Search found 97 matches

by Cynthia J
15:40 Fri 08 Jul 2016
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Three new members of the Confraria
Replies: 23
Views: 26206

Re: Three new members of the Confraria

This is wonderful and well-deserved, and I am gutted I missed seeing all of you parade down the street. Agree with the rugged good looks and well chosen setting for the photo comments! Saúde!!
by Cynthia J
09:39 Wed 19 Aug 2015
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2015 Harvest
Replies: 72
Views: 23730

Re: 2015 Harvest

Spoke with a Douro viticultor circa 30 July who said likely quite early - one week if not two - he was seeing pintor end June vs normal mid-end July. Yes, last week July and first two of August are the typical holidays for wine firms and especially the viti and winemaking teams. This week is the usu...
by Cynthia J
23:28 Sun 21 Sep 2014
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Terroir and Port
Replies: 25
Views: 9427

Re: Terroir and Port

I cannot imagine the circumstances in which I could do a side by side tasting of Stone Terraces, Noval Nacional etc. I have no rich elderly relatives and I don't do the lottery. :wink: sigh ... me either. If you do discover such a relative, I would like an introduction please. Personally, I'm drink...
by Cynthia J
22:29 Sun 21 Sep 2014
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Terroir and Port
Replies: 25
Views: 9427

Re: Terroir and Port

Also, aren’t some of the other Portuguese regions divided up? Like vino verde? Or I might just be imagining that? yes, vinho verde is, less certain about others off the top of my head, but I believe some may be. Regarding your further point about the example of France... ummm... you really think th...
by Cynthia J
20:15 Sun 21 Sep 2014
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Terroir and Port
Replies: 25
Views: 9427

Re: Terroir and Port

I cannot think that I have ever compared SQVP of the same vintage and shipper but from different Quinta, I would have thought this possible. For 2000, 2003 and 2007 (maybe others, but those I know) both a Cockburn's and a Quinta dos Canais were made. Also Martinez in each of those years. Might be i...
by Cynthia J
20:10 Sun 21 Sep 2014
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Terroir and Port
Replies: 25
Views: 9427

Re: Terroir and Port

Hi Jacob (et al!) Provesende is a village north of Pinhão, up beyond Quinta da Cavadinha, which is at around 600 metres of altitude. I have never heard references to a "Provesende style" per se, but the distinction to be made between any wines and ports made up there versus the usual suspe...
by Cynthia J
16:27 Sat 20 Sep 2014
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The 2014 Harvest
Replies: 101
Views: 32873

Re: The 2014 Harvest

What Alex and Andy have said. Miguel Potes is doing a great job on the Malvedos Blog and in the latest post again makes the point about micro climates and the incredible differences in conditions across quite small distances - close to 1100 mm per year in Vila Real, half that at Malvedos 15 miles aw...
by Cynthia J
11:19 Thu 18 Sep 2014
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The 2014 Harvest
Replies: 101
Views: 32873

Re: The 2014 Harvest

...Vilarica. But where exactly is this weather station? The name is familiar and I'm pretty sure there's a Quinta by that name or something similar, Shame on you Tom!! You just flunked Symington 101!!! Vilariça is the valley in the northeast of the Douro where SFE have 3 quintas which were part of ...
by Cynthia J
22:18 Wed 17 Sep 2014
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The 2014 Harvest
Replies: 101
Views: 32873

Re: The 2014 Harvest

As I type it is raining again here in Gaia - we have had intermittent showers, many pretty heavy, generally overnight or early morning, with mostly clear or at least dry afternoons the past few days. If you go to the ADVID site http://www.advid.pt meteorologia / dados climáticos ... it's worrying. T...
by Cynthia J
22:50 Wed 10 Sep 2014
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The 2014 Harvest
Replies: 101
Views: 32873

Re: The 2014 Harvest

10mm reported at Vila Real, so hopefully not too much. I wouldn't recommend trying to extrapolate from Vila Real as a rule - they get thoroughly dumped on by any and every passing rainstorm being in the middle of the Marão. I think they get rain that no one else does! Their annual total rainfall is...
by Cynthia J
22:42 Wed 10 Sep 2014
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The 2014 Harvest
Replies: 101
Views: 32873

Re: The 2014 Harvest

A friend tells me they began cutting Monday at Tua and Malvedos. Elsewhere, others have decided to wait a few days after rain last weekend in their area. And this evening I'm having a few heavy showers here in Gaia, hopefully this wont get up to the vineyards. http://www.ipma.pt/pt/otempo/prev.local...
by Cynthia J
16:53 Sat 20 Jul 2013
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Plants for a 'port garden'?
Replies: 24
Views: 7687

Re: Plants for a 'port garden'?

Jeff, New York / Newark (that's roughly your 'hood, isn't it?) are at 40º North latitude (roughly same as Douro), Belfast is around 54º north...

Daniel, this sounds like a wonderful project, good luck!
by Cynthia J
08:33 Sat 20 Jul 2013
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Le Nez du Vin wine aromas
Replies: 12
Views: 6785

Re: Le Nez du Vin wine aromas

smells of car fumes and dog poo
That would be cheap Merlot... Car fumes + cat piss = sauvignon blanc...
by Cynthia J
08:28 Sat 20 Jul 2013
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Plants for a 'port garden'?
Replies: 24
Views: 7687

Re: Plants for a 'port garden'?

Are you really in Belfast? It's a lovely concept, but aren't you much warmer and more humid with Gulf Stream effect? For example, rosemary and lavendar, which are part of the Douro landscape like dandelions and nettles in England, do smell different to me here, growing on schist soil in baking hot d...
by Cynthia J
18:41 Fri 19 Jul 2013
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Le Nez du Vin wine aromas
Replies: 12
Views: 6785

Re: Le Nez du Vin wine aromas

I have a Nez du Vin - the 54 bottle set - and I have to say I find the scents consistently a bit metallic. I may have had a duff kit, but... As it happens, I am also interested in aromatherapy and have a pretty full set of essential oils - floral and herbal oils and not necessarily wine related! On ...
by Cynthia J
12:04 Mon 22 Apr 2013
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2011 Declarations
Replies: 286
Views: 138480

Re: 2011 Declarations

Just to clarify - updated photo of Stone Terraces label corrects the bottle count to final bottling - 250 cases / 3000 bottles - original photo was a draft label before we knew final numbers.
by Cynthia J
11:07 Mon 15 Apr 2013
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2011 Declarations
Replies: 286
Views: 138480

Re: 2011 Declarations

You know that at the Vinum Restaurant every table has a little arrangement of schist as a centrepiece? I'm not sure how much more stone we can spare right now...
by Cynthia J
10:31 Mon 15 Apr 2013
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2011 Declarations
Replies: 286
Views: 138480

Re: 2011 Declarations

Are the Symingtons willing to give estimated optimal drinking windows for their 2011 declarations? Which will be at peak first, and which will take longest? No, they do not do this. I don't think I have ever heard or seen SFE put "drink by" dates on their wines! The only call we ever make...
by Cynthia J
10:15 Mon 15 Apr 2013
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2011 Declarations
Replies: 286
Views: 138480

Re: 2011 Declarations

No Gould Campbell? No, nor Quarles Harris nor Martinez. These ports are typically made with the grapes bought in from Douro farmers, primarily in the Pinhão and Rio Torto valleys. For 2011 Symington was focussed on the opportunity to make creme de la creme ports from our own quintas - and when Cha...
by Cynthia J
08:37 Mon 15 Apr 2013
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2011 Declarations
Replies: 286
Views: 138480

Re: 2011 Declarations

The Big Fortified Tasting will be showing samples of the following: Vesuvio Capella I wondered whether this was a re-brand or a mistake in the BFT catalogue! It is a mistake - That should read Capela da Quinta do Vesuvio 2011. You can also now satisfy a little of your curiousity about Graham's The ...
by Cynthia J
21:54 Fri 12 Apr 2013
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: The Dirty Dozen - London, 23 April 2013
Replies: 62
Views: 33432

Re: The Dirty Dozen - London, 23 April 2013

Has anyone ever thought of doing a '40 days in the wilderness'-themed tasting? I think we should.
lol... Would that be a 40-day-long tasting? And applauding your wildly creative multitasking, well done!
by Cynthia J
23:33 Thu 11 Apr 2013
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: The Dirty Dozen - London, 23 April 2013
Replies: 62
Views: 33432

Re: The Dirty Dozen - London, 23 April 2013

Thank you!! See you (and y'all) then.
by Cynthia J
10:36 Thu 11 Apr 2013
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: The Dirty Dozen - London, 23 April 2013
Replies: 62
Views: 33432

Re: The Dirty Dozen - London, 23 April 2013

Hello Gentlemen (gentle cough... sorry, tickle in my throat!!) Would there be room for one more at the table by any miracle? If so, let me know what sort of wine I should bring, or I am happy to chip in financially to the general good. Thanks.
by Cynthia J
11:25 Tue 08 Jan 2013
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Thu 17th January - The Dow Magnumonicon
Replies: 98
Views: 44964

Re: Thu 17th January - The Dow Magnumonicon

Hi Julian, You will have Cynthia blind #1 and Cynthia blind #2, or however you want to name them! Not magnums, alas...
by Cynthia J
17:31 Sat 05 Jan 2013
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Thu 17th January - The Dow Magnumonicon
Replies: 98
Views: 44964

Re: Thu 17th January - The Dow Magnumonicon

Rob, Alex - these can, I think (crossed fingers) be handled on a pop and pour basis, no need to worry about decanting early in the day (and I will trust all of you to render your candid opinions of that approach when you taste them!) Worst case, we hang out, let them breathe, and try again over brea...