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Germany

    My Column

    The biggest challenge of the Quinta do Vallado Tawnies are…

    The origins of Vallado date back to 1716. The quinta was one of the few in Dona Antonia Ferreira’sempire that was not acquired by Ferreirinha (so the nickname of Dona Antonia), but already by her father Antonio Bernardo in 1818. Since this time, the grapes from Quinta do Vallado have been used for the production of Ferreira port wines. With the takeover of Ferreira by the Sogrape G...

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    My Today

    All of the tasting notes on tastingbook.com of the wine critic mentioned above come from press releases from wine importers or wineries and can also be found on the critic’s own website, which can be easily accessed by clicking the link on the right.

     

    Novidades in the Port world:

    50 year old Tawny and 50 year old White Port

    Very little in this world is as consistent as Port regulations. The categories are extremely steady and new ...

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    My Yesterday

    Port’s Holy Grail: Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port 

    Despite some highs and lows in its history, Quinta do Noval holds a special place in the heart and mind of Port lovers worldwide. And although the Quinta does produce amazing Colheita Ports, structured and balanced Douro Reds as well as fantastic Vintage Ports the prestigious Noval Nacional Vintage Port stands above them all.

    A quick Journey through time: in the early 1930s most E...

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    My Tomorrow

    Taylor’s limited edition Vintage Port Vargellas Vinha Velha

    There is little visual difference between the labels of the Vinha Velha limited edition- and the Single Quinta Vintage Port Vargellas from Fladgate’s Flagship brand Taylor. By definition a Single Quinta Vintage Port can only contain grapes from the Quinta (Portuguese for estate) and the limited edition Vintage Port Vargellas Vinha Velha only receives grapes from very selected spots...

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    Me

    Born in one of the greatest Vintage Port years - 1970, Axel succeeded in becoming European Champion in 100m Backstroke during his early years. He graduated from School in 1989 and studied Business Administration, which he successfully finished with a Master Degree (German: DiplomKaufmann). He joined the Air-Force and became a Pilot, flying the Tornado and the Eurofighter aircraft. Axel retired from the Air-Force in 2011 with the rank of Lieute...

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    Digital Me

    THE DELIGHTFUL EIGHT – LIMITED EDITION VINTAGE PORTS

    There is little in the wine-world which is as exclusive as Vintage Port from a fully declared year. “3 times per decade” was the magic rule, so fully declared Vintage Port is scarce. Even scarcer since in smaller numbers are the Limited Edition Vintage Ports. Normally harvested from small parcels with old vines within the respective Quinta, the microclimates of these plots produce even mo...

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Wine Moments

Here you can see wine moments from tastingbook users. or to see wine moments from your world.

Axel Probst/BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (Germany)  had a tasting of  8 Wines  from  3 Producers 

QUINTA DO NOVAL VINTAGE PORT NACIONAL 1963 – This is the Vintage Port which most people would like to take to their lonely island. High-scores everywhere and so much life ahead that it almost frightens you: The colour is easily 10-20 years younger of what you would expect. Deep, dark-red colour with lots of reflections. Perfectly balanced bouquet with finesse and intensity. Long and multi-layered aftertaste. Tasted last year at the Quinta. Port-Heaven! 100

2m 17d ago

Axel Probst/BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (Germany)  had a tasting of  8 Wines  from  1 Producers 

TAYLOR'S VINTAGE PORT VARGELLAS VINHA VELHA -tasting / Vintage 2017:With six years since 2011 the 2017 follows the biggest gap in the VVV history. Strong and intense dark-red colour with medium violet reflections. Tobacco, cassis and black cherry in the deep and complex bouquet. The palate continues this enormous intensity without losing balance: White pepper, tobacco, dark cherry and cassis, perfectly structured acidity and ripe tannins. Long and multi-layered aftertaste. A little more than 5.000 bottles produced. 97

11m 24d ago

Axel Probst/BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (Germany)  had a wine moment

“This is the only non-declared year (at least from the Symintons) where a “Stone Terraces” Vintage Port was bottled. Due to this fact, the 2015 is pricewise somewhat “under the radar” as the Category Premium Vintage Port will be much stronger in the near future. Symington’s enologists Charles Symington and Henry Shotton picked two top spots of Graham’s prestigious Quinta dos Malvedos to source the grapes for the Stone Terraces Ports. Even against top 2017 Vintage Ports this Stone Terraces 2015 shows perfectly well and has everything for a long and bright future ahead: Brilliant deep dark color. Complex fruity bouquet with a basket full of berries, cassis and chocolate – extremely seductive. Firm tannins and perfectly supporting acidity on the palate, fresh red-berry fruit, cherry and chocolate. Long and balanced in the aftertaste. The challenge now is to leave some of the 4.800 bottles (no Magnums, no Tappit Hens) in the cellar... 19/20”

3y 9m ago

1 Wines 1 Producers

Axel Probst/BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (Germany)  had a wine moment

“When it comes down to Port one needs to blow in his own trumpet to create some attention. Even better if you have a full orchestra at hand… The first two Kingsman movies were James Bond alike “very british”, so that a decent glass of Port is rather fitting for the third part (in cinemas February 2021). The price could be open for discussion, but it is a fascinating Port and a fantastic PR (0,5 Liter decanter for 3.600 EUR with just 700 bottles made): Deep dark core in the dark-red colour with orange reflections. Fantastically intense and balanced bouquet with a variety of nuts, coffee, caramel, figs and milk-chocolate. Despite the complexity, everything appears very well balanced. The palate continues the nose perfectly with a perfect equilibrium of acidity and sweetness (very hard to find in old Ports):

Malt, orange-peel, pepper and hints of balsamico. Complex and very long aftertaste. Head winemaker David Guimaraens blended this Port from very old casks and used averagely 90 year old Ports. I am quite sure that Eggsy will properly enjoy this. Further information on: https://www.taylor.pt/us/port-wine/kingsman-edition 19/20”

3y 10m ago

1 Wines 1 Producers

Axel Probst/BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (Germany)  had a tasting of  28 Wines  from  1 Producers 

QUINTA DO NOVAL NACIONAL VINTAGE PORT 1931 –The most scarce and one of the best and most youthful matured Vintage Ports of the world: Very concentrated, but balanced toffee and fruity notes on the bouquet. Still some soft tannins with toffee, honey and malty notes on the palate. Very long and multi-layered aftertaste. This Port is far from being old and tired. What a pity that one does not have one or two cases to accompany its development in the future. 20p Now - 2100

3y 11m ago

Axel Probst/BWW2024 Finalist, Wine Writer (Germany) is a new member of Tastingbook.

“Axel writes articles for WeinWisser and Weinwirtschaft as well as for the World of Fine wines in the UK. He just published the second edition "Portwein", a solid 450 page-book on Port for the German-speaking market, which just won the Gourmand Awards “Best European Wine Book in 2018. He is a Fidalgo Cavalero do Confraria do Vinho do Porto and a certified Sherry Educator from the Consejo Regulador in Jerez. In September 2013 Axel convinced the 25 major Port Shippers to unify in a Project to produce a unique Vintage Port that has never been produced before, which 100.000-Euro-profit was donated to charity (www.o-port-unidade.com). Axel Probst is married with two children. This project will be repeated this year on 22nd of September in Vale Mendiz. ”

4y 10m ago

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