Seeking "The Authentic Vintage Port" experience...?

[DRT]

Anyway, all this chatter about decanting times for Graham 83 is irrelevant as undoubtably it is the 85 that was purchased.

Taylor, presumably?

[Glenn E.]

Anyway, all this chatter about decanting times for Graham 83 is irrelevant as undoubtably it is the 85 that was purchased.

Taylor, presumably?

Of course not. The Taylor was given to the alien.

[LGTrotter]

Anyway, all this chatter about decanting times for Graham 83 is irrelevant as undoubtably it is the 85 that was purchased.

Taylor, presumably?

Of course not. The Taylor was given to the alien.

Glenn, I was not even going to dignify it with an answer. Taylor forsooth.

[DRT]

I am happy to swap Offley 1972 for any unwanted T85. I have 11 available.

[Glenn E.]

I am happy to swap Offley 1972 for any unwanted T85. I have 11 available.

You would swap Offley 1972 for a bottle of lukewarm tap water from Edinburgh, so that's not saying much.

[LGTrotter]

I wonder if the author of this thread would put us out of our misery and tell us what they bought?

[WineLoverPT]

I wonder if the author of this thread would put us out of our misery and tell us what they bought?

Well.
I picked one of these ...
1967 Croft Quinta da Roeda Vintage Porto
1985 Grahams Vintage Porto
1983 Grahams Vintage Porto

I was going to post the tasting note here, and see, from that, it could be guessed which one it was.

[WineLoverPT]

Just in case anyone is wondering what's happened...

My wife is ill at the moment and not drinking.
It doesn't seem right to crack open the "special" port until she's able to fully partake, so this project is on hold right now.
The bottle is in the cellar, rubbing somewhat low shoulders with "lesser" brews - it calls softly to me whenever I'm in there, which is somewhat disturbing.
Whilst we're a drinking family of one, I'm doing some "due diligence" and crossing off some of those things that, as a "white belt" of Portoka (the martial art of drinking port), I must try.
White port - tick - never again (well, apart from a bottle of Lagrima I seem to have)
I have a bottle of pink port which I am so looking forward to trying very very soon.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I have a bottle of pink port which I am so looking forward to trying very very soon.

Some aren't bad when chilled and mixed with soda or tonic and lots of ice. Other should be tasted when the sink needs to be cleaned or unblocked.

[DRT]

I have a bottle of pink port which I am so looking forward to trying very very soon.

Some aren't bad when chilled and mixed with soda or tonic and lots of ice. Other should be tasted when the sink needs to be cleaned or unblocked.

I furiously disagree. Just unblock the sink. Don't bother tasting.

[jdaw1]

Kopke Rose was better than that.

[PhilW]

White port - tick - never again (well, apart from a bottle of Lagrima I seem to have)

I agree with your other post (and most of the responses regarding waiting for drain cleaning opportunities) regarding dry white port - but you don't need to write off all white port (unless you want to) - I have very much enjoyed a couple of the old (non-dry) whites, including the Dalva Golden White 71, and the Cabral '40 (believed white, unconfirmed) which are both delicious.

I have a bottle of pink port which I am so looking forward to trying very very soon.

Admittedly, I'm with Derek on that one.

[WineLoverPT]

Well, I managed to get rid of the rest of it, which was most of it (I'd normally say "better part", but it didn't have a better part), at a small BBQ a couple of days ago - the hostess is a white wine drinker, and she really liked it, so it went to a good home.

I have a Ramos Pinto Lágrima white (due diligence don't ya know).
I'm going to time my tasting of this to such a time when I can, if necessary (and, whilst I'm keeping an open palette, I know where my money is with this one), give the rest of it to her again.

[Glenn E.]

Well, I managed to get rid of the rest of it, which was most of it (I'd normally say "better part", but it didn't have a better part), at a small BBQ a couple of days ago - the hostess is a white wine drinker, and she really liked it, so it went to a good home.

I have a Ramos Pinto Lágrima white (due diligence don't ya know).
I'm going to time my tasting of this to such a time when I can, if necessary (and, whilst I'm keeping an open palette, I know where my money is with this one), give the rest of it to her again.

Lágrima is usually pretty simple and sweet. It's fine if served cold or used in a mixed drink, but I doubt that you will derive much pleasure from it directly.

To really experience White Port you need to get one that is well-aged, ideally a 1952 Dalva Golden White. But since those are exceedingly rare, any of the Kopke 10-, 20-, 30-, or 40-year olds will suffice, as would the other Dalva Golden Whites (1963, 1971).

[WineLoverPT]

To really experience White Port you need to get one that is well-aged, ideally a 1952 Dalva Golden White. But since those are exceedingly rare, any of the Kopke 10-, 20-, 30-, or 40-year olds will suffice, as would the other Dalva Golden Whites (1963, 1971).

Ah ah - thanks - they are now on my list.

[djewesbury]

To really experience White Port you need to get one that is well-aged, ideally a 1952 Dalva Golden White. But since those are exceedingly rare, any of the Kopke 10-, 20-, 30-, or 40-year olds will suffice, as would the other Dalva Golden Whites (1963, 1971).

Ah ah - thanks - they are now on my list.

The best out of that lot is the Dalva 71 I think, which the IVDP sell from their shop in Porto (and online?) at about €85 for 50cl, which I'm guessing is better than any of the big wine shops / GN. After that the Kopke, or indeed the Dalva whites with designation of age are wonderful. Try Burmester and Cálem aged whites also. These can get as expensive as old colheitas though!

[AW77]

I can also recommend the Andresen 10,20,30 and 40 White Y Tawnies and the Ferreira 10 Y White Tawny.

[djewesbury]

I can also recommend the Andresen 10,20,30 and 40 White Y Tawnies and the Ferreira 10 Y White Tawny.

+1. Excellent value, from the people who introduced the first White Port with Designation of Age.

[LGTrotter]

And I would recommend that you allow your posh port to have a good rest before opening. Three to six months is my rule of thumb, I think that older ports especially need to settle into themselves for that sort of time before drinking.

I would further recommend that you don't go near a bottle of white port with a pointed stick. But then I have been talked into buying Krohn 64 Branco by forumites. I still haven't plucked up courage to open one yet.

[djewesbury]

And I would recommend that you allow your posh port to have a good rest before opening. Three to six months is my rule of thumb, I think that older ports especially need to settle into themselves for that sort of time before drinking.

I would further recommend that you don't go near a bottle of white port with a pointed stick. But then I have been talked into buying Krohn 64 Branco by forumites. I still haven't plucked up courage to open one yet.

Open it. You got this before they sold out. I was too late.
Or bring it to a tasting. Are you still coming to Glenn's tasting in September...?

[DRT]

I have been talked into buying Krohn 64 Branco by forumites. I still haven't plucked up courage to open one yet.

Lovely juice. Bring it to TBH.

[Glenn E.]

But then I have been talked into buying Krohn 64 Branco by forumites. I still haven't plucked up courage to open one yet.

They need more time in bottle. Approximately 2 more months should do it.