Search found 2207 matches

by winesecretary
09:30 Mon 17 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Vesuvio
Replies: 4
Views: 204

Re: 2000 Vesuvio

Lovely fragrance. Good grapey palate. Sweet blackcurrant and blueberry. Young but very good. Perfect balance.
by winesecretary
09:28 Mon 17 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Graham
Replies: 3
Views: 144

Re: 2000 Graham

Dark. Cool clean palate that captures the richness of the house. Lots of mocha tannins on the finish still.
by winesecretary
09:25 Mon 17 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Warre
Replies: 4
Views: 211

Re: 2000 Warre

Very dark. Wonderful rich figgy port.
by winesecretary
09:25 Mon 17 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Dow
Replies: 3
Views: 154

Re: 2000 Dow

Full rich red. Palate's good - some nice cherry fruit. But quite brutal, early. Gets much better, later. Will one day be very good.
by winesecretary
09:24 Mon 17 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Croft
Replies: 6
Views: 218

Re: 2000 Croft

Lighter colour, muted nose. Quite attractive violet and turkish delight nose. Pleasant but no more than that.
by winesecretary
00:09 Mon 17 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 2003 Horizontal - Tue 18 March 2025
Replies: 58
Views: 11825

Re: 2003 Horizontal - Tue 18 March 2025

I will attempt to pick up Ni and TTD from my country cellar next weekend.
by winesecretary
21:42 Sun 16 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Thursday 27th March 2025 - Virtual Tasting
Replies: 29
Views: 4795

Re: Thursday 27th March 2025 - Virtual Tasting

Alas I can no longer do this date.

I will however be listening to Verdi’s Requiem which will be appropriately sorrowful for missing a port tasting.
by winesecretary
13:39 Sat 15 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 19 Feb 25 (TBC) - Niche-interest bottlings & old reliables
Replies: 94
Views: 19197

Re: 19 Feb 25 (TBC) - Niche-interest bottlings & old reliables

Julian, please can my food order be changed to the second food order I went for, the first food order I had forgotten about. Sorry.
by winesecretary
22:21 Fri 14 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Help with handwriting
Replies: 8
Views: 1443

Re: Help with handwriting

I’ll do a draft transcript over the weekend… for wine label people this stuff is current spelling.
by winesecretary
17:10 Fri 14 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Fonseca
Replies: 4
Views: 1857

Re: 2000 Fonseca

Deep and dark. Big lush sweet thick port. Liked.

[Reading the tasting notes I wonder if Julian's Taylor and Fonseca glasses got switched.]
by winesecretary
17:08 Fri 14 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Taylor
Replies: 3
Views: 193

Re: 2000 Taylor

Paling rim. Spicy nose, then spirit. Dries quite quickly on the palate. Chocolate tannins.
by winesecretary
22:17 Thu 13 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2009 Quevedo Colheita Quinta Vale d’Agodinho Bottled 2024
Replies: 0
Views: 110

2009 Quevedo Colheita Quinta Vale d’Agodinho Bottled 2024

From 90ml 95% opaque, red rim, has a particularly deep glossiness. Conventionally red fruited nose. Denser, heavier, thicker than the straight 2009 Colheita. Lots of chocolate and Agen prune on the finish. Must be a very different grape blend! Is it better? Probably. Is it more interesting? Hmm. Tha...
by winesecretary
21:59 Thu 13 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2009 Quevedo Colheita bottled 2024
Replies: 0
Views: 90

2009 Quevedo Colheita bottled 2024

From 90ml

Bottled 2024

95% opaque, red rim

With a bit of swirling, slightly lifted (pleasant hint of VA) nose of raspberries and redcurrants and garrigue and fennel seed.

Dried orange peel on palate, toffee finish. Dentyne. Kola kubes.

Quite interesting, quite nice.

Drink up.
by winesecretary
14:33 Wed 12 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 1970 Horizontal, flights 1-4, Friday 3 October 2025
Replies: 41
Views: 3670

Re: 1970 Horizontal, flights 1-4, Friday 3 October 2025

@flash - for most of the majors, people probably have three bottles - so could possibly bring a backup?
by winesecretary
12:50 Wed 12 Feb 2025
Forum: Reviews
Topic: 2000 Horizontal, Mon 10 Feb 2025, B&F
Replies: 17
Views: 4078

Re: 2000 Horizontal, Mon 10 Feb 2025, B&F

Most enlightening evening. Thank you for being such good company. My thanks in particular to nac for broaching so many cases, and to Julian for (re) organising as I threatened to succumb to work. A broad spread of good to very good ports, with a small number of disappointing ones. But nothing really...
by winesecretary
21:02 Tue 11 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 1970 Horizontal, flights 1-4, Friday 3 October 2025
Replies: 41
Views: 3670

Re: 1970 Horizontal, flights 1-4, Friday 3 October 2025

Reconfirmed. I know I have Warre and GB but will check what else idc.
by winesecretary
20:56 Tue 11 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 1970 Horizontal, flight 0, Thursday 2 October 2025
Replies: 20
Views: 1082

Re: 1970 Horizontal, flight 0, Thursday 2 October 2025

I reconfirm availability for Flight 0. I still have the Feuerheerd.
by winesecretary
12:13 Mon 10 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Sainsbury's Taste The Difference
Replies: 3
Views: 170

Re: 2000 Sainsbury's Taste The Difference

I should add - this has very clearly been recorked- presumably to remove a branded one.
by winesecretary
11:42 Mon 10 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Sainsbury's Taste The Difference
Replies: 3
Views: 170

Re: 2000 Sainsbury's Taste The Difference

Opened 09/02/25 2130

Decanted 10/2/25 1130

Rich thick sediment

QA sample promising
by winesecretary
11:41 Mon 10 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Osborne
Replies: 2
Views: 165

Re: 2000 Osborne

A bottle purchased at auction in about 2018.

Opened 09/02/25 2130

Decanted 10/2/25 1130

Thick heavy sediment

QA sample fine.
by winesecretary
09:29 Mon 10 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Gould Campbell
Replies: 2
Views: 143

Re: 2000 Gould Campbell

Opened 09/02/25 2130 decanted 10/2/25 0930.

Immense amounts of thick sediment.

Quality assessment sample suggests this is a bruiser.
by winesecretary
09:21 Mon 10 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Dow
Replies: 3
Views: 154

Re: 2000 Dow

Opened 09/02/25 2130 decanted 10/2/25 0915

Very heavy thick sediment

Quality assessment sample excellent
by winesecretary
09:15 Mon 10 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2000 Niepoort Secundum
Replies: 2
Views: 151

Re: 2000 Niepoort Secundum

Opened 9/2/25 2130 decanted 10/2/25 0909.

Heavy fine sediment. Decanting sample fragrant.
by winesecretary
19:04 Sun 09 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

Official start time of 1800. Some of us will be there from circa 1700, pouring things into glasses. Many hands (say, five pairs) make light work. Much more than that is likely to make it difficult to manouevre. Self, nac, one of nac's guests, alex would be fine. One or two more welcome but if the bu...
by winesecretary
20:24 Fri 07 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

@ idj - Real Compania Velha? Were we that bad in a previous life?

Seriously, 20 really is enough, chaps…
by winesecretary
20:16 Fri 07 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

I have failed to pre-deliver my ports to the B&F due to pressure of work. I will follow the Julianic method set out above.
by winesecretary
23:17 Thu 06 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2012 Quevedo Colheita Quinta Vale D’Agodinho
Replies: 0
Views: 112

2012 Quevedo Colheita Quinta Vale D’Agodinho

From 90 ml bottled 2024

80% opaque, red rim

Bright cherries-in-kirsch nose.

Palate very much congruent.

Some ground almonds, late.

Nice, and interesting, but definitely unusual.
by winesecretary
22:13 Thu 06 Feb 2025
Forum: Reviews
Topic: 2000 Horizontal, Mon 10 Feb 2025, B&F
Replies: 17
Views: 4078

Re: 2000 Horizontal, Mon 10 Feb 2025, B&F

I think that technically 2000 is last century, or certainly last millennium.
by winesecretary
22:06 Wed 05 Feb 2025
Forum: Travel
Topic: Kopke Tivoli Hotel, Vila Nova de Gaia
Replies: 19
Views: 9743

Re: Kopke Tivoli Hotel, Vila Nova de Gaia

In fairness to the Tivoli, the rooms at the Yeatman are ridiculously large. It feels like a quarter of a mile from door to terrace. And the baths… I decided to have a bath in my room there one evening and it took about 30 minutes to fill.
by winesecretary
22:01 Wed 05 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Software that makes placemats
Replies: 1294
Views: 1263452

Re: Software that makes placemats

2… I can see it …
by winesecretary
20:57 Wed 05 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Software that makes placemats
Replies: 1294
Views: 1263452

Re: Software that makes placemats

Possibly also the 00 / 2000 backdrop. Just feels right.
by winesecretary
20:55 Wed 05 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Software that makes placemats
Replies: 1294
Views: 1263452

Re: Software that makes placemats

But also, there is a sparseness to them that is very pleasing. A bit like the sonnet form, there is a compression from the strict requirements of getting 20 in that strips them to the essentials.
by winesecretary
08:29 Wed 05 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

That is indeed a magnificent set of place mats. Thank you Julian.
by winesecretary
20:54 Tue 04 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

As to whether we have too much port - a vote - do we pour small and everyone takes 1/3 of a bottle of their preference home? Or do we trim the list? A question for the ages, in a sense. Possibly a matter of both, if we end up being 12 persons, where 16 ports might be advisable. I think to get it dow...
by winesecretary
17:00 Tue 04 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1966 Sandeman
Replies: 3
Views: 442

Re: 1966 Sandeman

Well that looks like a very good time indeed.
by winesecretary
19:29 Mon 03 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 19 Feb 25 (TBC) - Niche-interest bottlings & old reliables
Replies: 94
Views: 19197

Re: 19 Feb 25 (TBC) - Niche-interest bottlings & old reliables

Chopped sausages
Harissa chicken, green salad on the side
Sticky toffee pudding
by winesecretary
19:27 Mon 03 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

My food choices

Avocado bruschetta
Pie, additional green salad on the side
Welsh rarebit
by winesecretary
10:30 Mon 03 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

Neil, if Harry can't make it, remove Mz and QH and I will remove TTD. 16 enough for 13. If Harry can make it then keep Mz in and I will keep TTD in. (I suspect the TTD is QH-adjacent hence that way round.)
by winesecretary
21:57 Sun 02 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2012 Quevedo Colheita Tinta Francisca
Replies: 0
Views: 806

2012 Quevedo Colheita Tinta Francisca

From 90ml Much brighter in glass that the 2014 Colheita ex LBV. -70% opaque, cherry red. Very much fruit driven nose. Confit cherries, hint of sherbet. Bright fruit on the front palate, but then a quite dramatic shift to some interesting mature sous-bois on the finish. Possibly a little monotonal, b...
by winesecretary
21:50 Sun 02 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2014 Quevedo Colheita ex LBV
Replies: 0
Views: 100

2014 Quevedo Colheita ex LBV

From 90ml

Rim browning, but still 95% opaque

Smells of prunes and of dried figs. Fig rolls?

Congruent palate with a little bit of fruit pointing through before the finish.

Pleasant wine, fully mature.
by winesecretary
21:14 Sun 02 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

Julian, thank you, helpful request for clarification - please open night before, leave open, double decant morning and seal.
by winesecretary
21:07 Sun 02 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

I will drop my ports off at the B&F this week and ask that they be opened and decanted on the morning of the tasting. If you are travelling with your port, then opening and double decanting the night before should offer a similar experience.
by winesecretary
21:01 Sun 02 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

@ Luke, thanks for the food order.
by winesecretary
21:01 Sun 02 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

@idj - thank you, but already standing up
by winesecretary
23:50 Sat 01 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

Martin’s guest is adopting his Warre.
by winesecretary
20:32 Sat 01 Feb 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 143
Views: 32226

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

Alex M’s unavailability means we are 13, five of whom will be adopting from nac, but nac is currently providing six wines for adoptions. We either need another person, or we need to take a wine out I think (given Julian’s and my already enthusiastic oversupply).