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VJR

I remain skeptical of the 'superpremium' initiative from Taylors - this is no Nacional vineyard.
at maturity, I even doubt the VVV will ever be superior to the normal vintage...
I'd go for Fonseca 1985 - tried and proven... and great.
Cheers, Victor

VJR

Axel,
I'll bring the '58 and the '75.
Best, Victor

VJR

Axel,
Look forward to this tasting. When the exact date firms up, please let me know.
Best, Victor

VJR

This would have been of great interest; unfortunately I cannot make Oct. 12th.
Have fun - look forward to the TNs.
Best, Victor

VJR

Opened a '63 Croft on Mayday. Top shoulder. Radiant tawny colour. Aromatics of molasses, prunes and strawberries. Perfect texture, alcohol well-integrated. Bottle was in very good condition. Long and persistent. Superb rendition - 94 points.
Best, Victor

VJR

Interesting suggestion - Agree provenance needs to be impeccable to render useful results.
I have pristine F70 A+N and John Harvey bottlings and T63 Grants of St. James.
When is this scheduled for?
Best, Victor

VJR

Wolfgang - great initiative with a vintage that deserves more attention - please put me down.
VJR

VJR

Tannin management pushed to perfection. Not sure this should be the objective though. OK, it's a good achievement but not in the same league of my faves of 2007 Taylors, Noval, Grahams, Fonseca (in that order). Extremely "modern", a touch drier, velvety texture, hugely opulent with layers ...

VJR

Cracked a half bottle from my little stash - the first one in a decade - out of pure curiosity after ongoing reports about VA problems in this release (as Niepoort fans will be aware). As pointed out by Dirk van der Niepoort, apparently tell-tale signs of affected bottles are cork leakage. I don't s...

VJR

For me the 2007 VP was one of the most exciting newcomer highlights at Axel's 2007 Vintage Presentation last Friday. Not only is Oscar Quevedo an obviously very talented winemaker but with his open and immediately likeable nature, he is likely to make many new friends that will follow his ventures w...

VJR

An opportunity to drink Noval Nacional is always ultra special - yesterday was my first encounter with the legendary 1963. The bottle was opened, decanted and then refilled into bottle some 2-3 hours prior to tasting. Radiant, translucent ruby colour, vibrantly healthy-looking at the centre, verging...

VJR

Congratulations on what for Germany was a truly groundbreaking port event, Axel.
The response was terrific and I'm sure that the multiplier effect will ensure an even broader reception next time
- keep up the great work!
Cheers, Victor

VJR

Glenn, Look forward to meeting you someday!
Best, Victor

VJR

OK, let's do this. How about a little contest - winner takes the rest of the mags... no difficulty guessing my position. 88) Afraid, I never buy mags - have enough trouble finishing off singles. Actually from vintage 1997 on, I have started purchasing halves, which for home use do the trick rather n...

VJR

LOL - not known to jump queues - but the suspense probably won't kill me. Coffee Filter - OMG. Let's try that with a White Burgundy, shall we? Meanwhile I better do something useful and get those tastebuds into synch

VJR

Guess what my sister gave me for Xmas...

VJR

Theoretically the result might vary among tasters and their experience (as well as their sensory faculties after a few flights!). Purely on a visual plane, the radiant brilliance of a well-rested and decanted bottle is part of the excitement. Compare that to the opaque, murky colour of whirled-up se...

VJR

Yep, the guy that removed a good many of the corks and did the decanting with WS1. whilst there was a discussion about the merits of handling mature VP (bring & filter thru' muslin/odorless cloth as opposed to rest & decant with care) in the background. BTW I'm 100% in the latter camp. :!: B...

VJR

Thanks Julian, Hopefully there'll be a chance for that again soon - I think we met briefly at last year's '70 Horizontal in the RAF Club. Amazing tasting!
Best, Victor

VJR

Please put me down for these too - cannot guarantee at this stage whether I'll be in London on those dates, but it should be doable.
Look forward to meeting you Roy - at last.
Best, Victor

VJR

The only thing troubling me is that I might be more enthusiastic about 2007 than what is good for me and my cellar. Particularly the Noval based on what I've heard and read. But I don't stand much of a chance to drink any of it in its optimum drinking window anyway - and my 2 kids don't like port (y...

VJR

To my mind the most profound port produced at Noval since their 31. Couldn't resist buying multiple cases, since most dealers were just sitting on their stocks (prior to the Parker rating that is). Alas, still decades away from approaching maturity.
Cheers, Victor

VJR

Tannin management pushed to perfection. Not sure this should be the objective though. Extremely "modern", velvety texture, hugely opulent with layers of fruit. Ample complexity and good length, but will this have the brute staying power to become truly ageworthy port? :roll: Cheers, victor

VJR

A memorable and instructive tasting with Dirk v/d N., who was rather less chirpy than at previous tastings, but who gave very many interesting insights. The vintage highlights? Behind the '70 (dumpy bottling), the stars of the vertical IMO were, the 87, the 91, the 63 and the 78. And of course - the...

VJR

This wine is remarkable in any context, but when one recalls that it has spent well over a century before being bottled, it boggles your mind. The colour is radiant tawny-bernstein and its aromas soar from the glass in an explosion of minty-molasses, cherries, orange zest, raisins, leather and butte...

VJR

This tasting confirmed my impression, that in recent times Niepoort performs particularly well in split declaration vintages. The bouquet offers a blend of black cherries, damp earth, molasses intermingled with bitter chocolate, a touch of tobacco and tarmac. The mouthfeel was quite supple, just a b...

VJR

Cant say I'd put this quite in the same league as the 70, but I see what DrDirk is getting at. The 87 presents itself in an uncomplicated, pleasant phase that makes for extremely enjoyable drinking right now. Impression of citrussy fruit, good body and length. For Niepoort this is a particular succe...

VJR

Ruby reflections, slightly orange at the rim. Sweet and rich, plenty of viscosity and freshness. Plummy and fairly full-bodied, strawberries point towards full maturity. I think this has been putting on weight in the past decade. Neither the power nor the length of a 1970 Grahams, Taylors or Fonseca...

VJR

Given notes from Axel P and DrDirk, just let me add: Delicate texture, subtle aromatics and quite long on the finish. Bit fragile on the palate - seems to be in decline and gradually drying out. This all about elegance rather than power. Agree with DrDirk, that this is somewhat of a disappointment f...

VJR

That's fine, no need to apologize -
I'm sure it will work out for all.
Cheers, victor

VJR

Axel,
Terrific initiative - I hope this generates the interest that it deserves.

I'll try to be there. Cheers, victor

VJR

Sometimes I'm not sure whether friend or foe...

if we don't keep her under surveillance, she'll polish off the rest while we're engaged contemplating its merits.

Cheers, victor

VJR

Agree generally with Axel P and DrDirk's comments, - this 97 lacked harmony - seems to be in a quirky and dull stage. :?: For fun, just compared my old TN - written on release: Decanted for one hour ”“ admittedly a full day of aeration may have been better! Black violet colour. Upon pouring, the win...

VJR

Saturated crimson. Aromatics that reminded me of Amarone, but enhanced by figs, dates and plums with traces of tar. The attack is still quite primary, displaying very ripe, sweet fruit in a considerably less complex style than Taylors, Fonseca or Grahams. Medium-bodied with a velvety texture that ne...

VJR

Tried two bottles recently. The first displayed signs of seepage (apparently a frequently encountered problem in 1977s due to a bottle design flaw) and the content came across disjointed, slightly hot with an almost fruit-bereft tannic shell [n.r.]. The second bottle, from a different source, was an...

VJR

Decanted 3 hours in advance. Intense ruby coloured. Explosive nose of rich fragrances, including sultanas, coffee beans, black pepper, dates with traces of vanilla. Medium-sweet entry. On the palate, grapey, walnuts, ripe black figs, touch of anise and malt. Beautiful harmony, depth and power. For i...

VJR

Decanted 4 hours in advance. Cork soaked through but in perfect, firm condition. Translucent brick-red in colour. Aromas of figs, raisins, ginger, cinnamon and dates. Hallmark sweetish entry. Ripe black figs and plums on the palate, then prunes, nutmeg which are followed onto the expansive fruit-dri...

VJR

Impenetrable purple in colour. Marzipan, dried figs, violets, youngberies, intermingled with spicy coffee beans and black cherries on the nose. Full-bodied, so smooth, finely woven tannins but with dense underlying texture. 20.5% alc. rel. Long finish. This VP did not deteriorate in the least, but s...

VJR

Colour: ruby with amber at rim Aromatics: kaleidoscope of scents, strawberry and Tawny Port-like nuttiness and cedariness, then with air getting more peppery, coffee beans, coriander and anise, green tobacco leaves, plus dark bitter chocolate and licorice, substantially above its peers Fonseca, Tayl...

VJR

Good grief :shock: - I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the sheer depth of this lineup. OK, it's still on the drawing board, but if this tasting materialises, I'd absolutely love to attend it... has the character of a "once-in-a-ifetime" tasting. :mrgreen: No great revelation, as one o...

VJR

Hi All, This sounds like an event to look forward to

- please add me to the waitlist.
Thanks, victor

VJR

Fonseca 70. A & N bottlings and a few John Harvey bottlings - like to compare these to Mentzendorff's.
So delicious right now, and at 90 quid per- fantastic QPR - not a bad bet for current drinking and "immediate gratification" between Xmas and New Year.

Cheers, victor

VJR

What's the problem with "mammoth tasting overload". I actually quite like the notion of that.

But I do agree that the annual highlights should not be compressed into a couple of weeks.
Cheers, victor

VJR

Yeah, got a few of JP Bredell's Vintage Reserves - the 97 is good stuff. The location of the winery below the Helderberg is not bad either. But I guess I'll always remain a fan of Boplaas, due to Carel's pioneering work in the field of serious SA VP.
Cheers, victor

VJR

15. VJR (last and least -

)

Should be an instructive and great tasting. Have a couple of 55s too

Cheers, victor

VJR

I specially timed my daughter for 1997 and laid back some Noval, Taylor and Fonseca.
She better appreciate the stuff otherwise ...

Cheers, victor

VJR

Great thread. I've experienced a slight "saltiness" that frequently reflects excessive VA - across almost all major houses (a widespread flaw among 85 VPs?) :? This appears to be a systemic issue in 85... Fonseca being a notable exception, Grahams less volatile than others. As a result, I'...

VJR

Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm based in Southern Germany but travel to the UK at regular intervals. Maybe I should take one of my remaining Boplaas Vintage Reserves with me. Best, victor

VJR

Hi everyone - It was a pleasure meeting some of you at the RAF ‘70 horizontal organized by WS1 and AxelP earlier this year and I’ve been checking out the board for events ever since. Capetonian by birth, my 1st exposure to port was Carel Nel’s ‘86 Vintage Res. Boplaas, an opulent tinta barocca based...

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