ThePortForum.com

Posted: **21:32 Thu 21 Jun 2007**

This started as a question I was going to ask Uncle Tom after his Tasting Note. In fact I still will here and now

Tom,

Can I be nosey? If I was to drink a Taylors 83, or similar bottle, I would need an occasion. Doesn't have to be much, a friend visiting, a birthday,etc,etc.
I get the feeling your lucky enough to have the cellar and the inclination to just 'Open a bottle'. Is that true or do you attach it to a reason.

Alan

But of course, what about the rest of you. Am I alone in needing a good reason, Do loads of you just indulge yourselves when your in the mood?

Alan.

Posted: **21:57 Thu 21 Jun 2007**

Alan,

I am unlikely to open what I class as a "Real" VP without some good reason. I don't have an absolute definition of "Real" but for the sake of argument lets equate it directly to cost and call it anything with a retail value of around £30 or more.

I will open bottles in the £10 to £20 range without thinking about it too hard, although most of my consumption by volume is probably below £10 due to my habit of buying vast quantities of supermarket 50% off offers.

The £20 to £30 bottles probably take a hit once a month just because I want one. Above that it tends to be special occassions or Offlines.

Derek

Posted: **02:25 Fri 22 Jun 2007**

I do, only because it's so bloody expensive. But then again, I don't need a GOOD reason!

Posted: **08:38 Fri 22 Jun 2007**

I'm like bman. I need a reason. But I can be pretty flexible when it comes to finding one.

Posted: **14:13 Fri 22 Jun 2007**

Passing gas is reason enough for me

But seriously , anything in the $ 100.00 cdn. range is opened on family get togethers only . ( I don't see the folks to often )

Posted: **16:14 Fri 22 Jun 2007**

Here are my top twenty reasons:

1. Births
2. Deaths
3. Marriages
4. Birthdays
5. Anniversaries
6. Bah Mitzvahs
7. Christmas
8. Diwali
9. Easter
10. New Year
11. Saints Days
12. There's some cheese
13. There's some chocolate
14. It's cold
15. It's hot
16. I have visitors
17. I am visiting someone
18. I need cheering up
19. Someone else needs cheering up
20. I fancy a glass of port

Posted: **18:32 Sun 24 Jun 2007**

Can I be nosey? If I was to drink a Taylors 83, or similar bottle, I would need an occasion. Doesn't have to be much, a friend visiting, a birthday,etc,etc.
I get the feeling your lucky enough to have the cellar and the inclination to just 'Open a bottle'. Is that true or do you attach it to a reason

I feel a little guilty hogging an old or valuable bottle to myself, but aside from that I don't feel the need for an 'occasion' to crack a bottle.

I choose bottles for a variety of reasons - mostly they go on 'death row' first, and then get picked for reasons that are fairly spontaneous.

I chose the Taylor '83 because a) I don't think I've tackled one before, and b) it's some time since I last opened an '83.

My other death row bottles are currently:

Graham '75
Vargellas '78
Gould Campbell '77
Croft '66

Only the Croft is being held for a special occasion - I am currently on my annual starvation (diet) - ten pounds down, with eight to go - the Croft will be my reward when I hit my target - hopefully before the end of July..

Tom

Posted: **19:06 Sun 24 Jun 2007**

Impressive Death Row. Dont you do 'Ordinary' or do you drink LBV's and the like between your Death Row victims?

Posted: **19:27 Sun 24 Jun 2007**

..Roughly two bottles in three are VP...

Tom

Posted: **21:29 Sun 24 Jun 2007**

I forgot

21. Biennial meeting with bman.

Posted: **21:33 Sun 24 Jun 2007**

and, of course, there is always......

22. The day ends in a Y

Posted: **22:16 Sun 24 Jun 2007**

23. I'm in Birmingham in a hotel where there's a 40th birthday party going on... and I'm not invited.

Posted: **22:46 Sun 24 Jun 2007**

[quote="KillerB"]I forgot

21. Biennial meeting with bman.[/quote]

We gotta make those more frequent, and on this side of the pond, one of these days....

Posted: **22:52 Sun 24 Jun 2007**

I really do have to get over to Canadia one day. I presume that wherever I land you'll be near - it's only a little country, isn't it? I checked the population - it's about half the size of the UK.

Posted: **00:53 Mon 25 Jun 2007**

Because I fancy some port. Only reason. (You see, I always fancy some port. So that reasons hold true every time I open a bottle. Supplementary reasons include the wife fancying port, a port tasting, or just because I fancy some port. It’s really that easy.)

Nine in ten are VP.

Posted: **01:04 Mon 25 Jun 2007**

9 in 10 are VP

I'd love to know what the 1 is?

Posted: **02:15 Mon 25 Jun 2007**

I usually have some sort of occasion for the moment - opening one of the limited VPs in my stock that are "ready to drink" or near ready means I am opening a bottle worth at least $150 usually. I suppose when I get to be around 60 and the '03s start to mature, assuming I've picked up ample stocks of them, I will likely open them more often due to "just because."

Todd

Posted: **02:19 Mon 25 Jun 2007**

Derek T. wrote:
9 in 10 are VP
I'd love to know what the 1 is?

E.g.

Posted: **09:21 Mon 25 Jun 2007**

Obvious error of judgement if you still have it 1/10 times.

Posted: **04:54 Wed 27 Jun 2007**

For me anything from the 70's and older needs at least a little bit of a special occasion, but from the 80's I just drink them as I fancy, alone if need be. Special occassions can be as simple as having freinds over.

Jay

Posted: **11:32 Sun 08 Jul 2007**

I tend to be with Jay here. Anything from the 80s or 90s or 00s is fair game for me on my own.

About once a month I will open something older, because its there and happens to be leaking or just looking sad. This will generally be something from the 70s or 60s and, again, generally where I have more than one of them.

Older bottles tend to only get opened when I am with other port appreciaters so that they don't get wasted.

Alex

Posted: **20:24 Sun 08 Jul 2007**

Mines a combo of Jay, Derek, and Alex. The younger stuff, say 1990-forward, and the cheaper stuff (under $30) get opened whenever without care. The older and more expensive stuff I try and open with other port loving friends so others can share in the fun.

Posted: **21:36 Sun 08 Jul 2007**

AHB wrote: Older bottles tend to only get opened when I am with other port appreciaters so that they don't get wasted.

I can testify that it is possible not to waste a bottle of old port without other port appreciaters in attendance

Derek

PS: AHB, do I have to mention the words "Quinta do Noval Nacional 1960"

Posted: **03:26 Thu 12 Jul 2007**

ADV wrote:Mines a combo of Jay, Derek, and Alex. The younger stuff, say 1990-forward, and the cheaper stuff (under $30) get opened whenever without care. The older and more expensive stuff I try and open with other port loving friends so others can share in the fun.

my word Andy, you can get VP for UNDER $30 in the US? I thought it was just the UK where this wonderful condition exists. Ok, for SURE now I have to move out of Canada.

Todd

Posted: **03:31 Thu 12 Jul 2007**

Todd,
Yeah, but mainly the SQVP's or stuff I get from time to time at auction. Oh, and the VERY occasional sale item.

Posted: **22:27 Thu 12 Jul 2007**

Andy,

I know from experience that it is occassionally difficult for you to open a bottle of port, especially after you have finished your second bottle of the night

Derek

Posted: **17:06 Tue 24 Jul 2007**

Todd P wrote:
ADV wrote:Mines a combo of Jay, Derek, and Alex. The younger stuff, say 1990-forward, and the cheaper stuff (under $30) get opened whenever without care. The older and more expensive stuff I try and open with other port loving friends so others can share in the fun.
my word Andy, you can get VP for UNDER $30 in the US? I thought it was just the UK where this wonderful condition exists. Ok, for SURE now I have to move out of Canada.

Todd

You could move out of Canada and in to Québec .

Found one vintage under $30 : Sandeman Vau 1997 .
Plenty of LBV , If that tickles your fancy . . .

Posted: **17:23 Tue 24 Jul 2007**

The Infamous Sanderman Vau!!!

Surely if its a 97, that might equate to around an 85 of the normal stuff.

Ergo...DRINKABLE!

I'd love to hear of a Tasting where one of our guys tried the two side by side, and tested if the Vau is what they are 'Subtley' suggesting.

I'd hazard a guess they'll be very different, but you never know.

Alan

Posted: **18:31 Tue 24 Jul 2007**

Alan, that ol' '97 Vau is a decent bottle at that price. I've got a couple 1/2 bottles left. I've never been let down by this QPR.

Posted: **18:34 Tue 24 Jul 2007**

Hey I just noticed, I'm now a Cockburns Ruby, yeehaa!!

Posted: **13:44 Wed 25 Jul 2007**

Quick everyone , head for the hills

ThePortForum.com

Do you have to have a reason to drink good port?

Do you have to have a reason to drink good port?

Because I fancy some port. Only reason.

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