What began as a simple idea to gather with friends and share our love for Port wine over a casual weekend has become a cherished tradition. For the January 2024 edition of the Guy’s Port Weekend, we reunited in Las Vegas to indulge in great wine, delicious food, and each other’s company. These weekends have become the perfect opportunity to enjoy extraordinary Ports without the constraints of formal tastings. Instead, it’s all about opening bottles “just because,” exchanging stories, and savoring the camaraderie.
We coordinated our flights into Las Vegas so that we’d all arrive within about thirty minutes of one another. After meeting up at baggage claim, we quickly gathered our wine-filled suitcases and headed out of the airport.
Our destination was an Airbnb that Eric had reserved for the weekend. Conveniently located near the airport, it served as the perfect home base. Once there, we each claimed a room, unpacked our belongings, and, of course, unloaded our wines. One of the highlights of the weekend is always seeing what treasures everyone has brought to share, and this year’s lineup did not disappoint. It was clear from the start—we were in for an incredible weekend.
Before diving into the weekend festivities, we all agreed that dinner was a must.
Our choice? A delightfully quirky spot called “Back to the 80’s Café & More.” From the moment we arrived, it was clear this place was swimming in nostalgia. The “Back to the Future”-style sign, the Ghostbusters-themed hearse parked out front, and even the Tetris-shaped chicken nuggets—all of it screamed “1980s!!!” louder than a Van Halen guitar solo. Every corner of the café was drenched in retro charm, making it the perfect kickoff to our weekend adventure.
After dinner—and surviving 45 minutes of our waiter’s delightfully campy catchphrases—we returned to the Airbnb, eager to kick off the tastings.
We began with a pair of 2003 Rozes Ports, comparing their Vintage Port and Late Bottled Vintage Port from the same year. Tasting them side by side was a fascinating experience, showcasing how these two styles, despite their shared vintage, express distinct characteristics.
2003 Rozes Late Bottled Vintage Port – Bottled in 2007 and unfiltered. Crushed dusty red fruits dominate, with a light nose of spirit. The palate shows a fresh mouthfeel, complemented by dark fruits, great structure, and well-integrated tannins. The finish is fresh and balanced. 90 points. 1/25/2024
2003 Rozes Vintage Port – Chocolate and cassis on the nose with a hint of cool wet slate. The palate features lovely dark fruits, mocha, blackberry, and black currant, with a balanced entry, nice structure, and a very long finish. 91 points. 1/25/2024
And as if to reinforce the free-form, unstructured nature of these weekend get-togethers, we switched gears and next went to a Tawny Port.
1997 Pocas Colheita Port – Bottled in 2018. Cloudy orange in color with a nose of orange, vanilla, and creamsicle, along with a faint hint of turpentine. The entry is smooth and sweet, with a somewhat simple flavor profile. Acidity is present but slightly out of balance, particularly on the finish. 89 points. 1/25/2024
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Up next was a beautiful little treat – an old Barbeita Malvasia Madeira. I believe that the Malvasia grapes for this wine were sourced from Dr. Favilla Vieira’s family-owned vineyards in Calheta, Ponta do Sol and Jardim do Mar. I didn’t confirm the bottling date, but I believe that this was bottled in 2010.
1920 Barbeito Favilla Vieira Reserva Velha Malvasia Madeira – Dark amber-brown with orange edges. The nose opens with bottle stink, featuring aromas of rubber tire, VA, burnt chocolate, and dried nuts. The palate showcases saline notes, dried fruits, and very bright acidity, with less sweetness than typical for a Malvasia. The long finish highlights salted caramel and lively acidity. Despite the initial nose, the wine held up remarkably well. 93 points. 1/25/2024
1995 Ferreira Vintage Port – Amber-purple in color with a tight nose of dark fruits, including blueberry and blackberry. The palate is intense, with well-structured tannins, crushed blueberries, cassis, and noticeable acidity. This wine is enjoyable now but still has room to develop further. 92 points. 1/25/2024
After that rollercoaster ride of wines, we decided to round out the tasting session with a slate of some amazing Tawnies.
Andresen 40 Year Old Tawny Port – Bottled in 2023. Orange-amber in color with dried nuts, orange spices, caramel, and vanilla on the nose, along with a touch of spirit. There was some debate about whether the bottle had slight TCA, but air seemed to dissipate the issue. The entry is rich and intense, featuring dried nuts, bright acidity, orange spices, caramel, and hints of vanilla cream. The long finish is vibrant, with acidity and a touch of sweetness. 92 points. 1/25/2024
DR 40 Year Old Tawny Port – Bottled in 2021. Very clear with a rich orange-tan color. The nose offers cream caramel, vanilla cream, and a light ethereal quality. The entry is intense, showing dried fruits, apricot, Christmas spices, and excellent balance. 93 points. 1/25/2024
DR L70 Very Old Port – Lot 2017, bottle #107/200. Dark amber color with coffee-like hints. The entry is smooth and complex, with caramel, vanilla, orange spice, apricots, and coffee, supported by beautiful acidity. The finish is exceptionally long, lingering for minutes. This is an extraordinary wine. 97 points. 1/25/2024
Day 2
We started the morning with a hearty breakfast, taking our time to ease into the day. As we enjoyed our meal, a few of us couldn’t resist revisiting some of the standout wines from the night before, giving us a chance to see how they were evolving. By the time lunch rolled around, we unanimously decided that a trip to In-N-Out Burger was in order. Nothing like a classic burger run to fuel the rest of our day!
For the weekend, Eric had rented a spacious truck to ensure everyone could ride together comfortably. However, when we reached the In-N-Out drive-thru, we quickly realized the truck’s impressive size came with a drawback—its turn radius was hilariously incompatible with the tight corners of the drive-thru lane. After some awkward maneuvering and plenty of laughs, we abandoned the drive-thru idea and opted to park and walk in instead. Burgers in hand, we headed back to the Airbnb, ready to enjoy the afternoon with good food, great company, and, of course, more wine.
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To pair with our burgers, we opened a selection of dry wines that offered a delightful contrast to the burgers. Among them was a beautifully structured Dão Red, known for its elegance and balance, and one of my personal favorites—a robust and flavorful Douro Red from Quinta do Crasto. The wines complemented the burgers wonderfully, ramping up the sophistication level for our take-out lunch. It was yet another reminder of how versatile Portuguese wines can be, even with something as casual as a burger.
2015 Quinta da Pellada Dão Vinho Tinto. N/R.
2004 Quinta do Crasto Old Vines Reserva Douro Red – Dark ruby with light brown hints. The nose features old dusty wood notes, cranberry, red currant, and woody undertones. The palate shows good tannins and a dusty thread that lingers through the finish. Ready to drink now, with no further aging expected to improve it. 92 points. 1/25/2024
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After lunch, it was time to dive back into the world of Ports! Eric treated us to an incredible set of Ports that he had brought along, featuring selections from Andresen. While we were already familiar with Andresen’s reputation, particularly for their more recent Tawny and Colheita Ports, this tasting offered something truly special. Sampling these two wines side by side was a unique opportunity to explore and compare two very old Port – produced a decade apart – and appreciate both the age and the differences.
1910 Andresen Colheita Port – Bottled in 1979. Cloudy tan-yellow with a brown sugar-colored center. Aromas of dark mocha powder, dried nuts, and old wood. Smooth entry with bright acidity and a touch of heat. The palate offers dried nuts, orange spices, and chocolate, finishing with surprising vibrancy and length. 91 points. 1/25/2024
1900 Andresen Colheita Port – Bottled in 1982. Vibrant amber-orange with slight cloudiness. The nose reveals candied orange slices, cinnamon, oak, and vanilla. The palate has a rich, intense entry with bright acidity, dusty tannins, and flavors of orange spices, apricots, roasted nuts, and caramel. The acidity is sharp and focused, leading to a wonderful, very long finish. 93 points. 1/25/2024
After savoring the exceptional old Colheita Ports, we decided it was time to switch gears once more and explore another highlight of the weekend: the three White Ports we had collectively brought. Each bottle represented a unique expression of White Ports, showcasing the diversity and depth that make these wines so captivating.
Blackett 20 Year Old White Port – Bottled in 2023. Golden straw in color. The nose offers honeydew, tropical notes, and grilled pineapple. The palate is rich, featuring pineapple, honey, and bright acidity. The finish is long and balanced, with a slight touch of heat at the tail end. 91 points. 1/25/2024
1964 Krohn Branco White Colheita Port – Bottled in 2007. Aromas of grilled tropical fruit, honeysuckle, and white peach. The entry is extremely smooth with a rich flavor profile of tropical fruits and dried nuts. The finish highlights toffee notes and dried nuts, seamlessly integrated. 91 points. 1/25/2024
Quevedo 30 Year Old White Port – Bottled in 2019. Clear yellow in color. Woody oak and dried fruit notes on the nose. The palate opens with noticeable acidity, followed by honey, grilled tropical fruits, and a touch of heat. Lively acidity carries through to a very long finish. 90 points. 1/25/2024
After finishing the White Ports, we took a short break, during which someone decided to lighten the mood by pulling out a bottle of Taylor (New York) Port they had brought along as a joke.
Taylor New York
Most of us are familiar with Taylor Fladgate, the renowned Port house established in Portugal in 1692 by Job Bearsley and currently led by CEO Adrian Bridge. Taylor New York, however, occupies a very different space in the world of wine. Sharing the same name as the legendary producer, Taylor New York Port has earned a somewhat humorous reputation among American Port enthusiasts, primarily for its inexpensive “Port-style” wines made from native American grape varietals such as Concord and Catawba.
Although it’s a punchline today for many traditional Port drinkers, Taylor New York was once a respected and well-known wine brand. Founded in 1880 by Walter Stephen Taylor in New York’s Finger Lakes region, the company began producing wines in 1882, focusing primarily on table and fortified wines.
By the 1940s and 1950s, Taylor New York had become a household name in the United States, offering affordable wines and fortified products, including “Port” and “Sherry.” During the 1970s, the company was acquired by The Coca-Cola Company as part of their diversification strategy. However, in 1983, Coca-Cola sold the company to Seagram’s, the Canadian beverage giant. Seagram’s retained ownership until shifting priorities led to another sale, this time to Constellation Brands in 1995, where Taylor remains part of the portfolio to this day.
For those interested in learning more about the fascinating rise and fall of this American wine producer,
Thomas Pellechia’s book Over a Barrel: The Rise and Fall of New York’s Taylor Wine Company (Amazon), provides an excellent account.
Curiosity got the better of us, as none of us could recall having ever actually tried Taylor New York “Port” before. We opened the bottle and poured ourselves small glasses to taste. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long to confirm that it bore little resemblance to what we consider “real” Port. The wine was simple and overly sweet, with an extremely high alcohol presence on both the nose and palate. While technically drinkable, it fell far short of enjoyable—especially after the stellar Ports we had already sampled earlier in the day.
Andy had the idea to ad water to his glass to see if it improved the flavor. Surprisingly, the dilution helped reduce the sharpness of the alcohol and made it slightly more palatable. We all tried the same, but the improvement was marginal at best. Needless to say, no one finished their glass, and we quickly turned back to the proper Ports we had enjoyed earlier in the morning.
Fun experiment. Glad I did it. Don’t need to repeat.
After an incredible day of tasting and sharing stories, we capped it off with a memorable dinner at Lotus of Siam, a renowned Thai restaurant that Eric had thoughtfully chosen for us. Known for its authentic flavors and extensive menu, the restaurant provided the perfect setting to unwind and reflect on the day’s highlights. Eric also brough two lovely Riesling’s to pair with the spicy dishes, and it was a fantastic way to end the evening.
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Day 3
We started the morning in our usual way—gathering around with freshly brewed coffee, a hearty breakfast, and plenty of conversation about the plans for the day ahead. Today’s focus would be on Vintage Ports, an exciting prospect for all of us as we anticipated checking in on the evolution of these wines.
1991 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port – Decanted 3 hours. Dark amber-purple with dusty brown hints. The nose reveals mint, herbal notes, dark plum, and blueberry. Rich dark fruit on the palate with well-structured tannins and fantastic balance. Red currants and a touch of tartness linger on the medium-long finish. 93 points. 1/26/2024
1983 Dow Vintage Port – Decanted for 3.5 hours. Dusty red fruit on the nose with strawberry, red currant, and a hint of milk chocolate. The palate is complex, with strawberry, cherry, and Christmas spices leading to a long finish. 92 points. 1/26/2024
1985 Dow Vintage Port – Decanted for 3.5 hours. Amber and clear in color. The nose is slightly closed, showing red fruit notes of cherry and cranberry. Smooth on the palate with raspberry, lovely spices, and structured tannins. A long finish with just a touch of spirit. 91 points. 1/26/2024
After savoring the three Vintage Ports, we took a moment to revisit a few favorites from the day before, reflecting on how they had evolved overnight. As lunchtime approached, we opened a beautiful white wine from the Symington portfolio, which offered a refreshing change of pace with its crisp and vibrant character. We also enjoyed a bold and expressive Douro Red from Quinta da Romanieira.
2020 Quinta da Fonte Souto Taifa
2004 Quinta do Romaneira Douro Red
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After lunch, we dove back into our Ports, starting off with a bottle from the legendary Quinta do Noval.
The Quinta do Noval Nacional vineyard is one of the most iconic and revered vineyards in the world of Port wine. Spanning just 2.5 hectares, this small plot is planted exclusively with ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines, a rarity in viticulture today. The vineyard produces wines that are exceptionally concentrated and complex, and are celebrated for their intensity, elegance, and remarkable aging potential. Quinta do Noval only produces a Nacional Vintage Port in extraordinary years, and these limited bottlings are highly sought after.
1964 Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port – Pale ruby with tinges of pink at the edges. The nose presents red fruit with hints of cinnamon. The palate features strawberry, cranberry, and red fruits, with noticeable acidity and a touch of bitterness on the long finish. A bit more fruit would have enhanced the balance. 89 points. 1/26/2024
While the Nacional didn’t quite live up to our lofty expectations, we didn’t let that dampen our spirits. Our excitement quickly turned to the next highlight of the afternoon: a trio of Ports from the legendary 1970 vintage.
1970 Dow Vintage Port – Amber-ruby in color. Aromas of red fruit, strawberry, red currant, and light spice. The palate is rich and elegant, showing slight sweetness with light chocolate, cherry, and bright acidity, which feels slightly out of balance. The long finish is a touch dry. 92 points. 1/26/2024
1970 Taylor Vintage Port – Beautiful amber-red with slight cloudiness. The nose offers rich red fruits, strawberry, mint, herbal notes, Christmas spice, and light chocolate. The palate is rich and well-balanced, with cherry and spice notes on entry, well-structured tannins, and excellent balance between sugars and acidity. Full-bodied with a very long finish and a sweet red fruit profile. 95 points. 1/26/2024
1970 Graham Vintage Port – Purple-amber in color. The nose reveals dusty red fruits, cassis, and mocha. The entry is fresh and vibrant with dark fruits like blueberry and dark plum. The flavor profile is elegant and balanced, supported by good tannins and acidity. The long finish has subtle herbal undertones. 94 points. 1/26/2024
After wrapping up our tasting of the 1970 Vintage Ports, we shifted our focus to preparing dinner. While dining out is a big part of our weekend get-togethers, we always try to dedicate at least one evening to cooking a meal together—it’s a tradition that adds to the camaraderie and fun of the weekend.
For this dinner, we had some exceptional steaks ready to go, paired with a selection of dry wines that we couldn’t wait to enjoy. Of course, no cooking session would be complete without a glass of wine in hand (because isn’t sipping while cooking practically a rule?). The aroma of sizzling steaks filled the kitchen as we shared laughs and sips, creating the perfect lead-up to a delicious and memorable meal.
After dinner, we decided to end the evening on a high note by opening one last wine—a 1935 Krohn Vintage Port. This extraordinary bottle, steeped in history, was the perfect finale to our day of tastings.
Wiese & Krohn, often referred to simply as Krohn, was a distinguished Port wine producer with a long history of crafting exceptional fortified wines. Founded in 1865 by two Norwegians, Theodor Wiese and Dankert Krohn, the company initially focused on exporting Portuguese wines to Scandinavian markets. Over time, it gained prominence for its Port wines, particularly its meticulously crafted Colheitas and Vintage Ports.
Krohn was acquired by The Fladgate Partnership (A New Era for Wiese & Krohn) in 2013, and changed hands again when the WineStone Group acquired the brand and Quinta do Retiro Novo. With the company, brand, and Port stocks changing hands, it was getting harder to find older Kronh’s bottles, so we were very excited to try this one.
1935 Krohn Vintage Port – Amber-ruby in color. The nose shows old dusty red fruit, strawberry, milk chocolate, and light spices. The entry is rich and intense, with complex waves of red fruits and spices. The slightly sweet flavor profile is beautifully balanced with firm tannins and well-integrated acidity. Mocha notes add depth to the very long finish. 95 points. 1/26/2024
We stayed up for a few more hours, sharing stories and reflecting on the weekend’s highlights, as the last drops of Port were savored. It was another fantastic Guy’s Port Weekend filled with incredible wines, great food, and even better company. As always, these weekends remind us why we started this tradition—an opportunity to unwind, explore our shared passion for Port, and create memories that keep us looking forward to the next gathering.
