ThePortForum.com

Thanks Julian.

I'm well tuned into decanting etc. The day job..(and plentiful experience). Uninspiring was more due to a flatness (versus closed) that I'll assume was a touch of TCA that didn't fully rear its head. I.e. this bottle rather than F85 as a whole.

The DIY tongs if anyone doubted...

Time to weigh in with the TN's. Unknown bottler, half bottle with VTS level. Capsule and cork confirms T35. DIY tongs worked a treat. Ruby centre to tawny rim. Nose is super alive and bright: a prominent creamy strawberry note akin to mini milk ice creams, kirsh, lifted minty freshness, dried fig, l...

Have messaged you. If it hasn't arrived, let me know.

Reply sent yesterday

Everyone who chipped in here, thanks again. Alas, contents and cork news delayed. The crowd, plus quantity and quality consumed/provided wasn't quite right over Christmas to up the generosity to this (an uninspiring 85 Fonseca opened instead). Likewise, the mock-up tongs not yet given a test run (Ta...

Have messaged you. If it hasn't arrived, let me know.

Thanks. Nothing through yet

Thanks Glenn

Indeed, and as mentioned in first post here, per the reasoning:

Detailed photos and information on deduction can gladly be provided on interest - a few teaser pics below.

Much obliged

Julian, you're a good man. Unfortunately, I'm based in the soggy Northwest (Manchester). But the offer is nonetheless appreciated. The heathen that I am (in this instance...), I've easily fashioned the make-do which 99% will do the job successfully. I'll let you know the results.

If only there was an imminent excuse for someone to buy you some tongs as a present...

Some people would like to own port tongs/see as a necessity, others may not/not have enough use for them. However, as noted, I have an alternative plan...

Thanks, Phil. Despite missing Roriz off my list, my belief is that Gonzalez Byass/R B Byass was the sole English bottler (or even sole bottler, full stop)? Always happy to be educated. And excuse all the brain picking. NB if anyone has any factual info to show that J&B bottled anything other tha...

The only bottler I can think of from around then with ...NG is "W & N Starling" in 1887, but I have not seen any evidence that this ever became "& SONS". The only information I can find is: - "W & N Starling" was a wine merchant based in Saffron Walden in m...

The aligned thoughts and comments are appreciated, Alex. And the matching photos, if you still have.

Last one...excuse many posts..just clarifying 31 after the disagreements. I'm not sure 1931 is questionable.

Y, & and C "at 4:30" is indeed concurrent with the correct full name... Justerini & Brooks, Bailey & Co There are various references for this, from Alex on here (per Julian's book) and: Christies (1997) Quinta do Noval--Vintage 1931 All with legible remains of embossed wax caps...

Per...

It is definitely not a 7. Note the width of the top section of the 3 - the top of a 7 would be the same and this isn't concurrent with the spacing of the numbers.

+

2nd image....not dissimilar to the Feuerheerd anchor!

Phil, this is a very helpful reply, thank you. Indeed, with the cork, I didn't expect to see branding. But worth a look for clues, of course. I've just again taken the bottle up from the cellar (I need to stop moving it..), polished a little more cellar gunk off the neck and 100th time lucky getting...

No problem, Phil, go ahead

Even if this isn't of interest to anyone here, a nice thing to talk about...I've had some fun with it/put some graft into the research and affirmation process.

Hi both, I'm not quite tuned into how to quote yet, but: Alex, re provenance: unfortunately, details are unsurprisingly super limited here, given significant age etc. This was a personal buy (for drinking) initially and the seller advised "sold by a third party" and little else, despite my...

Thanks, Glenn, appreciated.

Unfortunately, the nature of the glass - black, thick, imperfections etc, makes the cork too tricky to make out for a worthwhile shot. I've had a crack at this quite a few times. May attempt for a 100th time but not hopeful!

Cheers

My second TPF post here...the first, earlier today, which was perhaps a little more wildly hopeful (a more than wishful brain picking request re an unknown 1896: this one a keeper/drinker). Per intro request/some context, I'm in the UK wine trade and head a small, independent, fine and rare wine mer...

Hello! Newbie here, but have been scouring the forum recently for research help. I'm in the UK wine trade and run a company, Provinance Ltd, alongside Hugo Rose MW. However, this is an extracurricular thing, personally owned. I'm a bit of a (wine) bottle dating and deep digging geek. I own a bottle ...