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I am suspecting bentonite. A quick google search supports prior use as a cement or support in marine situations.

This is so cool. Any worry that the oxygenation from the "re bottling" will accelerate aging? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I would have thought this is the right time to rebottle, when there is plenty of added sulfur and antioxidants in the wine. If one is particularly concerned one...

That is an enviable allocation of this port. It drank very well last week and other reporters have had a similar experience so I would be trying a half or two each birthday from now on. Save the magnums for 2017 and maybe 2027.

Thinking about it a little more, the auction also had quite a lot of older Rioja as well as uncommonly sighted ports. Likely to be from the same cellar.

AHB wrote:Was this a bottle you managed to track down in Australia, or one you were able to take with you from the UK?

This was an Aussie sourced bottle. Surprised to see it actually as it is mainly Taylor, Fonseca, Dow and Warre on the market here.

+7h: I have been hasty. The last glass has emerged as a powerful liqueur cherry tipple. Some heat again on the finish and the aforementioned VA has remained in check. Perfect with some proper Wokey Hole cheddar.

+4.5h: Cherries to the fore as well as brown spices. Intriguingly the colour has lightened again. Unfortunately there is an element of VA starting to emerge on the finish. I found this best after an hour. Dinner shall be served early.

After some recent discussion on the conversation sub-forum regarding VA in Niepoorts of this age, a bottle of this port was broached for analysis. The intention is to plan for dinner so the bottle was opened at midday. +0h: Dense red black with a pale rim. A bouquet of cacao with rum and raisins on ...

I am a fan of the 78 vintage. Starting to decline but still good drinking as you say.

Vintage is not easy, at least it wasn't up until 7 months ago. Loki wine shop might have a port going in their enomatics. A few of the restaurants have one/a few by the glass e.g. Purnells has Dow 1970, Taylors 1992 and Warres 1997 currently according to their list. Simpsons may have several as well...

I have come to the conclusion that, ultimately, communion with port is personal. One man's meat is another man's poison and all that. You can crowdsource opinion on ports that many are able to enjoy, but what one finds beautiful is personal i.e. Plato was wrong :) WIth that out of the way I think on...

Excellent post indeed. Just following up the vine vigour paragraph, while different grape varieties have different age envelopes, do they still have the same shape in terms of vigour i.e. low vigour then higher vigour then lower vigour? If so, then the maxim still holds true. As I was taught, it's ...

Excellent post indeed. Just following up the vine vigour paragraph, while different grape varieties have different age envelopes, do they still have the same shape in terms of vigour i.e. low vigour then higher vigour then lower vigour? If so, then the maxim still holds true.

LGTrotter wrote:

g-man wrote:not properly topping off the barrels

Do they top up the barrels? You would seem to say so, I suppose with the quantities made this is practical.

You need to to make an unoxidated wine. The alternative is to reduce the volume with inert material e.g. marbles.

EDIT: spelling

For non-fortified wine production often the first and second crop off young vines can be superb. These crops are somewhat similar to a crop from old vines (I would have said 20 years plus would be classed as old but not sure in the Douro) as the vines are low vigour in the early years (years 3 to 4)...

Thank you for that comprehensive answer. Looks like I shall have to take my chances with the 87's. Judging by the few tasting notes on this vintage there seems to be a rough split between disappointment and delight.

Among other odds and sods I have recently come across a 1944 Royal Porto Colheita. Love the sparkly letters

Last week-end we had Niepoort 1985... and it was full of VA. 3 of 6 of Niepoort 1985 have been defect. :-( Boo! Hiss!! Shame! Niepoort is frustrating in that way. I've had two great bottles of 85 and 2 not good bottles of 85. Similar with 1997, and now 1994s are also showing some signs :( I haven't...

This and the 83 Grahams were the first VP's that made me sit up and say that there is something to this vintage port thing. Thank you for the reminder to look out for more.

Was tempted to open this one for Christmas. Not so sure now.

Rob, you mentioned that you noticed a difference with recently transported bottles. I think they are separate again from those lying horizontal for an extended period. I subscribe to the travel shock theory although it is contentious.

Just received an email from the Halifax wine company with an offer of Calem 2000 at 32 pounds. No tasting notes in the database though.

cheers

Carl

What a beautiful photo up top. Congratulations!

91 Fonseca all gone from F&R but the 87 Roeda and 96 Vesuvio duty paid look reasonable.

At a country house hotel outside Winchester, apparently decanted the day before. Still about 80% opaque. Very spirity on the nose, stewed prunes, hint of orange, soft, young, not complex, drinkable enough, but ever so slightly disappointing. Whilst there will be no difficulty in drinking the few of...