09:46 Wed 13 Jan 2010
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Sat 16th October 2010: bring a bottle
Replies: 6
Views: 4220

Re: Sat 16th October 2010: bring a bottle

Please put me down for these too - cannot guarantee at this stage whether I'll be in London on those dates, but it should be doable.
Look forward to meeting you Roy - at last.
Best, Victor
by VJR
09:37 Wed 13 Jan 2010
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 2007 Vintage Port Tasting in Germany
Replies: 25
Views: 9977

Re: 2007 Vintage Port Tasting in Germany

The only thing troubling me is that I might be more enthusiastic about 2007 than what is good for me and my cellar. Particularly the Noval based on what I've heard and read. But I don't stand much of a chance to drink any of it in its optimum drinking window anyway - and my 2 kids don't like port (y...
by VJR
23:03 Tue 12 Jan 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Noval 97
Replies: 6
Views: 3457

Re: Noval 97

To my mind the most profound port produced at Noval since their 31. Couldn't resist buying multiple cases, since most dealers were just sitting on their stocks (prior to the Parker rating that is). Alas, still decades away from approaching maturity.
Cheers, Victor
by VJR
17:50 Mon 14 Dec 2009
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2005 Niepoort
Replies: 3
Views: 3512

Re: 2005 Niepoort Vintage Port

Tannin management pushed to perfection. Not sure this should be the objective though. Extremely "modern", velvety texture, hugely opulent with layers of fruit. Ample complexity and good length, but will this have the brute staying power to become truly ageworthy port? :roll: Cheers, victor
by VJR
17:21 Mon 14 Dec 2009
Forum: Reviews
Topic: Niepoort Vertical Germany Nov 27th
Replies: 5
Views: 3488

Re: Niepoort Vertical Germany Nov 27th

A memorable and instructive tasting with Dirk v/d N., who was rather less chirpy than at previous tastings, but who gave very many interesting insights. The vintage highlights? Behind the '70 (dumpy bottling), the stars of the vertical IMO were, the 87, the 91, the 63 and the 78. And of course - the...
by VJR
15:03 Mon 14 Dec 2009
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1863 Niepoort Colheita (bottled 2003)
Replies: 2
Views: 4095

Re: 1863 Niepoort Colheita

This wine is remarkable in any context, but when one recalls that it has spent well over a century before being bottled, it boggles your mind. The colour is radiant tawny-bernstein and its aromas soar from the glass in an explosion of minty-molasses, cherries, orange zest, raisins, leather and butte...