The Vintage Port Thread

I got it as a gift from my wife about a year and a half ago. I store all my Vintage Port in wine fridges at 54 degrees. She probably paid around $700 or so.

 

Very cool! How was it? Older port doesn’t seem to require as much time to decant. You could even try your first sip at the 45 minute mark and see how it is. Part of the enjoyment for me is seeing how the flavor changes over time (if it even does). Every one is different. I would also use cheesecloth, never a stainless steel strainer.

 

Ending the year with a new (for me) bottle.

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Today I finally have the privilege of adding a bottle of Quinta Do Noval Nacional port to my collection. In the mid-1800s, Phylloxera took out almost all of the grape vines in the Douro valley. American vines were grafted onto the European vines to help them survive. However, there was one tiny plot of land unaffected by the blight and is the only section to this day containing ungrafted vines. These vines are located in the Quinta do Noval vineyard and wines from this special plot of land are labeled as Quinta Do Noval Nacional port. When they produce, they are known to produce spectacularly. During the years they produce, it’s about only 200-250 cases total for the world. I’ll probably hold on to this one at least ten years before I open it, maybe longer.
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I bought just the one bottle. While it’s ready to drink now, it will only get better with age. I plan on letting it age another ten years or so before I open it. I would wait longer but I don’t have too many more decades left to enjoy this stuff. I buy all my vintage port for personal consumption, not investment. Life is short, enjoy it as much as you can.

 

Stopped by Total Wine tonight and found this gem. Only 250 cases for the world. No way I could leave without it!
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I’ve been on a roll lately….
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