Search found 3084 matches

by Andy Velebil
13:28 Fri 19 Sep 2025
Forum: Travel
Topic: Vesuvio Visit Sept 2025
Replies: 6
Views: 1869

Re: Vesuvio Visit Sept 2025

Fabulous write up and visit!
by Andy Velebil
18:07 Wed 06 Aug 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1963 Douro Wine Shippers and Growers Association
Replies: 12
Views: 15204

Re: 1963 Douro Wine Shippers and Growers Association

$80 for a 1963 is not very flattering. No it's not. I think this wine is appraised quite good and the bottles are in great condition. I believe 250 EUR sound more like the right direction for a bottle of 60+ years of age. Hopefully they can be bought and enjoyed by the right buyer. Just because som...
by Andy Velebil
02:22 Sun 03 Aug 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1963 Douro Wine Shippers and Growers Association
Replies: 12
Views: 15204

Re: 1963 Douro Wine Shippers and Growers Association

Hi - i am reaching out today as I was offered to sell 6 bottles of the Vintage port. The bottles are in great condition considering the age - but don't have any paper work attached. The wines are currently not offered any where online, so I was thinking this is a. great place to start. What do you ...
by Andy Velebil
02:19 Sun 03 Aug 2025
Forum: Selling Port
Topic: douro wine shippers & growers association 1963 vintage port
Replies: 5
Views: 18896

Re: douro wine shippers & growers association 1963 vintage port

I have owned and still have the better of a case of these. I’ve had many times. Don’t know the offering price. If good then a deal. If not then not a deal. It’s a bit past maturity but still offers a pleasant drink. Though nothing to write home about.
by Andy Velebil
21:50 Wed 16 Jul 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: DWWA 2025 - High Scoring Ports
Replies: 17
Views: 23402

Re: DWWA 2025 - High Scoring Ports

Without realising it, I have just undertaken a sense check of my "normal" scores against my "DWWA scale" score. One of the wines I tasted at the DWWA was the Ferreira 10YO White. On 9th May, I gave this a score of 88/100 - which was a silver medal - categorising it as a wine whi...
by Andy Velebil
02:04 Fri 04 Jul 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Decanting recommendations
Replies: 10
Views: 24555

Re: Decanting recommendations

jdaw1 wrote:Is muslin sterile?
No. And neither are the toes that stomped those grapes :)
by Andy Velebil
20:26 Fri 18 Apr 2025
Forum: Travel
Topic: A Visit to Hambledon Vineyard
Replies: 13
Views: 14468

Re: A Visit to Hambledon Vineyard

Excellent write up!
by Andy Velebil
03:29 Sat 08 Mar 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1972 Quevedo Colheita (bottled 2024)
Replies: 7
Views: 2703

Re: 1972 Quevedo Colheita (bottled 2024)

IIRC, the Advent calendar bottles are, or at least were, all hand bottled. So there can be some bottle variation compared to larger bottles done on a mechanical bottling line. If all things are constant, the larger the bottle the slower the aging process. However, if things aren’t constant that coul...
by Andy Velebil
20:15 Mon 24 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1960 Diez Hermanos
Replies: 2
Views: 2425

Re: 1960 Diez Hermanos

Who bottled this? Or is make an actual producer?
by Andy Velebil
03:57 Sun 23 Feb 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2017 Niepoort
Replies: 4
Views: 2832

Re: 2017 Niepoort

From half Pop and decant and pour Colour still 97% impenetrable, red rim, still glass coating, Confit black cherry nose Lovely smooth cool blue fruit palate, with some red and then black fruit later, but there’s so much density to the fruit that the tannins (which are there, the structure is admira...
by Andy Velebil
23:01 Tue 04 Feb 2025
Forum: Travel
Topic: Kopke Tivoli Hotel, Vila Nova de Gaia
Replies: 20
Views: 42163

Re: Kopke Tivoli Hotel, Vila Nova de Gaia

Will be nice to have an alternative to the Yeatman. And without that long uphill walk in the warmer months as well. Thanks for review.
by Andy Velebil
21:04 Thu 23 Jan 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 1985 Cálem - suspicious bottle
Replies: 31
Views: 27744

Re: 1985 Cálem - suspicious bottle

Both Rummy’s and Harry’s bottles specify “Bottled in Oporto in 1987 by Sogevinus Fine Wines, S.A”, whereas the pictures of the other bottles specify “Bottled in Oporto in 1987 by A. A. Cálem & Filho, Lda.” or “Bottled in Oporto in 1987 by A. A. Cálem & Filho, S.A.”. I thought Sogevinus was ...
by Andy Velebil
01:43 Thu 23 Jan 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 1985 Cálem - suspicious bottle
Replies: 31
Views: 27744

Re: 1985 Cálem - suspicious bottle

They late released a bunch of this around 4-ish years ago or so. There was/is a bunch for sale at the Calem Lodge in Gaia. I bought a bunch a few years ago when it was much cheaper than now.

Your bottle looks real to me.
by Andy Velebil
16:23 Wed 22 Jan 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Decanting for a tasting
Replies: 26
Views: 21297

Re: Decanting for a tasting

I think he's trying to say that Calém VPs have a consistent profile, which is the opposite of what you tasted in that particular bottle. (edited for terrible grammar) 1985 Calem VP rocks. It’s largely an unknown star from the vintage. They were selling it at the Calem Lodge for ~€50 a few years ago...
by Andy Velebil
20:54 Tue 14 Jan 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Noval Nacional 1979 - Real?
Replies: 6
Views: 9692

Re: Noval Nacional 1979 - Real?

Thank you for all your replies. Plenty of reasons to be suspicious but why would anyone go to all this effort? Seems like I need to see what the cork says! Very sorry but work prevents me from being able to meet on 2 April. I am happy to bring the bottle to a tasting later this year. I also have a ...
by Andy Velebil
04:08 Tue 14 Jan 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Noval Nacional 1979 - Real?
Replies: 6
Views: 9692

Re: Noval Nacional 1979 - Real?

Pretty sure they stopped using the AJdS as producer before 1979 vintage (1981 by the time this would have been bottled). IIRC, I think 1970 vintage (or so) was last year to list producer as AJdS. No Selo or any sign of a previous one. Weird type set and only listed as “Noval”, no Quinta do. Generic ...
by Andy Velebil
04:37 Sat 21 Dec 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Offley Forrester Very Old
Replies: 3
Views: 8604

Re: Offley Forrester Very Old

One has to be careful of applying today’s labeling terms to these old bottles. Odds are it was a more basic or mid level Tawny. Color would indicate past its best days.
by Andy Velebil
02:07 Fri 20 Dec 2024
Forum: Selling Port
Topic: Offer of Very Old Tawny Port in Bulk
Replies: 73
Views: 82329

Re: Offer of Very Old Tawny Port in Bulk

Sorry chaps for reviving an old thread, but what happened with this sale? Was a sale agreed by the family? Are there bottles available? A very interesting read either way [emoji106] We didn't progress this as it wasn't great & potentially too expensive. Will W may have further info. Suggest con...
by Andy Velebil
00:55 Fri 20 Dec 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 1896 Port - Unknown: Help with digging!
Replies: 22
Views: 16670

Re: 1896 Port - Unknown: Help with digging!

When opening, don’t use any Ah-So or Durand. They will destroy the sides and thus the possibility of identifying. Push the cork in, then after pouring contents into decanter, bag out the cork. Some observations. Weird wax. Looks like a layer on top of another layer. And weird shape. Given the possib...
by Andy Velebil
22:47 Mon 02 Dec 2024
Forum: Reviews
Topic: Rozès - Ports fit for a luxury brand
Replies: 2
Views: 10647

Re: Rozès - Ports fit for a luxury brand

Very nice review! I do need to explore their Ports more, haven't had one in many years. Alas, not easy to find near me.
by Andy Velebil
05:03 Fri 29 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Made from Port packaging
Replies: 37
Views: 37138

Re: Made from Port packaging

Well done!
by Andy Velebil
13:39 Sat 23 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2014 Cockburn Canais
Replies: 5
Views: 4488

Re: 2014 Cockburn Canais

That’s cool!
by Andy Velebil
13:36 Wed 20 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Seckford's Delivery Policy
Replies: 7
Views: 10767

Re: Seckford's Delivery Policy

That's a strange policy change. It's not even cost effective, they're wasting man hours opening cases and transferring bottles to their own cases. Very strange. It would infer that they’ve had a more than insignificant issues with bottles breaking in transit in OWC’s. Switching to a safer shipping ...
by Andy Velebil
13:46 Sat 09 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Dow Tawny 20YO (Bottled 2022)
Replies: 2
Views: 2202

Re: NV Dow Tawny 20YO (Bottled 2022)

2022 is current bottling of this as far as I know. As I buy these here in the states and 2022 is currently being sold. (Last purchase was about a month ago).
by Andy Velebil
03:28 Fri 08 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The Warre 2006 LBV mystery
Replies: 9
Views: 11568

Re: The Warre 2006 LBV mystery

To update. Lufthansa for a long time on long haul flights to/from USA has had either Graham’s LBV or 10 yr tawny for business class. Both in 375ml bottles. Last year they had Niepoort 30 in first class. This year it’s been Niepoort 20 yr in first class for long haul flights to/from USA. All were fro...
by Andy Velebil
20:19 Sun 03 Nov 2024
Forum: Reviews
Topic: 2024: Undisturbed & Other 1970s - Tues 8th October
Replies: 11
Views: 14188

Re: 2024: Undisturbed & Other 1970s - Tues 8th October

I didn’t attend the tasting, but I am very interested to read about the 1970 becoming less reliable / showing old age / losing fruit. Didn’t we say something similar about the 1960 vintage 15 years ago? And about the 1963 vintage about 10 years ago? Do I sense a pattern? Do we need to leave our 197...
by Andy Velebil
16:29 Thu 31 Oct 2024
Forum: Press Releases and Announcements
Topic: Launch of Quinta do Noval 50YO Tawny
Replies: 6
Views: 12135

Re: Launch of Quinta do Noval 50YO Tawny

Noval is consistently one of the most expensive tawny producers so that price doesn’t surprise me. IMO, like the 40’s, there won’t be a lot of them sold when compared to 10/20/30’s. Your big companies maybe do one bottling run every couple years or so for 40’s. Depending on demand of course. So I’d ...
by Andy Velebil
03:35 Sun 27 Oct 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Something off with this 1964 RP
Replies: 13
Views: 12216

Re: Something off with this 1964 RP

Fake.

Sadly, more and more of fake old ports are showing up on the market.
by Andy Velebil
03:24 Fri 13 Sep 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2330
Views: 5716008

Re: Latest buy

pommy42 wrote:]Mystery bottle from an auction...any help with identifying pre pulling the cork would be much appreciated. James keith appears to be the importer and claimed 1930s by the auction house...#help :tpf: :)
Capsule pic is blurry. Can you post a clear pic?

And some overall shots of the whole bottle?
by Andy Velebil
00:41 Fri 06 Sep 2024
Forum: Reference
Topic: Port brand abbreviations
Replies: 437
Views: 1133419

Port brand abbreviations

The history of Guimaraens is very complicated. However, Fonseca and Guimaraens were two separate companies until Alistair merged them, IIRC in the late 60’s. I will look back through an old article I wrote on the history of the company (old computer and need to find the file. But it was an article o...
by Andy Velebil
02:14 Sat 31 Aug 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1945 Constantino
Replies: 7
Views: 4247

Re: 1945 Constantino

Have a pic of the bottle and cork?
by Andy Velebil
22:29 Wed 28 Aug 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Renovations at the Senhora da Ribeira winery
Replies: 3
Views: 6181

Re: Renovations at the Senhora da Ribeira winery

Looks Very nice. Last I was there they were doing demo work where it would be. Please do post more pics if you visit. Thanks
by Andy Velebil
18:42 Tue 20 Aug 2024
Forum: Other Fortified Wines
Topic: A visit to Villa Oeiras - August 2024
Replies: 3
Views: 10495

Re: A visit to Villa Oeiras - August 2024

Very interesting and educational history. Thank you.
by Andy Velebil
18:34 Thu 15 Aug 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Pipachá / Port Wine Tea from Niepoort
Replies: 4
Views: 6445

Re: Pipachá / Port Wine Tea from Niepoort

If memory serves and nothing has changed, the tea part is Dirk’s wife’s project.

And like many producers, Niepoort is the Portuguese distributor for other wines.
by Andy Velebil
00:16 Mon 29 Jul 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1992 Fonseca
Replies: 1
Views: 2359

Re: 1992 Fonseca

I’ve had this a few times recently. It needs a good long decant.
by Andy Velebil
02:53 Sat 20 Jul 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2330
Views: 5716008

Re: Latest buy

Justin K wrote:Three new Ports to me. All bought at auction.
SW77 x 6
GC 10YO x 1
Burmester (don’t know the abbreviation) 85 x3
Nice haul. Most curious about the GC 10. Assume bottled a bit ago?
by Andy Velebil
02:22 Tue 16 Jul 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2330
Views: 5716008

Re: Latest buy

Justin K wrote:Martinez ‘27 £60 plus commission.
That’s a good deal.
by Andy Velebil
18:36 Tue 09 Jul 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2330
Views: 5716008

Re: Latest buy

I've just bought some S20 year tawny mostly for the bottles so I'm a bit more organised for the next double blind sillyness .... However it has the advantage (??) that Mandy has decided she quite likes it and I'm watching the first bottle rapidly empty ..... A good tawny. And the bottles with the g...
by Andy Velebil
17:59 Mon 08 Jul 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Find of a Lifetime?
Replies: 9
Views: 6578

Re: Find of a Lifetime?

Alex Bridgeman wrote:As Phil says, the bottle looks to be genuine to me from the pictures you’ve posted. I’d follow his guidance to see if you can get a feel for the state of health of the contents and be and give thanks for your lucky find!
Agree
by Andy Velebil
02:50 Mon 08 Jul 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Find of a Lifetime?
Replies: 9
Views: 6578

Re: Find of a Lifetime?

Pics would be helpful. Most likely it is legit. But not the only time a fake NN has been found up river.
by Andy Velebil
02:48 Mon 08 Jul 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Three-word places to drink Port
Replies: 49
Views: 28539

Re: Three-word places to drink Port

Perhaps Glenn would be interested to know that perfect.tawny.port can be found in the Atlantic Ocean about 500 miles south-west of Ilhas Cabo Verde. Or maybe Andy should know that the only place in the world where you can find massive Port stocks is not far from his house in LA — could this be his ...
by Andy Velebil
00:54 Sat 06 Jul 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2001 Warre Cavadinha
Replies: 3
Views: 2837

Re: 2001 Warre Qd Cavadinha

I love Cavadinha. It’s not a bold style like FG or Malvedos, but more elegant that just gets better with age.
by Andy Velebil
00:52 Sat 06 Jul 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2005 Taylor Terra Feita
Replies: 1
Views: 2281

Re: 2005 Taylor Terra Feita

I recently acquired a 2005 Vargellas. Hoping it shows as well.
by Andy Velebil
02:06 Fri 05 Jul 2024
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Thursday 4th July - Election Night Special
Replies: 75
Views: 44421

Re: Thursday 4th July - Election Night Special

Wonderful to see everyone, even briefly. Sorry couldn’t stay longer.
by Andy Velebil
17:14 Mon 24 Jun 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2330
Views: 5716008

Re: Latest buy

Alex Bridgeman wrote:On a recent trip to Portugal I seem to have acquired bottles of:
  • Kopke 10YO White
  • Kopke 2003 White Colheita
  • Kopke 50YO White (half bottle)
  • Kopke 1965 Colheita
  • Kopke 1963 Colheita
I seemed to have miraculously acquired
1937, 1974 Kopke and 2003 Kopke Branco. It’s a miracle!
by Andy Velebil
02:36 Mon 27 May 2024
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 1977's - Tue 11th June 2024
Replies: 163
Views: 91759

Re: 1977's - Tue 11th June 2024

Crikey, gird the loins for this tasting, as we are fast approaching the equivalent of two dozen bottles! And talking of tastings within tastings, if we had the Ni g ((which sadly I do not), then we would have another one… I think the record for a large tasting is still the Fonseca tasting many year...
by Andy Velebil
13:40 Sat 25 May 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Quinta Das Carvalhas
Replies: 8
Views: 5192

Re: Quinta Das Carvalhas

RCV makes some lovely tawnys. Their VP’s are getting better and their table wine program is excellent.
by Andy Velebil
15:17 Mon 13 May 2024
Forum: Other Wines
Topic: 2021 Quinta do Vesuvio Douro
Replies: 0
Views: 14120

2021 Quinta do Vesuvio Douro

2021 Quinta do Vesuvio Douro Mostly Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, and Tinta Amarela. This wine makes up only 1-2% of the total production of the Quinta. Black stone fruits, tobacco, tar, chocolate, drying tannins and wet stones. A seamless transition to a very exuberant and long finish. This gai...