Tue 24 November 2020 - A Tasting with Sophia Bergqvist

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 09:20 Thu 22 Oct 2020

I took part in the 67 Pall Mall la Rosa tasting last week and was frustrated by the fact that so many of the interesting snippets Sophia was looking to share with her audience were lost due to the interruption in Sophia's wifi.

Would anyone be interested in taking part in a Port Forum version? A slight variation would be that we don't send out and share samples but instead each of us buy a bottle of la Rosa wine or Port and let Sophia know what we each have. The wines we're drinking can form a structure for the tasting, but the real purpose is just to have the chance to chat with Sophia and learn more about la Rosa and the family history.

If enough people are interested, I'll reach out to Sophia and see if she has some time she could give us. If you're interested, please reply to this post.

Interested

AHB - Tawny, 1988, 1994, 1997, 2015 (Waitrose blend) Vintage Port
CPR - 1988 Vintage Port
ZDR - 2015 Vintage Port (Waitrose Blend)
BMHR - 20YO Tawny
NAC - Tawny, 1988, 1994, 2015 (Waitrose blend) Vintage Port
SCD - Tawny, 1988, 1994, 2015 (Waitrose blend) Vintage Port
JGH - 2016 Tinto and 2016 douROSA
TC - 1992 Vintage Port
PW - Tawny, 1988, 1994, 2015 (Waitrose blend) Vintage Port
GEAG - Tawny, 1988, 1994, 2015 (Waitrose blend) Vintage Port
MPM - 1994 Vintage Port
JMK - 2018 DOC, 2015 LBV
MC
WS1 - Tawny Port
WHW - 1963 Vintage Port
ADV - Tawny Port, 10YO Tawny Port
JDAW - Tawny, 1988, 1994, 2015 (Waitrose blend) Vintage Port
DG - 1991 Vintage Port
Rich_n - 2014 LBV
AP - 2011 Vintage Port
IDJ - 1988 Vintage Port

CPR 1 · Post by **CPR 1** » 09:43 Thu 22 Oct 2020

Great idea - yes please

akzy · Post by **akzy** » 10:04 Thu 22 Oct 2020

That'd be really fun! I'm keen.

benread · Post by **benread** » 11:24 Thu 22 Oct 2020

Yes please. With enough notice we could order direct from them as an option too.

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nac · Post by **nac** » 11:27 Thu 22 Oct 2020

Please.

Previously mentioned that recently acquired some of the 88 and 94. Could potentially send out a few samples of each. Would be happy to do this at cost.

Doggett · Post by **Doggett** » 11:59 Thu 22 Oct 2020

Yes from me please... depending on when, what and how.

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 12:15 Thu 22 Oct 2020

Sounds like a very good idea. Would certainly be interested. Thank you very much for suggesting it.

Post by **PhilW** » 13:53 Thu 22 Oct 2020

Sounds good.

forest26 · Post by **forest26** » 16:39 Thu 22 Oct 2020

Yes definitely. I do have some 88/90/91/92/97 vintages. Opened a 92 last week - very good.

winesecretary · Post by **winesecretary** » 17:25 Thu 22 Oct 2020

Yes please

Post by **flash_uk** » 18:57 Thu 22 Oct 2020

Yes please.

Justin K · Post by **Justin K** » 20:33 Fri 23 Oct 2020

M.Charlton · Post by **M.Charlton** » 13:27 Sat 24 Oct 2020

Yes please.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 15:13 Tue 27 Oct 2020

I've updated the first post with the list of poeple who have expressed an interest.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 09:38 Thu 29 Oct 2020

Sophia has said that she would be delighted to take part in a Zoom or similar tasting with us. I have tentatively suggested Tuesday 24th November but if this date causes anyone a problem then please let me know.

Sophia has asked that we be more interactive than was possible with the 67 Pall Mall tasting. That susggests to be that we run a Zoom conference call rather than a webinar.

Sophia has also asked that we let her know what wine(s) and/or Ports we will be drinking to allow her to prepare and structure the tasting. I've bought a bottle of la Rosa 1997 Port from Vintage Wine & Port to use for this tasting. Please post here as and when you decide what you are going to taste so I can let Sophia know.

akzy · Post by **akzy** » 09:57 Thu 29 Oct 2020

Thanks for arranging this Alex! I have a bottle of la Rosa 2015 VP (Waitrose blend).

Post by **flash_uk** » 10:50 Thu 29 Oct 2020

A bottle of the 1994 VP for me.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 12:45 Thu 29 Oct 2020

akzy wrote: ↑09:57 Thu 29 Oct 2020 Thanks for arranging this Alex! I have a bottle of la Rosa 2015 VP (Waitrose blend).

I'm really pleased about that choice. I have a couple of bottles at home but never tried it so will be really interested to hear your thoughts and also hear what Sophia can tell us about it.

winesecretary · Post by **winesecretary** » 15:25 Thu 29 Oct 2020

Splendid. 1991 VP for me.

Doggett · Post by **Doggett** » 15:32 Thu 29 Oct 2020

Can Will W please be added to the list. The lucky boy is enjoying the terrace at La Rosa as I type and will be grabbing something appropriate from their stocks.

benread · Post by **benread** » 15:58 Thu 29 Oct 2020

My options are a 20yo Tawny or the Extra Dry white. It will be the 20yo Tawny for me.

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 16:09 Thu 29 Oct 2020

Hi,

if still possible I would like to attend too.

regards

WS1

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 16:10 Thu 29 Oct 2020

Plenty of space Wolfgang; I'll also add Will to the list

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 18:02 Thu 29 Oct 2020

I'm scheduled off that day, so may join you all if I can find a Rosa wine/Port between now and then. They're rather hard to find around my parts.

CPR 1 · Post by **CPR 1** » 20:46 Thu 29 Oct 2020

I will be drinking a 94

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:19 Thu 29 Oct 2020

I hope to join you.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 19:44 Fri 30 Oct 2020

Just in case there is any confusion, I'd like to make it clear that you can choose to drink any bottle(s) you like for this tasting. Please feel free to duplicate what others have already chosen if you want / need to.

forest26 · Post by **forest26** » 17:55 Mon 02 Nov 2020

92 for me.

rich_n · Post by **rich_n** » 22:54 Mon 02 Nov 2020

Given the imminent lockdown, is this the plan for a virtual tasting? I'd like to be involved if so, but if we plan to do another one I will join that.

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JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 09:56 Wed 04 Nov 2020

I think we will try the 2016 Quinta de la Rosa Tinto and 2016 douROSA table wines. (We had these at our wedding since we stayed at the Quinta during our first proper holiday abroad). Haven’t quite yet decided whether to add a Port or, if so, which one: I don’t think I own any at the moment. Will keep you posted.

nac · Post by **nac** » 16:00 Wed 04 Nov 2020

You're unlikely to get it by the 24th, but if you want some mature(?) de la Rosa there's a full 12bt case of the 94 available on WineOwners.com for £600 (duty & VAT paid, but excluding fees & delivery).

Constandia · Post by **Constandia** » 10:45 Thu 05 Nov 2020

Hi, I have a '91 (courtesy of Tony) and would love to join. I presume this an online tasting?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 12:00 Thu 05 Nov 2020

rich_n wrote: ↑22:54 Mon 02 Nov 2020 Given the imminent lockdown, is this the plan for a virtual tasting? I'd like to be involved if so, but if we plan to do another one I will join that.

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Rich - this is an online tasting. You're welcome to join.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 12:02 Thu 05 Nov 2020

Constandia wrote: ↑10:45 Thu 05 Nov 2020 Hi, I have a '91 (courtesy of Tony) and would love to join. I presume this an online tasting?

It is indeed. You're on the list

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 13:52 Sun 08 Nov 2020

Hi, for mit is the Tawny Port. After checking I found no Quinta de la Rosa ports in my house This was the easiest to aquire for me.

Regards
WS1

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 18:02 Wed 11 Nov 2020

I picked up the 2015 Waitrose VP this afternoon so we will probably have a glass of that as well.

nac · Post by **nac** » 07:18 Thu 12 Nov 2020

AHB, NAC, JDAW, GEAG, SCD, PW will all have Tawny, 1988VP, 1994VP, 2015VP(Waitrose).

rich_n · Post by **rich_n** » 12:11 Thu 12 Nov 2020

I'd like to join but won't have anything on brand to drink, I'm interested in the conversation anyway!

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CPR 1 · Post by **CPR 1** » 12:19 Thu 12 Nov 2020

CPR 1 wrote: ↑20:46 Thu 29 Oct 2020 I will be drinking a 94

I am switching bottles and will try the 1988

Axel P · Post by **Axel P** » 18:01 Thu 12 Nov 2020

Yes, I love to participate. I will decide what to drink later...

Justin K · Post by **Justin K** » 22:28 Thu 12 Nov 2020

Struggled to find as I very seldom come across this brand. Found out the agent is JN Wines and managed to get Quinta De La Rosa 2018 and LBV 2015. Have never tasted anything from this company.

idj123 · Post by **idj123** » 11:58 Sat 14 Nov 2020

Having now secured a bottle (of the 1988) could I be included, in this tasting please?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:38 Sat 14 Nov 2020

rich_n wrote: ↑12:11 Thu 12 Nov 2020 I'd like to join but won't have anything on brand to drink, I'm interested in the conversation anyway!

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Rich - that's absolutely fine. I'll add you to the list of participants. If you want to try to hunt a bottle down, Waitrose stock some of the la Rosa wines as well as the VP and Berry's have la Rosa as their own label LBV.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:41 Sat 14 Nov 2020

Justin K wrote: ↑22:28 Thu 12 Nov 2020 Struggled to find as I very seldom come across this brand. Found out the agent is JN Wines and managed to get Quinta De La Rosa 2018 and LBV 2015. Have never tasted anything from this company.

Is that the 2018 Vintage Port or the DOC table wine?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:41 Sat 14 Nov 2020

idj123 wrote: ↑11:58 Sat 14 Nov 2020 Having now secured a bottle (of the 1988) could I be included, in this tasting please?

Added to the list.

Justin K · Post by **Justin K** » 18:23 Sat 14 Nov 2020

Alex,
Table wine.

Post by **jdaw1** » 19:23 Sat 14 Nov 2020

nac wrote: ↑07:18 Thu 12 Nov 2020AHB, NAC, JDAW, GEAG, SCD, PW will all have Tawny, 1988VP, 1994VP, 2015VP(Waitrose).

nac · Post by **nac** » 21:14 Sat 14 Nov 2020

jdaw1 wrote: ↑19:23 Sat 14 Nov 2020
nac wrote: ↑07:18 Thu 12 Nov 2020AHB, NAC, JDAW, GEAG, SCD, PW will all have Tawny, 1988VP, 1994VP, 2015VP(Waitrose).
Placemats...

Very nice. Thank you.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:49 Sat 14 Nov 2020

Excellent. Thank you Julian and Neil.

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 14:22 Sun 15 Nov 2020

Wasn’t able to get the ‘88. Having a hard time finding a bottle near me but hopefully can pick up an LBV tomorrow.