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by RAYC
19:30 Mon 27 Jan 2025
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 19 Feb 25 (TBC) - Niche-interest bottlings & old reliables
Replies: 39
Views: 6094

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

Hi all

Apologies - still working on my travel plans which are in slight flux at the moment due to changing work requirements.

Room is booked so hopefully a tasting will take place regardless!
by RAYC
18:01 Wed 27 Nov 2024
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Thu 11 Jan 2024 - Wine Dinner (2004 Bordeaux @ 20)
Replies: 8
Views: 24897

Re: Thu 11 Jan 2024 - Wine Dinner (2004 Bordeaux @ 20)

How was the VCC btw? And how did GPL compare to PC? 2004 is a vintage which increasingly interests me in Bordeaux (from a QPR / availability / drinkability perspective). Have not had much, but enjoyed Haut Bailly and Leoville Barton from this vintage over the last 12 months (both of which were relat...
by RAYC
17:29 Wed 27 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1966 Croft
Replies: 1
Views: 858

Re: 1966 Croft

Curse of the rubber capsule....

Somewhere on here there's a thread with recommendations about how to open these without cutting yourself / agitating the wine. I need to re-find that!
by RAYC
17:27 Wed 27 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1966 Croft
Replies: 1
Views: 858

1966 Croft

To celebrate my 43rd birthday, I opened up two bottles of Croft 1966 (consumed consecutive nights after birthday dinner had to be rescheduled last minute). Link to TN for other bottle This was a fantastic English bottling with no label, paint marks and the dreaded (but seemingly effective) rubber ca...
by RAYC
17:05 Wed 27 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1966 Croft
Replies: 2
Views: 1074

Re: 1966 Croft

Pics...
by RAYC
17:03 Wed 27 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1966 Croft
Replies: 2
Views: 1074

1966 Croft

To celebrate my 43rd birthday, I opened up my penultimate BBR-bottled 1966 Croft (from same small lot as this bottle consumed in 2011, purchased directly from BBR). For comparison, a different English-bottled Croft 66 was consumed the following night - link to TN. Uncorked @8am, decanted @ 2pm, re-b...
by RAYC
05:18 Tue 26 Nov 2024
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting
Replies: 126
Views: 27093

Re: Monday 10 February 2025 - 2000 VP Tasting

I will potentially be in the country by then - please could i reserve a spot for a couple of weeks while i confirm dates? I think i would need to adopt - i have very little 2000 and none easily accessible other than a Sandeman Vau in double magnum and a lone remaining bottle of Fonseca unfiltered LBV…
by RAYC
03:44 Thu 21 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Seckford's Delivery Policy
Replies: 7
Views: 2025

Re: Seckford's Delivery Policy

My understanding was that this only applied to home deliveries (i.e. does not apply to delivery to other professional storage locations like LCB).
by RAYC
03:09 Tue 12 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Is 30yo VP darker than it used to be?
Replies: 24
Views: 10277

Re: Is 30yo VP darker than it used to be?

What a super thread - many thanks David
by RAYC
02:42 Tue 12 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: NV Niepoort 30yr (bottled 2020)
Replies: 0
Views: 2260

NV Niepoort 30yr (bottled 2020)

First half of bottle drunk between 07 November and 11 November 2024. Broadly consistent with three other bottles consumed over the last 4 years (albeit I do think a few years in bottle has been of benefit when compared to my first tasting of the 2020 bottling in June 2020). Typically I have found it...
by RAYC
00:34 Tue 12 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: UK Professional storage options for odd bottles
Replies: 7
Views: 1816

Re: UK Professional storage options for odd bottles

Thanks - 67 Pall Mall looks great and I'd certainly try to be a member & store some current drinking with them if I lived in/around London. Their rack rates for cases (I believe GBP 30 per year) probably still works out better than Big Yellow following recent price rises, but I think I've now fo...
by RAYC
09:42 Fri 08 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: UK Professional storage options for odd bottles
Replies: 7
Views: 1816

Re: UK Professional storage options for odd bottles

Thanks! F&R were quite unenthusiastic and made it sound very difficult when i enquired about mix bottle storage back in c.2016, but perhaps times have changed. Will get back in contact.
by RAYC
09:29 Fri 08 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: "Port Edition" Durand coming soon - and UK purchase possibility
Replies: 10
Views: 14422

Re: "Port Edition" Durand coming soon - and UK purchase possibility

Awesome - thank you.

vingrotto was very easy for US delivery (which works for me), though was somewhat surprised to see that the durand was one of the cheaper corkscrews on their list! (And indeed was very nearly sidetracked by the fossil woolly mammoth tusk waiter’s friend).
by RAYC
05:53 Fri 08 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1985 Graham
Replies: 0
Views: 2125

1985 Graham

Tasted here Panic-opened and double decanted at 2.30pm (for 6.30pm tasting) when S63 looked underweight. Had been stood for a week but could probably have used more of a decant. Cork soaked through and not as tight as it should have been. Big minty herbaceous nose, rich sweet Xmas cake fruits, a tou...
by RAYC
05:44 Fri 08 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1970 Smith Woodhouse
Replies: 0
Views: 2138

1970 Smith Woodhouse

Tasted here From JDAW's cellars, Oporto bottled (are all SW70?), modern-ish selo (suggesting not shipped in 70s when it would presumably have been the larger IVP style) Uncorked evening prior and double decanted morning of (for 6.30pm tasting). Stunning nose that screams fabulous mature port - wonde...
by RAYC
05:28 Fri 08 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1963 Sandeman
Replies: 0
Views: 2141

1963 Sandeman

Tasted here Lovely condition BBR bottling, uncorked at c.8.00am and double decanted at c.2.30pm for 6.30pm tasting. Attractively medicinal but sweet nose, a mixture of cranberry dryness and orange peel bitterness on the palate, reasonably rich with hint of pepper. Distinguished mature port that I wa...
by RAYC
05:04 Fri 08 Nov 2024
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Wed 23 Oct 2024, Blind Emergency for Rob Coombes
Replies: 20
Views: 3760

Re: Wed 23 Oct 2024, Blind Emergency for Rob Coombes

Not sure if a tasting-for-two deserves its own review thread, but many thanks to Julian for providing great company at my first TPF event since 2015 (assuming it counts as a TPF tasting by virtue of being posted....). A fine selection of ports were tasted: 1963 Sandeman (BBR bottled) 1970 Smith Wood...
by RAYC
03:20 Fri 08 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: The Warre 2006 LBV mystery
Replies: 9
Views: 5564

Re: The Warre 2006 LBV mystery

Don’t know if this remains a mystery or was ever resolved, but the filtered Warre 2006 LBV was definitely sold in UK supermarkets for a while back in 2011 / 12.
by RAYC
03:12 Fri 08 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: "Port Edition" Durand coming soon - and UK purchase possibility
Replies: 10
Views: 14422

Re: "Port Edition" Durand coming soon - and UK purchase possibility

Any chance these are still available Phil? Or a one off?
by RAYC
22:22 Thu 07 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: UK Professional storage options for odd bottles
Replies: 7
Views: 1816

UK Professional storage options for odd bottles

I am still using Big Yellow Fulham for storage of my odd bottles (my 6-packs / 12-packs remain with Seckfords / BBR / Justerinis etc.) I have two half height lockers there (c.500 bottles), which with price rises over the years has become more expensive than optimal to maintain, particularly when I a...
by RAYC
18:28 Wed 06 Nov 2024
Forum: Selling Port
Topic: Some half bottles that need drinking - NOW SOLD
Replies: 2
Views: 1942

Re: Some half bottles that need drinking

Sandeman Vau spoken for
by RAYC
18:19 Wed 06 Nov 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port for sale by retailer
Replies: 1595
Views: 994980

Re: Port for sale by retailer

Quite a lot of new additions on BBR. Not cheap but not expensive either. Croft 1960 and Noval 1960 for £165. They have had some fantastic stuff recently, and at less of a premium than I'd usually associate with them. As I was mulling over some BBR-bottled & never-left-BBR-cellars Taylor 66 bott...
by RAYC
18:02 Wed 06 Nov 2024
Forum: Reference
Topic: Internet videos of the historic Douro
Replies: 5
Views: 27173

Re: Internet videos of the historic Douro

A couple more bits of old footage I had saved on YouTube: 1960s Douro Valley Wine Transportation - a short 1m33s colour film on the evolving methods for transportation of pipes down to Porto Port Wine old methods of transport - a 5m silent black and white film (date unknown) with some particularly d...
by RAYC
17:25 Wed 06 Nov 2024
Forum: Selling Port
Topic: Some half bottles that need drinking - NOW SOLD
Replies: 2
Views: 1942

Some half bottles that need drinking - NOW SOLD

I have some half bottles at Seckfords that probably should not wait any longer to be drunk (and I will not get round to drinking). As these were originally purchased direct from producer via offers coordinated by members of this forum, I'd be delighted to pass them on for approximate cost (inc a bit...
by RAYC
17:10 Wed 06 Nov 2024
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 19 Feb 25 (TBC) - Niche-interest bottlings & old reliables
Replies: 39
Views: 6094

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

Excellent - first post updated. Will get on to admin with B&F.
by RAYC
21:04 Tue 05 Nov 2024
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: 19 Feb 25 (TBC) - Niche-interest bottlings & old reliables
Replies: 39
Views: 6094

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

When: Wednesday 19 February 2025 Where: Boot & Flogger, if available. If not, TBC. I am potentially passing through London in mid-Feb. When doing an inspection of my Big Yellow holdings recently, I was shocked at the number of unusual niche-interest ports (defined as fully mature but <3 prior TN...
by RAYC
04:14 Wed 30 Oct 2024
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port for sale by retailer
Replies: 1595
Views: 994980

Re: Port for sale by retailer

Fortnums has half bottles of Taylor Vargellas 1998 for around GBP 18.00 (in store rather than website). I would have stocked up on a few if i still lived in London as i thought it made for thoroughly acceptable drinking! Be prepared for a mess with the crumbly cork though (experienced on both of the...
by RAYC
22:42 Sun 20 Oct 2024
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Wed 23 Oct 2024, Blind Emergency for Rob Coombes
Replies: 20
Views: 3760

Re: Wed 23 Oct 2024, Blind Emergency for Rob Coombes

smoked salmon
pie of the day (if meat; if not then bangers and mash)
Bramdean Pudding

Many thanks!
by RAYC
21:58 Sat 19 Oct 2024
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Wed 23 Oct 2024, Blind Emergency for Rob Coombes
Replies: 20
Views: 3760

Re: Wed 23 Oct 2024, Blind Emergency for Rob Coombes

Thanks JDAW!

I had good fun raiding my Big Yellow stash of VP last week after too many years away, so have a couple of promising candidates!

Glad to see Boot and Flogger is still a reliable and willing host.
by RAYC
15:11 Fri 23 Oct 2015
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port & wine websites and blogs
Replies: 13
Views: 11786

Re: Port & wine websites and blogs

Nice FB page.

Though you may have to up your port consumption if you want to retain that claim now that I am on island!!
by RAYC
07:49 Sat 17 Oct 2015
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port & wine websites and blogs
Replies: 13
Views: 11786

Re: Port & wine websites and blogs

Vintageport.se is fantastic Richard Mayson's site has some good TNs from interesting tastings (both private and trade) I think DRT still maintains an archive of infoportwine.com - a great port website that was run by Herman Gerdingh, a Dutch port enthusiast, until illness a few years ago For wine, I...
by RAYC
14:16 Wed 14 Oct 2015
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: No port in Bangalore - thankfully, I'm in London.
Replies: 14
Views: 23552

Re: No port in Bangalore - thankfully, I'm in London.

Boot and Flogger, 4.30pm

AHB and I will be there, at least
by RAYC
13:10 Wed 14 Oct 2015
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: No port in Bangalore - thankfully, I'm in London.
Replies: 14
Views: 23552

Re: No port in Bangalore - thankfully, I'm in London.

Hadn't got round to thinking about that....

Would be happy to ring ahead and get El vino to decant something.

Not sure where would allow us to bring our own bottle without eating
by RAYC
12:08 Wed 14 Oct 2015
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: No port in Bangalore - thankfully, I'm in London.
Replies: 14
Views: 23552

Re: No port in Bangalore - thankfully, I'm in London.

AHB wrote:
Anyone else want to join us tonight?
I could meet for an early drink at 5.30....I have a couple of good candidate bottles. I have a separate dinner at 7.00 prompt on Grey's Inn Road so would need to depart in time to get there
by RAYC
11:19 Wed 14 Oct 2015
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: No port in Bangalore - thankfully, I'm in London.
Replies: 14
Views: 23552

Re: No port in Bangalore - thankfully, I'm in London.

Have sent a message to your gmail re Friday.

I am booked tonight / tomorrow, though could conceivably meet for an earlŷ glass or two somewhere....
by RAYC
00:21 Sun 04 Oct 2015
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1970 Dow
Replies: 4
Views: 7463

Re: 1970 Dow

jdaw1 wrote:D70. Nearly-mature red, 50% opaque. Full and big, but quite dry. Actually, too dry. The size pushed me to 1970, the dryness to Dow, and—snugness!—that is what it was. Actually the taste was drier than Dow 1970.
Snugness?
by RAYC
00:15 Sun 04 Oct 2015
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Can you recommend a port glass?
Replies: 33
Views: 23225

Re: Can you recommend a port glass?

Surprised no one has mentioned Zalto yet, which are fantastic across the range and an experience in themselves. For port, I prefer the general "white wine" glass to the sweet / fortified-specific glass. My favourite, no doubt. The Riedel Sommelier port are also fantastic, and the vinum por...
by RAYC
21:42 Thu 01 Oct 2015
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Which is the best 1991?
Replies: 26
Views: 14862

Re: What is the best 1991?

Taylor Vargellas, if you can find / afford it, is far and away the best I've had from 1991 (and one of the best I've had from the entire decade) In terms of a value for money port that is drinking nicely now / medium term, I think de la Rosa is a very nice 91. I saw Seckfords had some recently at £2...
by RAYC
16:57 Wed 30 Sep 2015
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Vegan Port?
Replies: 16
Views: 24063

Re: Vegan Port?

We do make some Port for vegans and some that are for vegetarians. Much of the Marks and Spencer is for vegetarian in that they use egg albumem rather than pig gelatin. At the moment the M&S port range only has vintage, Late Bottled vintage and Pink for vegans. For Taylor, Fonseca and Croft all...
by RAYC
20:26 Mon 28 Sep 2015
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Vegan Port?
Replies: 16
Views: 24063

Re: Vegan Port?

The problem from the perspective of a strict vegan (and in some cases a strict vegetarian) is that the fining process often involves the use of fish bladder / egg white / cattle connective tissue. And often even ports labelled as "unfiltered" will still undergo light fining. But I'm not aw...
by RAYC
08:32 Sun 06 Sep 2015
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Wed 9th September 2015, Port Fit for a Queen (E2>V)
Replies: 190
Views: 112726

Re: Wed 9th September 2015, Port Fit for a Queen (E2>V)

My bottle will be a Cockburn 1963, which WS1 will kindly decant and bring to the tasting.
by RAYC
22:16 Sun 30 Aug 2015
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Wed 9th September 2015, Port Fit for a Queen (E2>V)
Replies: 190
Views: 112726

Re: Wed 9th September 2015, Port Fit for a Queen (E2>V)

- beetroot salad starter - sirloin rare for main I hope to be on time but may be 30 mins late (flight arrives at Heathrow 16.30). In terms of port, I need to speak to Wolfgang to see whether i have any nice bottles lurking in his cellar (and whether he would be willing to open / decant / bring for m...
by RAYC
22:09 Sun 30 Aug 2015
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Smith Woodhouse 1977
Replies: 45
Views: 16828

Re: Smith Woodhouse 1977

DRT wrote:The Symingtons regularly re-cork older vintages before releasing. That is what you had.
plus they seem to have a method of re-polishing the bottles to make them look pristine.
by RAYC
22:36 Wed 05 Aug 2015
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Wed 9th September 2015, Port Fit for a Queen (E2>V)
Replies: 190
Views: 112726

Re: Wed 9th September 2015, Port Fit for a Queen (E2>V)

i'll bring something appropriate to be advised!

do you mind if i have a week to work it out? supplies in my flat are low so it will require a trip to Big Yellow
by RAYC
18:18 Wed 05 Aug 2015
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Wed 9th September 2015, Port Fit for a Queen (E2>V)
Replies: 190
Views: 112726

Re: Wed 9th September 2015, Port Fit for a Queen (E2>V)

The stars have aligned and I'm in the country on this date.

Please may I be added to the list or the appropriate place in the queue for the list?
by RAYC
10:45 Sat 25 Jul 2015
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Theft at BBR
Replies: 10
Views: 7198

Theft at BBR

Yikes

Let's hope that the Noval Nacional 11 was not on Level B!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... pagne.html
by RAYC
16:58 Fri 10 Jul 2015
Forum: Meaningless Drivel
Topic: It's just not cricket
Replies: 2378
Views: 460453

Re: It's just not cricket

jdaw1 wrote:I recall my Argentine boss’s boss saying that “England having a good week — Olympics, and this ash thing”.
Not an entirely sensitive / appropriate comment given what else happened that week....!
by RAYC
16:47 Fri 10 Jul 2015
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port for sale by retailer
Replies: 1595
Views: 994980

Re: Port for sale by retailer

Here's another recent "old stock" release by TFP which may be of interest to some on this board... The old stencilled bottle has been tarted up with a new front / back label which gives it a slightly strange look (in my opinion), but there seems to be a nice wooden presentation box Krohn 1...