Any Port connoisseurs?
Discussion
I know we've discussed whisky, wine and beer on PH, but a search has not turned up anything on port.
A few months after I was born my grandparents laid down 6 bottles of Kopke Quinta St. Luiz 1970 with a view to it being an 18th birthday present for me.
I actually only got 3 of them because they neglected to do the same for my sister, so decided to give only 3 of them to me and to give 3 to her when she turned 18.
And then a couple of year ago I was rearranging the wine rack and a bottle of Chenet (the oddly shaped stumpy bottle) slipped and fell pinball style through the rack and smashed one of the 3 Kopkes.
So here I am, 35 years on, and I still haven't opened either of remaining 2 bottles yet, despite having passed though my 18th, 21st, 30th, my engagement, my wedding and my 1st wedding anniversary. You'd think any one of those would be sufficient reason really.
To be honest I'm a little scared. I'm scared because
1) It may be a huge anti-climax and taste like vinegar
2) Once opened it will turn to vinegar in less than 24 hours (I'm reliably informed)
3) I have no idea how much each bottle is worth but I suspect it is rather a lot and I'm afraid of "wasting" it.
4) I know I'll have to decant it very carefully and I have no experience of doing this.
Can anyone help at all? (Don, perhaps?
)
Cheers PHers
Jon
A few months after I was born my grandparents laid down 6 bottles of Kopke Quinta St. Luiz 1970 with a view to it being an 18th birthday present for me.
I actually only got 3 of them because they neglected to do the same for my sister, so decided to give only 3 of them to me and to give 3 to her when she turned 18.
And then a couple of year ago I was rearranging the wine rack and a bottle of Chenet (the oddly shaped stumpy bottle) slipped and fell pinball style through the rack and smashed one of the 3 Kopkes.
So here I am, 35 years on, and I still haven't opened either of remaining 2 bottles yet, despite having passed though my 18th, 21st, 30th, my engagement, my wedding and my 1st wedding anniversary. You'd think any one of those would be sufficient reason really.
To be honest I'm a little scared. I'm scared because
1) It may be a huge anti-climax and taste like vinegar
2) Once opened it will turn to vinegar in less than 24 hours (I'm reliably informed)
3) I have no idea how much each bottle is worth but I suspect it is rather a lot and I'm afraid of "wasting" it.
4) I know I'll have to decant it very carefully and I have no experience of doing this.
Can anyone help at all? (Don, perhaps?
) Cheers PHers
Jon
My dad did the same for me, except the tight arse only put 1 bottle aside
Intended to open it for my 21st, never did, 25 & 30 passed by and it remained on the top shelf.
The night my daughter was born, a couple of years ago, I cracked it open and supped the lot with my dad and my 3 brothers.
Intended to open it for my 21st, never did, 25 & 30 passed by and it remained on the top shelf.
The night my daughter was born, a couple of years ago, I cracked it open and supped the lot with my dad and my 3 brothers.
Open a bottle, decant it, drink it, ideally within a couple of hours, a few days anyway. It will be fine, vintage port lasts for decades, improving all the time.
If there is any doubt in your mind, any, then your best bet will be to send it to me and I will deal with it
I bought myself a couple of bottles of Croft 77 for Christmas
If there is any doubt in your mind, any, then your best bet will be to send it to me and I will deal with it
I bought myself a couple of bottles of Croft 77 for Christmas
you will be fine decant it leaving all the yeasty sediment in the bottle(this will not harm you just give u the squits if too much ingested)
and then enjoy.
Vintage port is splendid.
Lucky boy you
my two eldest sons have a bottle a piece put aside from their godfather until their 21.
bought my inlaws a 40 yr old for their 40th it was excuisite.
Hope someone does the same for me.
bought my hubby a 30 yr old last year and managed knock it off the dressing table it smashed the floorboards smelt heavenley for ages.
and then enjoy.
Vintage port is splendid.
Lucky boy you
my two eldest sons have a bottle a piece put aside from their godfather until their 21.
bought my inlaws a 40 yr old for their 40th it was excuisite.
Hope someone does the same for me.
bought my hubby a 30 yr old last year and managed knock it off the dressing table it smashed the floorboards smelt heavenley for ages.
Take it out of the wine rack, stand it up, let it settle, decant, drink - and enjoy. I've given up saving my "good" bottles for celebrations - I just drink them when I feel like drinking a good 'un.
Still got a half bottle of trockenbeerenauslese I've not got around to. That's on the list for Christmas with a bit of stilton - rather than the port. Mmmmmmmm...
Still got a half bottle of trockenbeerenauslese I've not got around to. That's on the list for Christmas with a bit of stilton - rather than the port. Mmmmmmmm...
MMC said:
Take it out of the wine rack, stand it up, let it settle, decant, drink - and enjoy. I've given up saving my "good" bottles for celebrations - I just drink them when I feel like drinking a good 'un.
Still got a half bottle of trockenbeerenauslese I've not got around to. That's on the list for Christmas with a bit of stilton - rather than the port. Mmmmmmmm...
port stilton and xmas cake
Port will keep when opened. I opened and decanted a bottle of Taylor 1977 last night.
I don't know that particular house, but decant it through muslin or a very fine sieve (it will have thrown a heavy sediment) and I reckon you will enjoy it. 1970 was a very fine vintage for port.
>> Edited by Zod on Thursday 23 December 23:30
I don't know that particular house, but decant it through muslin or a very fine sieve (it will have thrown a heavy sediment) and I reckon you will enjoy it. 1970 was a very fine vintage for port.
>> Edited by Zod on Thursday 23 December 23:30
Port, Stilton, White Grapes plus one of these to avoid the bits:
www.royalselangor.com/rs2/productdetails.php?ProductSKU=4517R&Referer=5|3|52|12
www.royalselangor.com/rs2/productdetails.php?ProductSKU=4517R&Referer=5|3|52|12
Jon - nice of you to think of me!
Port is for drinking. You have two special occasions coming up. Have one.
You are quite right in saying that it will turn to wee in about 24 hours....you might get 48 hours at a push but if you're enjoying it I see no reason not to down the bottle.
I had a 1960s Dow Vintage Port a few months ago with a friend of mine - fantastic - still fresh as anything.
Points to note:
By now the bottle will be filled with sediment and crud. Decant before drinking. You might prefer to do this prior to sitting down to dinner. Not only do I decant - I have been known to use a tea strainer to avoid the chunkiest of bits from getting into the decanter...sacrilige they say - bollocks say I.
I suggest enjoying your Port at the end of a dinner. With a "special" cheeseboard...there's a good Cheese shop in Farnham IIRC.
Port is for drinking. You have two special occasions coming up. Have one.
You are quite right in saying that it will turn to wee in about 24 hours....you might get 48 hours at a push but if you're enjoying it I see no reason not to down the bottle.
I had a 1960s Dow Vintage Port a few months ago with a friend of mine - fantastic - still fresh as anything.
Points to note:
By now the bottle will be filled with sediment and crud. Decant before drinking. You might prefer to do this prior to sitting down to dinner. Not only do I decant - I have been known to use a tea strainer to avoid the chunkiest of bits from getting into the decanter...sacrilige they say - bollocks say I.
I suggest enjoying your Port at the end of a dinner. With a "special" cheeseboard...there's a good Cheese shop in Farnham IIRC.
Oh...should have read the whole thread. All fine advice from people who like Port.
BTW: I went on a "Port" holiday a few years back. Brilliant. Drank loads of vintage/white/tawny.
I discovered:
1) Not to bother with LBV
2) Tawny port can be utterly fantastic and it does last in an open bottle.
In any case - ENJOY! (Soon)
BTW: I went on a "Port" holiday a few years back. Brilliant. Drank loads of vintage/white/tawny.
I discovered:
1) Not to bother with LBV
2) Tawny port can be utterly fantastic and it does last in an open bottle.
In any case - ENJOY! (Soon)
Just decanted a lovely bottle of 1980 taylors.
AS is mentioned, let the bottle stand for 24 - 48 hours, this will give the sediment a chance to settle on the bottom.
You don't need a muslin / funnel to decant port (although it can speed things up) but you do need a decanter - just pour carefully never really tipping beyond the minimum needed to keep the liquid flowing. When you get to the last inch or so leave it in the bottle with the sediment, or pour into a clear glass and carefully transfer to the decanter steadily, keeping the mushy sediment still in the glass. You don't waste more than 1/4 a glass if done corrrectly but you will then be able to enjoy the rest properly
Whilst drinking immediately is always best, keeping it in a decanter for a week or three would not be an issue providing it was a decent seal at the top of the decanter and kept in decent conditions.
AS is mentioned, let the bottle stand for 24 - 48 hours, this will give the sediment a chance to settle on the bottom.
You don't need a muslin / funnel to decant port (although it can speed things up) but you do need a decanter
- just pour carefully never really tipping beyond the minimum needed to keep the liquid flowing. When you get to the last inch or so leave it in the bottle with the sediment, or pour into a clear glass and carefully transfer to the decanter steadily, keeping the mushy sediment still in the glass. You don't waste more than 1/4 a glass if done corrrectly but you will then be able to enjoy the rest properly Whilst drinking immediately is always best, keeping it in a decanter for a week or three would not be an issue providing it was a decent seal at the top of the decanter and kept in decent conditions.
As its Christmas and I'm in a rather good mood, I'm not going to say anything 
But the next one of these "Any Peach Schnapps" connoisseurs" type threads will get both barrels.
Jon, merry Christmas to you and yours. Just open the bloody thing and enjoy it. Thats what it was laid down for.
Greg
But the next one of these "Any Peach Schnapps" connoisseurs" type threads will get both barrels.
Jon, merry Christmas to you and yours. Just open the bloody thing and enjoy it. Thats what it was laid down for.
Greg
A mate of mine had some 1958 stuff given to him as a present when he was born. I guess it was already about 15 years old then. He gave a bottle to me about 3 years ago as he didn't drink.
After letting it settle again for a couple of weeks, I then stood it up for a couple of days, decanted it, stared incredulously at the amount of crap in the bottom of the bottle...
I wasn't sure what to expect; vinegar or nectar...
It was utterly gorgeous.
After letting it settle again for a couple of weeks, I then stood it up for a couple of days, decanted it, stared incredulously at the amount of crap in the bottom of the bottle...
I wasn't sure what to expect; vinegar or nectar...
It was utterly gorgeous.
Every Christmas, me and my dad see off a fine bottle of port while chomping on some very sweaty stilton and attempt to put to world to rights. Don't gulp the stuff but sip it gently. It would be essential to decant what you have, or pour it very carefully and leave the bottom 1" in the bottle. Get the bottle upright to let the crud sink to the bottom, serve at room temp and enjoy it..
Never had that problem, as I struggle to make a bottle last more than 3 hours.
JonRB said:
2) Once opened it will turn to vinegar in less than 24 hours (I'm reliably informed)
Never had that problem, as I struggle to make a bottle last more than 3 hours.
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