Search found 14880 matches

by Alex Bridgeman
18:29 Thu 01 Jan 2009
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1987 Royal Oporto
Replies: 2
Views: 2305

Re: 1987 Royal Oporto vintage port

What a pleasant surprise! A mid-red colour, light in colour and with a pale orange rim. A colour which reminds me very much of the mature '63s. A very developed nose, very mature with sweet red licorice and leather over just a hint of bottle stink. In the mouth this is fully mature - the most advanc...
by Alex Bridgeman
16:42 Thu 01 Jan 2009
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1987 Royal Oporto
Replies: 2
Views: 2305

1987 Royal Oporto vintage port

A bottle given to me by an antique-collecting friend. The cork was sound but branded only with "Vintage 1987". The bottle had no punt, but a surprising amount of sediment had settled in the bottom of the bottle - a good sign for the drinking to come. The colour of the port as it was decant...
by Alex Bridgeman
16:12 Thu 01 Jan 2009
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Best wishes for New Years
Replies: 12
Views: 5063

Re: Best wishes for New Years

Happy New Year all. I spent my New Year's Eve at a party, but was the designated driver so I did the opposite of Derek - and touched nary a drop!

But there is a bottle of port standing on the side waiting to be decanted for tonight...
by Alex Bridgeman
16:07 Thu 01 Jan 2009
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2003 Berry Brothers
Replies: 12
Views: 6147

Re: 2003 Berry Brothers own selection vintage port

The best way to get in touch with Berry's is by calling +44 207 396 9600. Ask to collect the bottle from the London shop, which is at 3 St James Street, London, SW1A 1EG. Their normal opening hours are from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. They are also open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday but closed all...
by Alex Bridgeman
15:16 Thu 01 Jan 2009
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Where to get Port Tongs
Replies: 70
Views: 42710

Re: Where to get Port Tongs

I am about to buy an induction hob - the kind that only heats magnetic materials such as steel. Can I also heat my tongs on my induction hob? More seriously, I do appreciate the help and guidance - and if anyone does have a serious answer to my flippant question, I would be interested to know althou...
by Alex Bridgeman
19:22 Wed 31 Dec 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Are VP's getting enough wood?
Replies: 3
Views: 1786

Re: Are VP's getting enough wood?

I need to do a little research before giving a more complete answer, but from what little I remember port was traditionally made in a granite lagar, run off into large neutral barrels for two winters to integrate and then transferred into 55l casks to be shipped from Gaia to the UK. To remain vintag...
by Alex Bridgeman
19:04 Wed 31 Dec 2008
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2003 Berry Brothers
Replies: 12
Views: 6147

Re: 2003 Berry Brothers own selection vintage port

Axel P wrote:I will go ahead and ask Sophia. Alex, could you reserve me a bottle with the BBR label of the VP 03?

Axel
Axel - easiest way to do that would be for you to order it by telephone from BB&R and reserve it for collection from their London shop when you are in London at the end of January.

Alex
by Alex Bridgeman
19:00 Wed 31 Dec 2008
Forum: Reviews
Topic: The TPF Third Christmas Offline
Replies: 10
Views: 9862

Re: The TPF Third Christmas Offline

Axel P wrote:Sounds like very good fun to me. Maybe next year again ???

Axel
Almost certainly!
by Alex Bridgeman
18:56 Wed 31 Dec 2008
Forum: Meaningless Drivel
Topic: You say you want a resolution...
Replies: 5
Views: 2527

Re: You say you want a resolution...

My New Year's Resolution is to drink more port and to write a tasting note on every vintage port I drink.

How does that sound?
by Alex Bridgeman
18:51 Wed 31 Dec 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: When is port in a drinking window?
Replies: 11
Views: 4201

When is port in a drinking window?

Uncle Tom posted a comment here in my tasting note for the Vesuvio 2006 which made me wonder when people generally feel that port is in a drinking window. Just reading about the tannins makes my teeth grind :shock: Tom I don't like a strongly tannic wine, but I find that there's often a period for 2...
by Alex Bridgeman
23:05 Tue 30 Dec 2008
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 1963 Sandeman
Replies: 9
Views: 7477

Re: Sandeman 1963 vintage port

Sandeman (and, indeed, Noval) are in my experience very variable ports from the 1963 vintage. I've had great bottles of both and also bottles of both that performed the way that Tom has just described. In my experience, it's difficult to predict how any particular bottle will perform.
by Alex Bridgeman
23:00 Tue 30 Dec 2008
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2006 Quinta do Vesuvio
Replies: 4
Views: 2967

Re: 2006 Quinta do Vesuvio vintage port

How would you rate it compared to the 2005 Vesuvio? It is an interesting comparison, the 2005 and the 2006. They are very different wines to my perception. The 2005 is a powerful wine, with a very pronouned tannic background which dominates a fruity and complex core but the aftertaste is disappoint...
by Alex Bridgeman
22:50 Tue 30 Dec 2008
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: London (Crusting Pipe) 15 Jan
Replies: 19
Views: 16592

Re: London (Crusting Pipe) 13 or 15 Jan

Alex, have you booked (or do you plan to book) with TCP? I presume with a few of us it doesn’t really matter, but they might have a change of staff over the new year who could be awkward about corkage and the like! I haven't booked and don't plan to with only the three of us. Last time we just pitc...
by Alex Bridgeman
09:17 Tue 30 Dec 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port for sale by retailer
Replies: 1537
Views: 811531

Re: Port for sale by retailer

jdaw1 wrote:
Benchmark Wine wrote:$60 bin
Warres Port 1980 ~ 1 MB****
Krohn Port 1965 ~ 2
Rocha Port 1977 ~ 1
Derek: do you need the K65?
In Derek's absence, do you know whether these Krohn are the vintage port or a colheita? This has been a source of confusion in the past.
by Alex Bridgeman
09:12 Tue 30 Dec 2008
Forum: Reviews
Topic: Some Fonseca, 26th December 2008, New York
Replies: 8
Views: 8359

Re: Some Fonseca, 26th December 2008, New York

I just love the colour of the 1970 and the 1977 - the 1970 even looks to be darker than the 1977!
by Alex Bridgeman
10:14 Mon 29 Dec 2008
Forum: Meaningless Drivel
Topic: Name this folder
Replies: 7
Views: 2714

Re: Name this folder

How about the relatively short, but entirely self-explanatory "port-events"?
by Alex Bridgeman
20:12 Sun 28 Dec 2008
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2006 Quinta do Vesuvio
Replies: 4
Views: 2967

Re: 2006 Quinta do Vesuvio vintage port

48 hours later, this is still a fantastic young port. Full of fruit, smooth in texture, tannins ripe and refined but certainly there and with an aftertaste that is just simply unbelievable in length. Wonderful.
by Alex Bridgeman
23:12 Sat 27 Dec 2008
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2003 Berry Brothers
Replies: 12
Views: 6147

Re: 2003 Berry Brothers own selection vintage port

Indeed it was produced by Quinta de la Rosa, but I don't know whether it was the same blend as was used for the bottles with the De La Rosa label.
by Alex Bridgeman
23:00 Sat 27 Dec 2008
Forum: Other Wines
Topic: 1988 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Replies: 1
Views: 1816

1988 Chateau Mouton Rothschild

A half bottle was opened at short notice as a continuation of Christmas (and employment) celebrations. Deep red in colour, showing no signs of tiring or being too old. On the nose is the typical and wonderful farmyard smell mixed in with the blackcurrant of ripe cabernet sauvignon. Beautiful balance...
by Alex Bridgeman
01:43 Sat 27 Dec 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Port Christmas Presents
Replies: 12
Views: 4385

Re: Port Christmas Presents

DRT wrote:I recieved 17 bottles of Vesuvio 97, one bottle of Warre's 1966 and 1 bottle of Dow Trademark as gifts. :piginpoo:
:evil: I've told everyone that you desperately want Croft Pink Port for Christmas next year :x
by Alex Bridgeman
01:40 Sat 27 Dec 2008
Forum: Port Conversations
Topic: Best Port in the best location in 2008
Replies: 4
Views: 2214

Re: Best Port in the best location in 2008

For me, the best location where I was able to drink port in 2008 was when on holiday in South Africa, staying at the Bakubung Game Lodge in Pilanesburg. Sitting on the terrace in the evening, sipping port whilst watching two hippos playing in the pool in the valley below the lodge was just wonderful...
by Alex Bridgeman
01:24 Sat 27 Dec 2008
Forum: Port Tasting Notes
Topic: 2006 Quinta do Vesuvio
Replies: 4
Views: 2967

2006 Quinta do Vesuvio vintage port

Very, very deep red in colour; not black but not far off and very definitely an opaque centre. A wonderful nose of fresh blackcurrants soars out of the glass and filled the room when decanting. Very dry in the mouth; huge waves of fruit but with enormous dry but ripe tannins and strutured acidity th...
by Alex Bridgeman
01:22 Sat 27 Dec 2008
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Adhoc Dec 26th stasting in NYC
Replies: 61
Views: 32630

Re: Adhoc Dec 26th stasting in NYC

Hope you're having fun, chaps. I'm shattered so decided not to join you by Skype, but I'm reading your posts while enjoying a glass of Vesuvio 2006 - the port I helped to tread!
by Alex Bridgeman
11:12 Fri 26 Dec 2008
Forum: Organising Tastings and Get-togethers
Topic: Adhoc Dec 26th stasting in NYC
Replies: 61
Views: 32630

Re: Adhoc Dec 26th stasting in NYC

The new time of 4pm admits more mischief. If at most two of those in the UK, at 9pm their time, should wish to join us by video Skype, with a glass of vintage Fonseca to hand, they would be most welcome to do so. Advance notice would facilitate placement of computers. A very tempting offer, but I w...
by Alex Bridgeman
11:09 Fri 26 Dec 2008
Forum: Reviews
Topic: The TPF Third Christmas Offline
Replies: 10
Views: 9862

Re: The TPF Third Christmas Offline

Unfortunately, I somehow managed to be missed out when this bottle was going round the table so I can't provide a tasting note.