Search found 170 matches

by Frederick Blais
16:31 Sat 01 Nov 2008
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2003 Niepoort
Replies: 5
Views: 5555

Re: 2003 Niepoort Vintage Port

I did have this a couple of times during the harvest again this year. One was serve side by side with the Secundum. Surprisingly upon opening the Secundum was the favourite of all, and I mean all. We did the same test 24 hour later, it was totally different, the classic VP was more open and become a...
by Frederick Blais
21:54 Tue 14 Oct 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Advice please Gentlemen
Replies: 107
Views: 31710

Re: Advice please Gentlemen

When has 1995 been considered a weaker vintage? 1994 was so vaulted, that 1995 relegated to SQ's when it could've been a formally declared vintage. The few 95's I have tried have all been good at minimum. As for Vesuvio 95, I do not think £26 is a deal, but is not robbery either. Maybe the '94 &...
by Frederick Blais
04:17 Sat 11 Oct 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: help with a label Van zeller?
Replies: 2
Views: 2915

Re: help with a label Van zeller?

This I think from memory was set up when Christian van Zellar left Noval the only bottle I posses is an 83.which I have'nt tasted yet This is mainly the Jose Maria de Fonseca new projects in the Douro. There are famous for their Moscatel in the Setubal area and some other wines. They started to inv...
by Frederick Blais
16:57 Tue 07 Oct 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Nacional - Myth or Magic?
Replies: 49
Views: 20067

Re: Nacional - Myth or Magic?

But at the end of the night Tom, we could clearly see the magic out of Nacional. It was so shut when we first tasted it and 5 hours later it was the most exotic and exuberant bouquet on a Port I had not have in many years for such a young wine. For me Nacional et like Romanée Conti of DRC. Never a b...
by Frederick Blais
21:24 Tue 30 Sep 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: GRRRRR!
Replies: 5
Views: 3645

Re: GRRRRR!

RonnieRoots wrote:It was probably our cleaner (who denies of course).
Then throw his brooms on the floor and see if he likes it! :twisted:

I'm sorry for you.
by Frederick Blais
19:49 Tue 23 Sep 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Best Port You've Ever Rated?
Replies: 5
Views: 3924

Re: Best Port You've Ever Rated?

Nacional 2000 and Taylor 1970... Recently Roriz 70 and Niepoort 70 where in the big leagues!
by Frederick Blais
19:48 Tue 23 Sep 2008
Forum: Site Stuff
Topic: Speed of site response
Replies: 4
Views: 5025

Re: Speed of site response

Once I'm on the site it is fine, but to get access to it, it takes me a good 10 secs
by Frederick Blais
15:00 Sat 06 Sep 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2008 vintage - The countdown
Replies: 39
Views: 14505

Re: 2008 vintage - The countdown

Received an email today from a grower. "raining hard" for the last 2 days was his words. It did not seem to worried and just said that his harvest start date could be push further.
by Frederick Blais
03:09 Thu 04 Sep 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: A port wine society?
Replies: 15
Views: 5979

Re: A port wine society?

My only concern with Port is the blend. One barrel is just not as good as the final blend, especially for tawnies style. For VP, pipes are huge and still they blend them but would we be able to buy one pipe and sell 10 000 bottles made from it?
by Frederick Blais
17:42 Tue 02 Sep 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2008 vintage - The countdown
Replies: 39
Views: 14505

Re: 2008 vintage - The countdown

The reports of uneven ripening are a worry, but not a death sentence - the vintage reports from '94 mention similar problems, but no-one complained about the outcome! Tom Though I think that 94 was way hotter. A grower told me that in August the nights were especially cold, which is unusual. His cr...
by Frederick Blais
19:58 Thu 28 Aug 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Nacional - Myth or Magic?
Replies: 49
Views: 20067

Re: Nacional - Myth or Magic?

Champagne is the most lucrative wine market on the planet. There is no such thing as bulk cheap wine. They all sell for premium prices and they produce millions of bottle each year. As Roy pointed out, Axa really raised the consistency and the price of the NN, we should be able to witness the result...
by Frederick Blais
14:59 Thu 28 Aug 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2008 vintage - The countdown
Replies: 39
Views: 14505

Re: 2008 vintage - The countdown

BTW, Unless a miracle happens in the next couple of weeks it doesn't look good for a large major declaration, in terms of quality and enough quantity. I would guess and say 2008 will probably have some very good SQVPs. Well even though we have great quality, it is doubtful '08 will be declared for ...
by Frederick Blais
14:47 Wed 27 Aug 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Ramos Pinto 1982 / 1983?
Replies: 8
Views: 4474

Re: Ramos Pinto 1982 / 1983?

Had the 83 quite a few times between 98 and 2004 and I always enjoyed it!
by Frederick Blais
23:54 Tue 26 Aug 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2008 vintage - The countdown
Replies: 39
Views: 14505

Re: 2008 vintage - The countdown

I got some news today from 2 sources. One that is mostly coming around small producers and the other one from reputable port house. Both friends are not everyday in the field but involved closely in the market and in touch with growers/producers on a weekly basis at least. So far, the echos of a war...
by Frederick Blais
21:14 Mon 25 Aug 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Nacional - Myth or Magic?
Replies: 49
Views: 20067

Re: Nacional - Myth or Magic?

I tend to agree with most of your saying. NN is not immune to Phyloxera, the vines can survives on average 35 years before being replaced by a shoot growing just beside once its start to weaken. We can say that the vector of Phyloxera is slower in those parts of the Douro than other places that grow...
by Frederick Blais
17:02 Fri 22 Aug 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2008 vintage - The countdown
Replies: 39
Views: 14505

Re: 2008 vintage - The countdown

Haven't got any exciting news yet on 2008. Normally when I chat with farmers, producers during the year, you can feel the excitement when a good vintage is on the way. So far, I did not notice anything about 2008. I'll try to get some fresh news, or in 2 weeks, we should know more.
by Frederick Blais
20:24 Tue 19 Aug 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: A Good Nose
Replies: 13
Views: 6909

Re: A Good Nose

Yes they're used for the workers, but also for locals who come to the quinta and buy the cheapest table wine. We tasted a sample of this once at Quinta de Baldias. It was horrible! At the vale de mendiz facilities of Niepoort, some left overs of Charme are bottled into this and it is served to work...
by Frederick Blais
15:50 Mon 28 Jul 2008
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1983 Gould Campbell
Replies: 6
Views: 5389

Gould Campbell 83 for me is a very pleasant, complex and young looking VP at the moment. Liquorice domination on flavour profiles is what I got but I had no impression of corked taint nor muted nose.
by Frederick Blais
16:21 Sat 19 Jul 2008
Forum: Other Wines
Topic: Beaujolais
Replies: 2
Views: 3209

Michael, you are correct, Beaujolais has its gem and they are not too expensive.

If you want to pay a little more, dig for the wines from Chamonard, Foillard and Guy Breton especially. They are among the very best producers.

Guy Breton Vieilles Vignes 2005 is my favourite Beaujolais to date.
by Frederick Blais
00:50 Thu 17 Jul 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Taylor's Crusted
Replies: 7
Views: 5081

For me this was sweet and raisinny, fresh dates, but way too much alcohol showing!
by Frederick Blais
15:03 Wed 16 Jul 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Advice wanted: tasting young port
Replies: 6
Views: 4368

Balance, concentration, mass of tannins, acidity, the lenght on the palate and the Backbone!
by Frederick Blais
16:16 Fri 11 Jul 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2008 - small crops can be very good..
Replies: 20
Views: 7198

Here what it looks like on grapes at harvest time...

http://www.frederickblais.com/pics/disp ... =67&pos=21
by Frederick Blais
04:36 Wed 09 Jul 2008
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2004 Quinta do Noval
Replies: 0
Views: 2706

2004 Noval Vintage Port

This bottle was opened with Luc side by side with Niepoort 2003 : http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=1839 I really wanted to have this bottle since I got it in my cellar as I did not have the chance to taste it in the Douro. Still Luc never had such a young VP so it would be interesting to ...
by Frederick Blais
04:36 Wed 09 Jul 2008
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2003 Niepoort
Replies: 5
Views: 5555

2003 Niepoort Vintage Port

Sunday with Luc I did open this to celebrate is first experience with Niepoort VP. I think that on that day I could not open a more perfect bottle, it was shining. The nose was so expressive, with mixing essence of dark ripe plums, black cherries and current, not to forget the fragrance of sexy flor...
by Frederick Blais
21:35 Fri 04 Jul 2008
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Harvest Time in the Douro
Replies: 10
Views: 6033

Looking forward to a good fun with DRT. I've been in touch with him since the early days of the vintage port site. Hopefuly he will not bring his ghost in the Douro for my photos (inside) I'll make sure Derek got his feet well clean before jumping in the lagares too, just for our own health after al...