Search found 3300 matches

by JacobH
18:03 Mon 20 Mar 2023
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Tuke Holdsworth vertical (abandoned)
Replies: 21
Views: 18352

Re: Tuke Holdsworth vertical (? TBC perhaps 21st Nov 2023)

Out of idle interest, when was the last TH declaration? I'm afraid that I'm travelling at the moment and so can't consult The Book!
by JacobH
23:05 Thu 16 Mar 2023
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Anyone interested in a Six Grapes Tasting?
Replies: 21
Views: 11806

Re: Anyone interested in a Six Grapes Tasting?

I appreciate that we don’t generally do Port and food tastings, but I have just remembered that the (excellent) Northern-Portuguese chocolate shop called Chocolataria Equador makes a chocolate bar with a Six-Grapes flavoured ganache. It’s quite a similar to their generic dark chocolate and Port bar....
by JacobH
11:16 Thu 16 Mar 2023
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Anyone interested in a Six Grapes Tasting?
Replies: 21
Views: 11806

Re: Anyone interested in a Six Grapes Tasting?

I’m sure I can sort out a standard bottle of the six grapes! Does anyone have a Nº12 Ruby or a Natura Reserve? It feels to me we might do the whole range...
by JacobH
14:40 Tue 14 Mar 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2007 Cockburn Canais
Replies: 1
Views: 404

Re: 2007 Cockburn Canais

This was one of the first cask samples of VP I tried in Portugal back in 2009-ish. Glad to see it is holding up well!
by JacobH
14:30 Tue 14 Mar 2023
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Ferreira Vertical Sept 2023
Replies: 39
Views: 38297

Re: Ferreira vertical sept 2023

If I can adopt I would be interested.
by JacobH
14:30 Tue 14 Mar 2023
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Ruby Port Tasting - Date TBC - B&F
Replies: 13
Views: 4251

Re: Ruby Port Tasting - Date TBC - B&F

Is it planned for this to be a separate event from the Six Grapes one? I’d be keen for this in any event. I think a Noval Black is the only Ruby currently in my possession but can get something else without too much difficulty.
by JacobH
10:30 Mon 13 Mar 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2020 Declarations
Replies: 74
Views: 33777

Re: 2020 Declarations

Perhaps a kind moderator could create a 2021 thread so we can all wildly speculate before being proven wrong when the declarations start coming in?
by JacobH
10:20 Mon 13 Mar 2023
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Anyone interested in a Six Grapes Tasting?
Replies: 21
Views: 11806

Re: Anyone interested in a Six Grapes Tasting?

Might also be quite interesting to do a clear out of some of the more premium rubies from smaller / independent places being offered by Portugal Vineyards or something. They’ve got ones by Quinta do Javali, Quinta do Infantado, Quinta da Foz, Blackett, Kranemann, Morgadio da Calçada etc. etc. which ...
by JacobH
19:44 Sun 12 Mar 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Cockburn Special Reserve
Replies: 3
Views: 537

Re: NV Cockburn Special Reserve

Whilst it is a long time since I've drunk it, I though the Malvedos 1992 was a very good Port so that's high praise indeed!
by JacobH
15:27 Sun 12 Mar 2023
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Anyone interested in a Six Grapes Tasting?
Replies: 21
Views: 11806

Re: Anyone interested in a Six Grapes Tasting?

That sounds like fun. Would be keen dependant on date.

Does anyone have an old bottle?

Presumably there are lots of ways of expanding that tasting if necessary.
by JacobH
22:14 Sat 11 Mar 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Cockburn Special Reserve
Replies: 4
Views: 612

Re: NV Cockburn Special Reserve

I also thought the CSR to be perfectly pleasant, better than it used to be. But it pales in comparison with the 6 Grapes (which, in turn, pales in comparison with the Vilha Velha limited edition version). I’m yet to see a bottle of the Six Grapes VV for sale and, indeed, I think the Six Grapes itse...
by JacobH
22:12 Sat 11 Mar 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Cockburn Special Reserve
Replies: 3
Views: 537

Re: NV Cockburn Special Reserve

Do you weight your scores by category? (e.g. judging a VP more exactingly than a Ruby?). I only ask because I think you’ve given >86 to quite a few VPs recently!
by JacobH
22:10 Sat 11 Mar 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Cockburn Special Reserve
Replies: 4
Views: 612

Re: NV Cockburn Special Reserve

I’m still working my way through this bottle and something I’ve noticed is that after 5 days’ decant, it is holding up extremely well. The nose is not very present but in the mouth, I get velvety-smooth simple fruits, with just enough tannins to make it feel like proper Port, and no excess spirit or...
by JacobH
19:05 Mon 06 Mar 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Cockburn Special Reserve
Replies: 4
Views: 612

NV Cockburn Special Reserve

I am staying away for work this week. Last week, I was reasonably prepared and brought some Crusted port; a corkscrew; filter and decanter. But this week, I failed to pack anything and so had to venture out to the nearest Sainsbury’s to see what they had. I wasn’t particularly tempted by a Taylor LB...
by JacobH
17:46 Mon 27 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The 1980s & quality
Replies: 33
Views: 22255

Re: The 1980s & quality

I've drunk a few Ramos Pinto VPs but not enough to identify a house style. What would you say it is?
by JacobH
13:28 Thu 23 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: "Leve Seco" White Port
Replies: 8
Views: 3565

Re: "Leve Seco" White Port

You did like it a LOT more than I did. I rated it at 83 points, but that could just be a stylistic preference. How does that compare to your scores for other young light whites like the Graham’s № 5 or Cockburn? I’m kicking myself that I forgot about this thread and thereby the existence of their l...
by JacobH
23:01 Mon 20 Feb 2023
Forum: Travel
Topic: Lodges again
Replies: 24
Views: 11053

Re: Lodges again

Your last paragraph is very interesting and relevant for me. Elizabeth is planning for us to visit Madeira in May 2024 to catch the flower festival and parade. I am planning to pretend to be interested in the flower festival and parade while planning which Madeira producers to visit once the parade...
by JacobH
20:34 Mon 20 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1994 Croft
Replies: 2
Views: 821

1994 Croft

Somewhat to my surprise, I haven’t tried this before. Not a massive amount of sediment. Impressively deep opaque red in the centre, fading to orange at the edge. On first trying with a couple of hours’ decanting, I wasn’t impressed. However, returning to the remains today, whilst the nose is rather ...
by JacobH
13:06 Mon 20 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Historic Port for Historic Mixed Drinks / Cocktails
Replies: 5
Views: 1878

Re: Historic Port for Historic Mixed Drinks / Cocktails

MigSU wrote: 11:12 Mon 20 Feb 2023 Tinto de verano!
I had no idea this was a thing, although I suppose Port and Lemon (a shot of ruby port diluted with a fizzy lemon drink) was a popular drink in British pubs in the mid-20th Century.
by JacobH
10:57 Mon 20 Feb 2023
Forum: Travel
Topic: Lodges again
Replies: 24
Views: 11053

Re: Lodges again

That’s interesting. I suppose most people who go on a lodge tour doesn’t really have a good idea about what Port is or how it is made and probably won’t drink very much as a result of it. It’s like visiting Lisbon and going to have a shot of ginjinha: the sort of thing many tourists do once as an ex...
by JacobH
10:23 Mon 20 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Historic Port for Historic Mixed Drinks / Cocktails
Replies: 5
Views: 1878

Re: Historic Port for Historic Mixed Drinks / Cocktails

Are there any modern cocktail recipes that use this kind of wine as an ingredient? Interesting question. I can’t think of any. The most popular wines for use in cocktails are champagne and other sparkling wines. There are a few which use still white wine (e.g. a kir) and sherries have become popula...
by JacobH
10:20 Fri 17 Feb 2023
Forum: Travel
Topic: Lodges again
Replies: 24
Views: 11053

Re: Lodges again

Duque de Braganca is just an older bottling of Dona Antonia. They are allegedly exactly the same Port. I don't recall off the top of my head when they changed the branding, but it was fairly recent. With COVID-related time distortion, "fairly recent" could be up to 5-6 years ago. :lol: I ...
by JacobH
23:31 Thu 16 Feb 2023
Forum: Travel
Topic: Lodges again
Replies: 24
Views: 11053

Re: Lodges again

That's odd. I had a look for price lists but the only ones out were by the bottle or case and the guide didn't say "'if you'd like to try anything else, you can order it". In fairness, I didn't ask but that was because they looked a bit short staffed and had a queue. In any event, it doesn...
by JacobH
10:13 Thu 16 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The Warre 2006 LBV mystery
Replies: 7
Views: 2568

Re: The Warre 2006 LBV mystery

That's interesting. Are any other wines shipped like this (i.e. every other year?). I'm wondering what the advantage to that might be. Especially since I think the Warre is supposed to be a little vintage-driven (e.g. the 2007 being better than the 2006) but perhaps I have got that wrong and it is s...
by JacobH
22:01 Wed 15 Feb 2023
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2009 Palmer White Colheita (bottled 2022)
Replies: 0
Views: 834

2009 Palmer White Colheita (bottled 2022)

I appear to have drunk all of my wood-aged Port at home beyond this bottle :shock: So I decided to open it. It was bottled in 2022. The colour is really beautiful. A golden amber, fading quite a bit to an unexpected touch of green. The nose is fine: it comes across reasonably dry: gentle varnish and...