ThePortForum.com

Hi all, My wife and I are planning a trip this summer to the Douro, including a day in Regua and a few days in Pinhao. We're looking to do a bit of quinta-hopping while we are there, but we won't have a car. In your experience, are taxis readily available, either standing in ranks or by phone? Shoul...

This paper provides a bit of a broader view of the development of the port trade from the economic perspective: https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/247044

Very interesting read, thank you for sharing!

We are not going to write the app ourselves, but will contract a professional SW company, that have the skills to do these kind of jobs, hence why we are running a crowdfunding campaign. If you are hiring outsiders to code the app, what are Soren and your roles in the project that require "str...

This seems like an intriguing app, and one that I would probably use! A few initial thoughts: What will distinguish your app's features from other more robust and established options, except for the focus solely on port wines? An encyclopedia of all port wines would in some ways be unique (at least ...

Out of curiosity, is there a way other than seepage to determine original release versus late release of the T77? I've seen a few for sale at auction online but never noticed a difference in labeling... The Symingtons usually apply labels in the current format, resulting in quite a few styles for s...

Grahams 85 Warre LBV 84 Taylor TF 86 Taylor 70 couple of Taylor 80 a few Serafim Cabrals 1970 (couple of bottles to be kept for 70 tasting) Case of Taylor 77 If the T77 is a late released stash, they will be re-corked and fine, but if it's an original release case, expect seepage - usually evidence...

Where do you find decanters and labels for sale in the US other than online? Pre-pandemic: Flea markets, but usually the vendor knew the value. Church vintage shops, Salvation Army, etc, where folks are just thinking "what, this old thing?" -- these have resulted in great finds. Garage sa...

I didn't realize that decanter and wine label collecting was a thing, but now I sense a potential new hobby for me.... I too have too many decanters, but sometimes I run into one that is just too interesting to pass up. Of particular fun is when their look-alike shows up in a TV show as part of an a...

- I have no idea whether the demijohn shape matters; I suspect other large formats could be used similarly According to Dirk Niepoort's discussion in the "A Year in Port" documentary when Martine Saunier tries a garrafeira straight from the demijohn, the size and shape of the demijohns an...

The Garrafeira Nacional link is instructional, as they are not known for having low prices. In fact quite the opposite, and they have it listed at 590 EUR. So while I have no opinion on the quality or value of this particular Port, if I wanted to buy a bottle I'd just get it from GN and at least ha...

A very interesting bottle, best of luck with the sale! As a question to those here that know much more than I do: I've seen some old bottles labelled "vinho velho do porto" before, and I'm never sure if it is truly a port from the Douro, port-style fortified wine from the surrounding area,...

I would be interested to know where Quevedo found enough glass demijohns to produce enough garrafeira, or if they commissioned new bottles at some point. I remember reading somewhere that Niepoort's demijohns were all very old (some 100+) and that no one was making the bottles anymore. That might me...

I had some experience of formals at Univ when I was occasionally invited to attend dinners in the years 2012-15. The top table would have a decanter of Port served, which I believed to have been vintage, but it was often left unfinished. Students (and their guests) who chose to attend were offered ...

I presume the final category is unlikely, although I imagine that some purchasers of this type of Port are shifting quite large quantities (e.g. some of the traditional regiments; the big Oxbridge Colleges; and the West End Clubs) and so could probably have a one produced if they wanted one. I'm no...

I have seen, heard, and read various references to English or British style versus Portuguese style ports. Does anyone have a succinct explanation of the differences? Does it always break down by producer, or will a producer create wines of both styles? Is there a list breakdown somewhere of what pr...

Serious suggestion: consider buying your daily drinkers as half bottles. Most good Ruby Port and tawny Port and very many LBVs are available in that format. Bin27, for example, in a half bottle will last a week if kept in the fridge once opened. The other trick I used to do was, when I opened a bot...

Ah, you're in Pennsylvania! that does cause particular problems. but, I've just looked at the FWGS website and you're in luck - they doe carry some of the Borges higher end wines, and they're on clearance too, at prices we would envy. Borges Verdelho 15 year old Borges Malaysia 20 year old Borges C...

Moscatel de Setúbal and Moscatel do Douro are the same grape, vinified in similar ways but grown in different parts of Portugal. Serious suggestion: consider buying your daily drinkers as half bottles. Most good Ruby Port and tawny Port and very many LBVs are available in that format. Bin27, for ex...

If you like the Moscatel de Setubal, do keep an eye out for the Douro version. Not many places make it: Quinta do Portal and Neipoort come to mind, but I’ve enjoyed it the few times I’ve tried it. You know, I didn't realize there was a difference, and looking at the bottles I just recently bought n...

postscript: this may all sound very prescriptive, but I don't mean it to be; I just want to save you a lot of time and disappointment and money (30 years of practice...). Average to poor madeira is mostly a profoundly disheartening experience. Good madeira is life enhancing to a significant degree ...

I will add that any of the Rare Wine Company Historic Series are good wines and, at least in my opinion, worthy of their prices. In the US I can get the New York Malmsey for $50 and it is comparable to (or often better than) 15-year old Malmseys/Malvasias, at least for my taste. Thank you for the p...

I have rarely had a madeira less than a 15 year old varietal designation (which does not have to be 15, but does have to conform to a style and intensity) of which it is worth drinking a second glass. The current Barbeito 10 yo Sercial below is a rare and excellent exception. ... Don't buy anything...

After speaking with a friend about how my wife and I often struggle to finish off a full bottle of daily drinking port before it starts to go off, they suggested I try madeira wines. I know that, thanks to their production and aging process they can keep for much longer and can stand to be opened fo...

2x - 2011 Ferreira

My first VP bottles to lay down!