Search found 3107 matches

by Andy Velebil
21:58 Tue 12 May 2026
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Quality of 'regular' VPs after the advent of super premium VPs
Replies: 7
Views: 214

Re: Quality of 'regular' VPs after the advent of super premium VPs

Tasting side by side in the past “classic” declarations, I haven’t seen any slide in quality of the regular cuvées. Two thoughts, one is I agree with alex. Second, a producer has access to many vineyards of their own and purchased grapes/juice. Many of which have every bit as good of grapes as “X” v...
by Andy Velebil
18:39 Mon 11 May 2026
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2443
Views: 6429001

Re: Latest buy

MigSU wrote:"Crusting" = "in the process of becoming crusted"? :)
And “LANDED”. But from where? A plane? spaceship?
by Andy Velebil
02:30 Fri 01 May 2026
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port glasses
Replies: 11
Views: 584

Re: Port glasses

Most of the port industry has moved on from the smaller “port glasses” and are now using more of a small white wine glass.
by Andy Velebil
13:09 Thu 23 Apr 2026
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2024 Vintage Declarations
Replies: 16
Views: 5090

Re: 2024 Vintage Declarations

As have Quinta de la Rosa
by Andy Velebil
14:56 Thu 02 Apr 2026
Forum: Travel
Topic: oPortUno - a new Port wine bar in Porto
Replies: 4
Views: 3874

Re: oPortUno - a new Port wine bar in Porto

She’s very nice and knowledgeable. Will have to stop by next time I’m there. Thanks for posting about it.
by Andy Velebil
03:12 Thu 02 Apr 2026
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2443
Views: 6429001

Re: Latest buy

The weird one out of that blend is Boa Vista.
by Andy Velebil
19:46 Mon 23 Mar 2026
Forum: Reviews
Topic: 1966s, at sixty, on Tue 17 Mar 2026, at B&F
Replies: 13
Views: 5117

1966s, at sixty, on Tue 17 Mar 2026, at B&F

Some time ago we said the same thing about 1963’s. Then they came out of whatever phase they went into and were fabulous again. Do you think the same has now happened to the 1966’s?
by Andy Velebil
12:32 Wed 11 Mar 2026
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 2024 Vintage Declarations
Replies: 16
Views: 5090

Re: 2024 Vintage Declarations

Niepoort has just declared their VP today.
by Andy Velebil
20:42 Fri 06 Mar 2026
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Latest buy
Replies: 2443
Views: 6429001

Re: Latest buy

Was buying some antique metal boxes and saw this and at €4.50 will make excellent gravy. Anyone familiar with this? IIRC it's a fine 10 Year Old Tawny. Gilbert's was once independent, but passed through the hands of Amorim (yes, the cork company) before now being owned by Sogevinus. I have a vague ...
by Andy Velebil
14:07 Tue 24 Feb 2026
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Quevedo Unrecorded Tawny (bottled 2025)
Replies: 3
Views: 2681

Re: NV Quevedo Unrecorded Tawny Bottled 2025

PhilW wrote:
Andy Velebil wrote: 13:41 Tue 24 Feb 2026 What does “Unrecorded” mean?
From Oscar's youtube video description for this wine, this is tawny from a barrel for which there are no records (whether never recorded, or records lost).
Ah, ok thanks.
by Andy Velebil
13:41 Tue 24 Feb 2026
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Quevedo Unrecorded Tawny (bottled 2025)
Replies: 3
Views: 2681

Re: NV Quevedo Unrecorded Tawny Bottled 2025

What does “Unrecorded” mean?
by Andy Velebil
01:34 Fri 20 Feb 2026
Forum: Reviews
Topic: 2026 : Vasconcellos tawny tasting
Replies: 3
Views: 4875

Re: 2026 : Vasconcellos tawny tasting

I’ve been once. Many years ago. It was, interesting to say the least. No prices on anything and it seemed to change based on what they thought you’d pay. Ports were, shall we say, average at best. I’ve never been back. Nor have I ever recommended it to anyone. Just my experience and two cents.
by Andy Velebil
15:34 Mon 02 Feb 2026
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: 4 Bottles to sell!
Replies: 21
Views: 7335

Re: 4 Bottles to sell!

Hi Terry,

I agree with the other three posters. Unfortunately, your bottles are not collectable and not worth much money. As mentioned, if you know of someone to give them to would be my recommendation.
by Andy Velebil
00:46 Sun 18 Jan 2026
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1931 Quinta do Noval
Replies: 3
Views: 9502

Re: 1931 Noval

Raises hand of availability.
by Andy Velebil
02:52 Sun 11 Jan 2026
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Quevedo Mixology (bottled 2025)
Replies: 3
Views: 9228

Re: Quevedo NV Mixology Bottled 2025

That’s a cool back story. Thanks.
by Andy Velebil
15:32 Tue 06 Jan 2026
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port-box enclosures
Replies: 20
Views: 23544

Re: Port-box enclosures

Alex Bridgeman wrote:How lovely to think of Dow 1977 as being the perfect point for drinking at the age of 22...
Was thinking the same when I read that. But guess better young than never?
by Andy Velebil
21:23 Wed 31 Dec 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1994 Taylor
Replies: 4
Views: 5773

Re: 1994 Taylor

winesecretary wrote:I think someone has stolen our Alex and replaced him with a bot.
For sure.
by Andy Velebil
00:15 Mon 29 Dec 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port-box enclosures
Replies: 20
Views: 23544

Re: Port-box enclosures

Was lucky to have had that 1952 a number of times. Absolutely fabulous Colheita!

I too have an empty of it still.
by Andy Velebil
19:35 Wed 24 Dec 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Festive Drinking 2025
Replies: 59
Views: 57093

Re: Festive Drinking 2025

…Harvey’s 1954 (identify clear from capsule and cork)… Just for information, Harvey’s 1954 is actually a full Graham blend. A small parcel (2 pipes, I think without checking my notes) of it was made. One was kept by the Symingtons for a child born in 1954 and one sent to Harvey’s as they (or maybe ...
by Andy Velebil
15:50 Wed 24 Dec 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Festive Drinking 2025
Replies: 59
Views: 57093

Re: Festive Drinking 2025

Whitwams Millennium Port. (A Christiano Van Zeller and Dirk Niepoort collaboration back in 1999). Pretty spectacular.
by Andy Velebil
00:15 Mon 15 Dec 2025
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Festive Drinking 2025
Replies: 59
Views: 57093

Re: Festive Drinking 2025

Those are some very nice wines. Surprised to see a Quinta das Bágeiras there, they're not very well known wines outside of Portugal but they are excellent. Discovered them earlier this year, very glad I did, great wines indeed. They make some fabulous wines. Glad you discovered them. They age very ...
by Andy Velebil
21:40 Thu 04 Dec 2025
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: O-PORT-UNIDADE Vintage Port 2023
Replies: 3
Views: 5210

Re: O-PORT-UNIDADE Vintage Port 2023

Congrats on the new vintage!
by Andy Velebil
23:05 Sun 02 Nov 2025
Forum: Reviews
Topic: Launch tasting of wines from Vesúvio (and Graham 80YO)
Replies: 5
Views: 17113

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

2015 Vesuvio Douro needs a good long decant. I opened a bottle at home a week or so ago that was fabulous and showed much better than this one did.
by Andy Velebil
13:28 Fri 19 Sep 2025
Forum: Travel
Topic: Vesuvio Visit Sept 2025
Replies: 7
Views: 21010

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: 24964

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: 24964

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: 38889

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: 58561

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: 50826

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: 39503

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: 5802

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: 4170

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: 4976

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: 70142

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: 56509

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: 56509

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: 46841

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: 22957

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: 22957

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: 15380

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: 173230

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: 32195

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: 31223

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: 56538

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: 7396

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: 17782

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: 4059

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: 17160

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: 36152

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...