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Christmas is rapidly approaching and is often an excuse to open a special bottle of port, but what about the few remaining weeks before Christmas? What do you plan to open as you wait for the special bottle? I estimate that at the rate I consume port and the travelling I am still doing, that I will open a bottle on Friday of this week (7 December), Friday of next week (14 December), Tuesday (18 December) and Friday (21 December).

I was working through the bottles I have at home over the weekend to re-rack them and send some off to off-site storage and I came across some leakers as well as the bottles that I already had on death row.

So - you decide which bottle I should open next out of the 4 that I have identified. The bottle that gets the most votes is the bottle that I will open on Friday and for which I will post a tasting note in due course (the other bottles will be opened between now and Christmas so you should also see tasting notes for those, as well).

Alex

Either of the Vesuvios (though I voted for 1994), so that I can read your new note before the tasting on Tue 11th Dec.

I voted for the Warre, because it will be interesting to see how ageworthy these LBV's really are.

Alex,

you never know what will be tomorrow. Maybe your wife is gone, you have diabetes, you get fired or whatever.

Live for the moment and take the best port available.

(you asked for me to vote).

Axel

If the V92 is almost winning as we approach the deadline, please consider my voted changed from V94 to V92. Either of the Vs for me.

I've yet to encounter a leaky Vesuvio - I was beginning to think the Sym's were on to something with their short super-tight corks...

I pitched for the V94 as I've yet to broach one of mine - is it still too young? - I'd like to know.

I was very unimpressed with the V92, and not obviously a duff bottle - so also of interest..

Tom

I voted for the V94 because I know it to be one of your favourites.

Like Tom I am surprised that you have 2 leaky Vesuvios - are they from a potentially dodgy background?

Derek

Derek T. wrote:I voted for the V94 because I know it to be one of your favourites.

Thank you - I appreciate the vote as this is one of my very top ports

Like Tom I am surprised that you have 2 leaky Vesuvios - are they from a potentially dodgy background?

The '92 is from decidedly dodgy storage and came as part of a mini vertical of Vesuvio, many of which are showing signs of leakage. The '92 is the worst.

The '94 worries me far more. This was bought from Berry Brothers and shows no signs at all of any reason for suspecting poor storage.

Alex

I can't handle the idea of not opening a leaker, so went for the better year - 94.

KillerB wrote:I can't handle the idea of not opening a leaker, so went for the better year - 94.

Fret not, all the bottles above will be opened before Christmas (probably). The only item up for consideration was which one first.

If it had been left purely to me, the '94 would probably have been last since it is my favourite - the joy of anticipation over the joy of instant gratification.

Alex

Since the rest shall get opened anyways, I chose the LBV.

Save the Vesuvio's for christmas....a nice treat from Santa

Andy

Santa has a different Portious treat in mind ... But you will have to wait to the end of December to find out what that is!

Alex

AHB wrote: Santa has a different Portious treat in mind ... But you will have to wait to the end of December to find out what that is!

Just leave us in suspense Do tell...OK, at least a hint

A hint, hmmm.

Older than any of the ones included on my current death row, as listed in the poll above. Not as old as the one that Uncle Tom just added to his cellar, but roughly half as old.

From a UK shipper, now fading in reputation but with the occasional decent vintage port.

Will be taken out of storage and stood upright in a couple of weeks time.

Alex

Sounds like Sandeman 1927...

Tom

Tom’s was the 160-year-old 1847, so this must be 80-year-old 1927. Martinez?

It is a 1927, but not Sandeman nor Martinez...

I thought of Martinez - but they're a bit semi detached when it comes to being a British Shipper - Offley is another possible.

Tom

Nor Offley...

Delaforce? Hutcheson?

Now, how about dear old Hankey Bannister??

Tom

Not Delaforce, nor Hutcheson (when did they produce a decent vintage?) nor Hankey Bannister.

You are starting to worry me now. Perhaps this isn't a British shipper and I'm wrong...

Alex

Croft?

Nope.

Tuke Holdsworth? Robertson? Morgan?

Michael Broadbent also mentions Stormont Tait, a name I've never come across before.

We havn't tried Cockburn yet..

Tom

Thought about it, but decided against it after reading Alex' description "fading in reputation, but with the occasional decent vintage port". I was under the impression that Cockburn is on the way back up when it comes to VP's...

If it is Cockburn, I am not willing to admit defeat due to a faul hint by Alex.

Smith woodhouse?

I figure if we start lising them all, were bound to get it sooner or later

Thought about it, but decided against it after reading Alex' description "fading in reputation, but with the occasional decent vintage port". I was under the impression that Cockburn is on the way back up when it comes to VP's...

My thoughts entirely - but we're running out of options..!

Tom

Hooper?

OK, I give in. It is the Cockburn 1927.

I guess the perception of Cockburn being on the way back up is a personal one. I see the 1955 as a good port, but then a big gap until the very respectable 1983 with the 1991 also being perfectly acceptable.

But I don't see them back up with the big boys like Vesuvio, Noval, Taylor, Fonseca, Grahams etc.

Perhaps someone would start a thread along the lines of "Are Cockburn Vintage Ports on the way back up" and then post their thoughts.

I would be very interested in learning and hearing from people on this topic.

Alex

Coming back to the original subject of this thread, the Vesuvio 1994 was stood upright on death row last night (as opposed to lying in death row) and will - hopefully - be opened around 5pm tonight before being consumed from around 8pm onwards.

Alex