ThePortForum.com

Amazing work!

I've got some info. I'm chatting with a friend in Portugal at the moment. Yes my job keeps me very busy :lol: Yes there was some rain but it was good because the winter was dry. Things looks good for the time being, we expect it continue as the weather forecasts a medium hot month of August... so fa...

When I asked the Symingtons in 2005 if I could taste it, they said yes but only at Vesuvio. From what I understood, it is for private consumption and only stored at the Quinta. They had no intentions in those day to release it on the market. Just a guess that maybe in a near future if they can incre...

Some are out on vacation at the moment. I did not get a reply from last week. I'll try with another source today. I'm getting worried with my harvest trip too. But low temperature is not a big problem. Well it can. But if the rain does not fall too heavily in October, the harvest can sometimes be co...

KillerB wrote:Fabulous pictures Fred. I suspect that you didn't take these on a disposable.

I use a Canon Rebel Digital SLR 300D with the MP-E 1x-5x macro lens.

If you guys are still curious I did add some more.

It gave me a good laugh! I love the pen in the bank.

Yes canada is very similar too.

Overall it can be said that the average quality of wine made is reasonably good throughout the valley. I did quote this from the Jancis article. Good is not exceptionnal and it is certainly not enough to declare classic VP. When I spoke to producers in the Douro last year. Everyone was agreeing tha...

I haven't got much information to date, but I was told by a owner in the Douro that so far, they are late. They had poor weather during the spring and no heat wave have been seen yet. I was looking trough meteo this week too and it is unsually cool in the Douro for this time of the year. Normally ve...

To make it quick, I've been in touch with Dirk Niepoort for a few years, I've visited the quinta and lodge a couple of times and last year when I met Dirk for a dinner he proposed we should meet at least once a year and also that I'd be welcome to participate in the harvest. There is nothing as good...

I'll spend 12 days with Niepoort's this year during the harvest. I'll try to bring more light in this this topic.

Nice notes and it is interesting to see those old bottles alongside the color of the Port.

Anyone thinks that the Fonseca was probably not a pristine bottle? I've always read that this wine was still very young with more to say as years are coming.

Guys, don't make much effort traking banyuls or Maury. IMHO they are not very good fortified wines. I've tasted a few of them back to 1949 and none impressed me as they are all lacking freshness. The best one I had was a 1997 that had some freshness due to a poor weather. I'll quote a Port producer ...

If any of you are interested about photography, bugs or just curious about it, take a look! http://www.frederickblais.com/pics/thumbnails.php?album=60 http://www.frederickblais.com/pics/thumbnails.php?album=61 I did start 2 albums about small things : insects, small flower, water drop or close up of...

Portuguese are in a real hast when they are on the road. They are so much nice people outside the car and get mad very quick inside of it. There is a lot of fatal accident in the Douro because of the speed they drive. I've been in the Douro with a Portuguese driving us and yes it was a bit crazy tak...

You must have been drinking driving Derek :) Going to the Douro is quite easy to drive. You can take the highway up to Peso de Regua, then there is only one road on each side of the river. The tough part is getting out of Porto. There is always construction everywhere and detour that are really not ...

You have to stop by Avepod and have a few wines with Maria Theresa. She is a great person and has some very interesting wines to taste. Don't buy anything at Gaia, appart at the lodges. If the Noval shop is closed, ring at the door to the right of the shop. It is their office and employees will be h...

Jumping a bit late in the topic, I'll put some links to pictures I took though I did not crop anything yet. If you feel you'd like some high resolution ones, let me know. http://www.frederickblais.com/pics/displayimage.php?album=3&pos=65 http://www.frederickblais.com/pics/displayimage.php?album=...

I've had quite a few 91 but not as much 92. For me in general for the VP declared in both years, 91 is evolving so much quicker. For my taste, as it is always a question of taste all the Symington's appart from Dow's are at their peak. Sure they will age further but I doubt they will get better, aga...

Hello everyone, I'll try to put some time on this board and try to promote that great nectar.

I guess I'll have to break the glass on this one :o The first 6(average) years of a Garrafeira are spent like a LBV, aged in a big vats. Then, the Port is transferred in a glass container often called demijohns(bon-bon in french). It will aged in these glass container often averaging 11 litters for ...