Search found 136 matches

by Portman
17:00 Mon 08 Nov 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: What are you drinking Nov/December 2010
Replies: 7
Views: 3961

What are you drinking Nov/December 2010

The fall has arrived in the mid Atlantic US, and the Portman has emerged from his chysalis to begin his six month season of port engorgement.

Last night, in front of the first fire of the season, a 1995 Taylor's Vargellas, most enjoyable after a six hour decant.
by Portman
23:14 Fri 27 Aug 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2095
Views: 832283

Re: Latest buy

I came back from Spain and Portugal this week. I had a fantastic tasting and lunch with Raul Alex from this board and Grahams one day in Oporto. I didn't do much buying this year but I did find a couple of gems at my favorite wine store in Valenca. Most ports I find in Portugal are just wildly overp...
by Portman
15:17 Thu 29 Jul 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Too hot to drink Port
Replies: 10
Views: 6688

Re: Too hot to drink Port

Of course we have a/c. In summer we spend a lot of time on our deck regardless of temperature, and most nights will throw fish or meat on the grill and eat outside. I'm saying that my body for some reason doesnt crave the port like it does once the temperature cools down. It is just too rich and inc...
by Portman
19:55 Thu 22 Jul 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Too hot to drink Port
Replies: 10
Views: 6688

Too hot to drink Port

Here in Washington DC it is just too hot to drink port. My port consumption goes down in the summer normally, but this summer has been a real brute. We normally average 7 days in June with temperatures above 90 degrees F. This summer we had 18, and it feels like nearly every day in July has been a s...
by Portman
13:55 Thu 22 Jul 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: James Suckling of Wine Spectator has retired
Replies: 0
Views: 1790

James Suckling of Wine Spectator has retired

There is short and cryptic announcement on the Wine Spectator web site. I wonder what the real story is. I enjoyed his port reviews and also appreciated his Bordeaux tasting notes. HIs palate aligned pretty well with mine and I felt he was one of the few critics who was passionate about port. His po...
by Portman
16:48 Thu 15 Jul 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Nacional Tasting BBR 25th Oct
Replies: 11
Views: 5160

Re: Nacional Tasting BBR 25th Oct

I wish Seely would come to America for a tasting like that. The price is not bad either considering the range of ports for tasting.

I've never had a Nacional... (quietly sobbing)
by Portman
17:35 Wed 09 Jun 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2095
Views: 832283

Re: Latest buy

2004 Quinta de Romaneira I actually know very little about this house, but when I read AHB's note and saw the price ($20), I jumped on six as cellar defenders. Thank you AHB and TPF for helping me score what should be an excellent value. Purple and opaque. Very open blueberry nose. Sweet and fruity ...
by Portman
16:05 Mon 07 Jun 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2095
Views: 832283

Re: Latest buy

Great story. Please follow up as your detective work bears results. I think we all want to find out what you end up with and hope it is something delicious and valuable.
by Portman
15:45 Tue 01 Jun 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Thank you, Julian
Replies: 3
Views: 2525

Re: Thank you, Julian

Great big bottle of a great big wine. Well done Axel.
by Portman
14:23 Thu 27 May 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Closet treasures. Really?
Replies: 3
Views: 2801

Re: Closet treasures. Really?

It's funny, because I just was renovating this old cellar on my property here in Virginia and I found some dusty old bottles. The front is engraved "Laffite 1787" and in smaller letters "Th. J". Any idea what this is worth? The closest I have ever come to a diamond in the rough s...
by Portman
14:13 Thu 27 May 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Is '92 the most over-hyped vintage?
Replies: 31
Views: 16031

Re: Is '92 the most over-hyped vintage?

Uncle Tom, That is an interesting thought that I have had a few times as well. It often seems that vintage port can go through an extended "dumb phase", but while I have experience drinking young and teenaged port, I dont have the heavy experience drinking the mature stuff like some of you...
by Portman
17:15 Wed 26 May 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Is '92 the most over-hyped vintage?
Replies: 31
Views: 16031

Re: Is '92 the most over-hyped vintage?

I picked up a six pack of Vesuvio 1992 a couple years ago and drank them all over a year as cellar defenders. Every bottle was consistently underwhelming, marked by thin fruit and a woody, disjointed character. Not horrible, but certainly not up to expectations. They all seemed much older than their...
by Portman
22:33 Mon 24 May 2010
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1995 Taylor Vargellas
Replies: 0
Views: 2302

1995 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas

Drank at D+3 hours. Lightly sedimented, dark purple, with just a hint of red translucency at the edges. Very grapey nose with a distinct note of iodine. Plenty of black fruit in the mouth, especially plums, but also notes of something red, perhaps strawberries. Bright acidity and palate coating tann...
by Portman
14:37 Tue 18 May 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Favorite low to mid-priced vintage - what's yours?
Replies: 16
Views: 6803

Re: Favorite low to mid-priced vintage - what's yours?

You guys have hit most of my favorite low priced vintage ports, particularly the 1995 Smith Woodhouse and 1995 Taylor's. I guess I would add the 1995 Fonseca Guimaraens as well, which I have always found to be inexpensive and solid. With a bit of luck you can sometimes find 1991 Taylor's cheap, and ...
by Portman
14:38 Fri 14 May 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Noval Nacional 1931
Replies: 8
Views: 4475

Re: Noval Nacional 1931

Not only have I not tried 31 Noval I have far less experience buying at auction than many of you. But after reading "the Billionaire's Vinegar" and following subsequent developments in the counterfeit wine world, I would urge extreme caution in buying this or any other legendary wine. I be...
by Portman
22:54 Mon 03 May 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: So, what will you be drinking on election night?
Replies: 10
Views: 4592

Re: So, what will you be drinking on election night?

I can assure you BP is going to get the full on "DC treatment", with hearings, blowhard Congressmen, self righteous media, and plenty of opportunities to make a bad situation even worse.

Send lawyers, guns and money.
by Portman
15:56 Mon 03 May 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: So, what will you be drinking on election night?
Replies: 10
Views: 4592

Re: So, what will you be drinking on election night?

Good luck over there from your American cousins. The British election has actually been receiving considerable media attention here, which is very unusual. Usually foreign affairs never break through the dome of ignorance and apathy that covers 90% of my country.
by Portman
02:43 Fri 30 Apr 2010
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Delaforce
Replies: 2
Views: 3229

2000 Delaforce

I opened this just so I could be the first to post a note on a wine. Opened and sampled immediately. Lightly sedimented purple space slime at the bottom of the bottle, but not overtly alarming. The variation in port sediment never ceases to amaze me. (I'm surprised no one at this forum hasn't made a...
by Portman
02:28 Fri 30 Apr 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Portugal downgraded by S&P to A–
Replies: 26
Views: 9156

Re: Portugal downgraded by S&P to A”“

I hope our friends in Portugal see this through without too much damage. My relatives in Spain tell me everyone in Madrid is scared and people are losing their jobs left and right.
by Portman
15:15 Thu 22 Apr 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 100 point ports
Replies: 15
Views: 5928

100 point ports

Setting aside the whole critic scoring issue (how do you quantify something that is such a moving target), I'm curious if you have had port bottles that YOU felt were perfect, or will be perfect with bottle age. Some recent bottles the critics have dubbed as perfect are 94 Taylors and Fonseca, 1997 ...
by Portman
15:15 Mon 19 Apr 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Berry flavours
Replies: 10
Views: 5473

Re: Berry flavours

I actually have a boysenberry tree in my yard. I'm not sure what the actual variety it is but they are delicious when they ripen around June.

If anyone detects Himalayan blackberry in their port please let me know. :lol: Bill
by Portman
14:58 Mon 19 Apr 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: BabyRoots!
Replies: 20
Views: 7651

Re: BabyRoots!

Ronnie,

Profound congratulations and all the best from my family to yours.

Bill
by Portman
14:55 Mon 19 Apr 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2095
Views: 832283

Re: Latest buy

1995 Taylor's Quinta do Vargellas x 3
by Portman
17:34 Thu 15 Apr 2010
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Berry flavours
Replies: 10
Views: 5473

Re: Berry flavours

This reminds me of those overdone TN's, not to mention specific critics (cough- Robert Parker - cough cough) that instead of saying "aromas of tobacco and leather" instead write impossibilities like "smells like fresh cut Virginia lowland tobacco and notions of manure dusted, lightly ...
by Portman
20:09 Tue 06 Apr 2010
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1997 Quinta do Vesuvio
Replies: 6
Views: 5675

Re: 1997 Quinta do Vesuvio

Lots of contradictions in these TN's! Wine can be such a moving target depending on the bottle and the taster, yes? I believe I have one bottle left of six that I bought as cellar defenders at auction. I found these wines to be dark, fleshy, and well perfumed. They were a bit disjointed, but I wasnt...