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by Alex Bridgeman
20:10 Sat 29 Nov 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 1995 tasting - Tuesday 13 January 2026 (B&F) New Date
Replies: 69
Views: 63951

Re: 1995 tasting - 18 November 2025 (B&F)

Alex Bridgeman wrote: 19:36 Sat 23 Aug 2025 …Warre (4 year bottling)…
What more needs to be said?
by Alex Bridgeman
20:32 Fri 28 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port for sale by retailer
Replies: 1623
Views: 1313433

Re: Port for sale by retailer

Waitrose are running their “buy 6 bottles and get 25% off” offer this week.
by Alex Bridgeman
20:30 Fri 28 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Graham’s Six Grapes ‘Old Vines’ Special Edition
Replies: 1
Views: 184

Re: Graham’s Six Grapes ‘Old Vines’ Special Edition

It might be worth saying a few words about why you’re after a couple of bottles of this wine.
by Alex Bridgeman
20:26 Fri 28 Nov 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Mon 29 Dec 2025: Emergency (zombie invasion)
Replies: 11
Views: 616

Re: Mon 29 Dec 2025: Emergency (zombie invasion)

29th December is a bank holiday. Will that affect the ability to organise or attend an emergency?
by Alex Bridgeman
20:24 Fri 28 Nov 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 1985 Virtual Tasting hosted by Anthony Symington!
Replies: 18
Views: 9969

Re: 1985 Virtual Tasting hosted by Anthony Symington!

Was there a recording of the Zoom tasting? If so, any chance of posting the link?
by Alex Bridgeman
17:00 Sun 23 Nov 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Tue 30 Dec 2025: Emergency (in-law invasion)
Replies: 3
Views: 341

Re: Tue 30 Dec 2025: Emergency (in-law invasion)

I may (>50% chance) be available for one of the invasion emergencies. Unlikely to be available for both.
by Alex Bridgeman
09:08 Sun 23 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Interesting articles re future of Port
Replies: 10
Views: 1939

Re: Interesting articles re future of Port

Maybe the solution is for less VP to be sold when first bottled with more of the production being matured in the producer’s cellars and held back for later release. There would be a cash flow hit for the producer, but they would then have more control over the future price of the mature wine. We are...
by Alex Bridgeman
09:12 Thu 20 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port for sale by retailer
Replies: 1623
Views: 1313433

Re: Port for sale by retailer

I’ve just noticed that Aldi have switched their sourcing for the Fletcher’s Ports to the Fladgate Group (10YO and LBV).

Van Zeller are still the name behind the Special Reserve in 20cl bottles.
by Alex Bridgeman
15:47 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1948 Unknown
Replies: 2
Views: 4686

Re: 1948 Unknown

Labelled as "1948 Vintage Port matured in wood, bottled by G Verlinden & Zoon of S'Hertgoenbosch". From the appearance of the bottle it is estimated that the wine was bottled in the 1960s. Russet brown colour with a dark orange rim; 20% opaque. Light VA on the nose, mixed with orange c...
by Alex Bridgeman
15:45 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1948 Taylor
Replies: 3
Views: 4903

Re: 1948 Taylor

Corked - so disappointing. Not rated. 12-Dec-18.
by Alex Bridgeman
15:44 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1948 Sandeman
Replies: 2
Views: 4149

Re: 1948 Sandeman

Bronzed red colour, 40% opaque. Nosing of cinnamon and mace over baked currant cake that combines to give a wonderful nose. The texture is delightful, the flavours full and rich at first but the structure and fragrance flood through the mid-palate, highlighted by cinnamon and sandalwood. Rich and co...
by Alex Bridgeman
15:43 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1948 Niepoort Garrafeira
Replies: 2
Views: 4027

Re: 1948 Niepoort Garrafeira

Bottled 1952, decanted 1973. Rich brick-red colour, 70% opaque. Delicious soft spiced bruised apple nose, lovely and inviting. Elegant entry with soft flavours of caramel and toffee apple. Rich and elegant palate, beautifully perfumed. A great burst of flavours on the aftertaste and a huge dry, flav...
by Alex Bridgeman
15:42 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1948 Martinez
Replies: 2
Views: 3880

Re: 1948 Martinez

A wonderful dark brick-red colour; 70% opaque. A fabulous nose, full of complex fruit and spices — so wonderfully expressive. A fabulous palate, big and full of flavour. Multiple layers of fruit wrapped around power and punchiness; rich and complex. Fabulous finish and aftertaste. This is a stunning...
by Alex Bridgeman
15:41 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1948 Graham
Replies: 2
Views: 4092

Re: 1948 Graham

Sealed with a cork branded "Graham Finest Reserve 1948". A rich bronze colour, mature and attractive; 60% opaque. A spiced nose with lots of fragrance. Rich on the palate with lots of mace and complex spiced dried fruit. Lovely development on the palate with multiple layers of flavour that...
by Alex Bridgeman
15:40 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1948 Gonzalez Byass
Replies: 2
Views: 3843

Re: 1948 Gonzalez Byass

Muddy brown in colour with a touch of rust; 60% opaque. Extremely smelly on the nose, rather unpleasant. Just as unpleasant on the palate. Not rated. 12-Dec-18.
by Alex Bridgeman
15:39 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1948 Fonseca
Replies: 2
Views: 3858

Re: 1948 Fonseca

Deep rich copper brown colour, 70% opaque. Surprisingly closed on the nose, nothing more than a little celery salt. A lovely smooth texture on the palate, big tannins despite the bottle age and generous rich mature fruit flavours. Very powerful palate, very flavoursome with lots of dried and concent...
by Alex Bridgeman
15:28 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1948 Burmester
Replies: 2
Views: 4468

Re: 1948 Burmester

Bottled 1951. Deep bronze colour, slightly cloudy and opaque as a result. Fresh green apples on the nose. Golden syrup and sweet apples on the entry, but the mid-palate is very dry and lacks fruit. The palate has a certain amount of woodiness to it that is not pleasant, the late palate dry and showi...
by Alex Bridgeman
15:28 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1948 Graham
Replies: 2
Views: 3941

Re: 1948 Graham

Bottler not known. Dark mature brick-red, 60% opaque. Muted nose with lots of alcohol protruding; light perfume with gentle spice. Balanced fruit entry, mature and gently spiced with dried cherry and lots of mace. Less evolved and less complex than the Martinez 1948 drunk alongside. Big, but not sub...
by Alex Bridgeman
11:55 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2006 Quinta do Vesuvio
Replies: 0
Views: 529

2006 Quinta do Vesuvio

A magnum from CMAG's cellar, opened alongside his Vesuvio 10th Anniversary Case on Wednesday 13th February 2019 . From magnum. Deep black/red with no rim. A wonderful nose of fresh cherries and blackcurrants; a nose which is balanced, fresh and delicious. Primary fruit with black cherry and powerful...
by Alex Bridgeman
11:53 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1997 Quinta do Vesuvio
Replies: 0
Views: 492

1997 Quinta do Vesuvio

A bottle from CMAG's Vesuvio 10th Anniversary Case, opened on Wednesday 13th February 2019 . Mature appearance in the core with a medium rim and an opaque centre. Soft fruit leads on the nose, although it is a bit subdued. Balanced entry bringing dirty or baked fruit that was round, sweet and ripe b...
by Alex Bridgeman
11:45 Sun 16 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1996 Quinta do Vesuvio
Replies: 0
Views: 530

1996 Quinta do Vesuvio

A bottle from CMAG's Vesuvio 10th Anniversary Case, opened on Wednesday 13th February 2019 . Deep red colour with no purple in the tone, but no bricking either. Little on the nose, harsh and not very attractive; dominated by sour fruit. Lots of blackcurrant comes through on the palate, which is frui...
by Alex Bridgeman
15:58 Wed 12 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1995 Quinta do Vesuvio
Replies: 2
Views: 786

1995 Quinta do Vesuvio

A bottle from CMAG's Vesuvio 10th Anniversary Case, opened on Wednesday 13th February 2019 . Deep red in colour, opaque and with a narrow rim. A swirl releases lots of dark cherry fruit. Deep black cherry on the palate with lots of dry tannins that gives a chalky and dusty charcoal texture. The frui...
by Alex Bridgeman
15:56 Wed 12 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio
Replies: 0
Views: 708

1994 Quinta do Vesuvio

A bottle from CMAG's Vesuvio 10th Anniversary Case, opened on Wednesday 13th February 2019 . Bottle number 43201. Deep red with a medium rim. Little showing on the nose, surprisingly closed. Smooth and elegant entry. A touch of bottle stink shows on the palate. Lots of tannins show in the sweet frui...
by Alex Bridgeman
15:55 Wed 12 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1992 Quinta do Vesuvio
Replies: 0
Views: 637

1992 Quinta do Vesuvio

A bottle from CMAG's Vesuvio 10th Anniversary Case, opened on Wednesday 13th February 2019 . Bottle number 22042. Deep red colour but with a brick tone; opaque centre and a medium rim — much darker than the earlier vintages. Fresh fruit on the nose, with lots of strawberry and restrained dark cherry...
by Alex Bridgeman
13:29 Wed 12 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1991 Quinta do Vesuvio
Replies: 0
Views: 671

1991 Quinta do Vesuvio

A bottle from CMAG's Vesuvio 10th Anniversary Case, opened on Wednesday 13th February 2019 . Bottle 22 223. mature copper ed colour; 50% opaque. Fresher on the nose than the '89 or '90, showing more redcurrant and cranberry. Smooth onto the palate, bringing redcurrant and green leaves. The gentle ta...
by Alex Bridgeman
12:37 Wed 12 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The Source
Replies: 6
Views: 1314

Re: The Source

I tend to get my Port news from here, FTLOP, Decanter, FaceBook / Instagram and direct mailings from the producers. If I get something direct, I tend to post the news here.
by Alex Bridgeman
12:34 Wed 12 Nov 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: BBR Port Walk - 25th November 2025
Replies: 9
Views: 8360

Re: BBR Port Walk - 25th November 2025

If anyone attending is interested in having a late lunch together before the Berry's tasting, drop me a PM and I'll coordinate something.
by Alex Bridgeman
12:15 Wed 12 Nov 2025
Forum: Travel
Topic: Port Wein Messe Leverkusen
Replies: 4
Views: 1788

Re: Port Wein Messe Leverkusen

Bon Voyage! Axel's Portweinmesse is on my list of events to attend but it's at such a busy time of year for me.

And please do write up your visit. I love reading the stories that people post.
by Alex Bridgeman
11:13 Sun 02 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Graham Tawny 80YO (bottled 2025)
Replies: 0
Views: 1006

NV Graham Tawny 80YO (bottled 2025)

NV Graham Tawny 80YO (bottled 2025) Green rim with an olive brown core. Baked ginger on the nose, spiced and immensely complex. Slightly thickened in texture, with intense orange and marmalade on the palate being delivered with the perfect balance. The intensity of flavour and exquisite balance just...
by Alex Bridgeman
11:12 Sun 02 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Graham Tawny 40YO
Replies: 0
Views: 849

NV Graham Tawny 40YO

NV Graham Tawny 40YO Pale orange rim, amber core. Stunning nose, wonderfully expressive, showing orange caramel and hazelnut. Honey palate, with orange and marmalade dominant. Full of flavour, with layer after layer of expression. This wine just gets bigger and better as it sits on the palate. A lit...
by Alex Bridgeman
11:11 Sun 02 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Graham Tawny 30YO
Replies: 0
Views: 825

NV Graham Tawny 30YO

NV Graham Tawny 30YO Explosively expressive on the nose, with dried citrus peel and honey, deliciously lemony. Sweet orange and tangerine on the palate, with lemon and honey shining through. A firework display of an aftertaste, so full of flavour, with a gloriously grainy honey finish which just doe...
by Alex Bridgeman
10:53 Sun 02 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Graham Tawny 20YO
Replies: 0
Views: 860

NV Graham Tawny 20YO

NV Graham Tawny 20YO
Red-amber in colour with a green-nutty nose, that also showing a little dried fig. Excellent balance on the palate with dried fruit, honey and nuts. This delivers a lingering finish of honeyed redcurrant and the occasional flash of cinder toffee. Harmonious Port. 90/100.
by Alex Bridgeman
09:43 Sun 02 Nov 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Graham Tawny 10YO
Replies: 0
Views: 848

NV Graham Tawny 10YO

NV Graham Tawny 10YO Cherry red in colour. Nutty nose, with some lovely dried cherry. Delicious toasted sugar and Scottish butter tablet on the palate, a gentle layer of vanilla and a gorgeous cherry fudge late. A little spice shows on the aftertaste and finish, a finish which is very long. A very s...
by Alex Bridgeman
09:31 Sun 02 Nov 2025
Forum: Reviews
Topic: Launch tasting of wines from Vesúvio (and Graham 80YO)
Replies: 5
Views: 6200

Re: Launch tasting of wines from Vesúvio (and Graham 80YO)

The whole event lasted around 90 minutes, so it was only a brief opportunity to get to know the wines. Having the chance to taste the tawnies side by side was something I don't get to do often, and with the added bonus of a sample of the 80 year old was something not to be missed. Tasting Notes 2024...
by Alex Bridgeman
17:44 Sat 01 Nov 2025
Forum: Reviews
Topic: Launch tasting of wines from Vesúvio (and Graham 80YO)
Replies: 5
Views: 6200

Re: Launch tasting of wines from Vesúvio (and Graham 80YO)

The venue for the tasting was the Mandrake Hotel in Fitzrovia. This is a lovely quirky hotel that holds surprises around every corner. One of which was a stuffed ostrich that was paying close attention to the wines Anthony was presenting. IMG_5009.jpeg After the wines were tasted, the team cleared t...
by Alex Bridgeman
07:58 Thu 30 Oct 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: The pheonix lives on: Tuesday 28th October 2025 - Blind bring a bottle
Replies: 42
Views: 15084

Re: The pheonix lives on: Tuesday 28th October 2025 - Blind bring a bottle

Well, there was a lot more Port than I was expecting. And I’m very impressed by the scoring. Clearly you lot are now starting to drink enough Port to recognise what you’re drinking. Apart from JDAW. He obviously isn’t drinking enough Port and needs to build up more experience. Lucky I wasn’t there. ...
by Alex Bridgeman
16:00 Wed 29 Oct 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: The pheonix lives on: Tuesday 28th October 2025 - Blind bring a bottle
Replies: 42
Views: 15084

Re: The pheonix lives on: Tuesday 28th October 2025 - Blind bring a bottle

Someone put us non-attendees out our misery and post what was drunk and how the voting went!
by Alex Bridgeman
05:49 Wed 29 Oct 2025
Forum: Reference
Topic: SFE Announcement on 1985 Private Cellar Release
Replies: 0
Views: 2713

SFE Announcement on 1985 Private Cellar Release

Screenshot 2025-10-29 053817.png Screenshot 2025-10-29 054038.png Screenshot 2025-10-29 054125.png Screenshot 2025-10-29 054203.png Screenshot 2025-10-29 054239.png Screenshot 2025-10-29 054319.png Screenshot 2025-10-29 054354.png Screenshot 2025-10-29 054433.png Links - at least for as long as the...
by Alex Bridgeman
20:23 Tue 28 Oct 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: The pheonix lives on: Tuesday 28th October 2025 - Blind bring a bottle
Replies: 42
Views: 15084

Re: The pheonix lives on: Tuesday 28th October 2025 - Blind bring a bottle

mcoulson wrote: 20:22 Mon 27 Oct 2025 Does anybody else remember the 1977 American TV program called 'soap'
Ah. As in “Confused? You will be.”

Elizabeth and I used to watch it every Friday when I was at university.
by Alex Bridgeman
18:59 Thu 23 Oct 2025
Forum: Selling Port
Topic: Ferreira 1960 vintage port value.
Replies: 4
Views: 3895

Re: Ferreira 1960 vintage port value.

Hi Simon, I'm delighted that you've decided to do that. I've had a few bottles of Ferreira 1960 over the years and have thoroughly enjoyed them. It's a lovely, fully mature, gently spiced baked fruit kind of Vintage Port. But please don't let your Christmas guests persuade you to drink it at the end...
by Alex Bridgeman
18:45 Thu 23 Oct 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1948 Taylor
Replies: 5
Views: 5410

Re: 1948 Taylor

1948 Taylor, Audouzed for 2 hours and then decanted for a further 2½ hours. Dark red colour, little showing on the nose but the palate is wonderful with a rich and sweet bramble fruit shining through. The wine is deliciously ready for drinking. It is still in the early stages of secondary developmen...
by Alex Bridgeman
18:45 Thu 23 Oct 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1945 Taylor
Replies: 5
Views: 4605

Re: 1945 Taylor

1945 Taylor, Audouzed for 2 hours and then decanted for a further 2½ hours. Bottled in Porto. The darkest of the wines in the tasting, 80% opaque. Glorious fruit nose. On the palate the wine is richly fruited but with a fabulous balance to the construction of the palate. Really impressive, the combi...
by Alex Bridgeman
18:44 Thu 23 Oct 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1945 Taylor
Replies: 5
Views: 4605

Re: 1945 Taylor

hadge wrote: 22:39 Mon 20 Oct 2025Pictures post
Harry - don't forget!
by Alex Bridgeman
18:44 Thu 23 Oct 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1942 Taylor
Replies: 5
Views: 9259

Re: 1942 Taylor

1942 Taylor, Audouzed for 2 hours and then decanted for a further 2½ hours. Bottled in Porto and sealed under a pink wax with only the Taylor symbol embossed on it. Sadly flawed with lots of bottle stink on nose and palate. N/R.
by Alex Bridgeman
18:43 Thu 23 Oct 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1935 Taylor
Replies: 5
Views: 5543

Re: 1935 Taylor

1935 Taylor, Audouzed for 2 hours and then decanted for a further 2½ hours. Sealed under a black foil with only the shipper and vintage embossed on it. Dark red. Elegant nose and palate with a lovely dark cherry. Lingering dark plum finish. Lots of fruit, primary and full of delicious ripeness. Nice...
by Alex Bridgeman
18:43 Thu 23 Oct 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1927 Taylor
Replies: 2
Views: 2423

Re: 1927 Taylor

1927 Taylor, Audouzed for 2 hours and then decanted for a further 2½ hours. Bottled by Hankey Bannister and sealed under a yellow foil with only the bottler and vintage embossed on it. Dark red bronze colour, 70% opaque. A lovely caramel and strawberry nose. Raspberry caramel on the palate with a lo...
by Alex Bridgeman
18:42 Thu 23 Oct 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1924 Taylor
Replies: 3
Views: 4944

Re: 1924 Taylor

1924 Taylor, Audouzed for 2 hours and then decanted for a further 2½ hours. Dark red colour, 80% opaque. A little closed on the nose at first but with it then showing some lovely dark and rich black bramble fruit. Lovely on the palate, dark fruit delivering a glorious and expressive palate full of b...
by Alex Bridgeman
18:41 Thu 23 Oct 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1920 Taylor
Replies: 4
Views: 4282

Re: 1920 Taylor

1920 Taylor, Audouzed for 2 hours and then decanted for a further 2 hours. The first of the wines in this tasting which showed as a dark colour. A little closed on the nose but showing some gentle concentrated red fruit. A lovely balance on entry with a rich and sweet red fruit, a slight dusting of ...
by Alex Bridgeman
18:40 Thu 23 Oct 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1917 Taylor
Replies: 4
Views: 4402

Re: 1917 Taylor

1917 Taylor. Audouzed for 2 hours before being decante. Lighter on the nose than the 1912 but showing gentle fruit and a lot of alcohol. Sweet but delicate entry with some lovely red jellied fruit and a gentle hint of tannins, but on the mid-palate this dries out quite quickly. But the aftertaste su...
by Alex Bridgeman
18:40 Thu 23 Oct 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1912 Taylor
Replies: 3
Views: 4406

Re: 1912 Taylor

1912 Taylor, opened 18.30 and decanted 2 hours later. Tasted 1½ hours after decanting. Light amber colour, approximately 20% opaque. Very gentle but exquisite nose showing nutty fruit and expressing such a purity. Stunning palate with beautiful mature fruit and incredible levels of complexity. More ...