Somewhere earlier I posted that I did not know that Penfolds made a port. Well, I actually knew they made an $80 bottle, but not a $10 bottle. The CLUB RESERVE is their $10 bottle. To say that it is a "bit hot" would be an understatement. I opened the bottle and poured a nice healthy glass, which I put down on my computer table. Within fifteen(15) seconds, my eyes began to water from the cloud of alcohol that wafted from my glass. I was thinking this was not a good time to light a cigar. Anyway, I took a nice mouthful to see what was going on here in my glass. I was greeted by a flavor seeming like a tasty, fruity wine flavored, bourbon. It tasted more like a liquor than a wine. This was not bad, however. It was very tasty. That was Friday night. Today after watching the Bears perform a sort of defensive miracle, I poured up another glass. I was in a very good mood. The overabundance of alcohol vapor was gone. This port has made a considerable move back to the wine family since being opened. It still has a bourbon's nose, but easier to take. It is much less oakey than a vintage tawny, but more mature than a blend. There are serious tastes of caramel, and a fruitiness of a very expensive and well crafted fruitcake (like if you cellared a really good fruitcake for ten(10) years or so), but not like a ruby port. This will now replace my top two(2) bottles of "nice to drink" port. It has, to me, a very high QPR.

##

Sorry if I rambled with this TN.

A very interesting TN, thanks Francis S! I'd love to give it a try, but I've never seen Penfolds "Ports" on the Dutch market (might have to do with them calling it Port).

I also posted a note on this here. Can't match the detail though.

OK StevieCage .......... just give me an address and I'll launch some out your way.
Hey J. Henry's Dad .......... If I knew how, I would have searched for previous threads; but this "all new, fancy, most current, techno wine site" is all too complicated for me. LOL

##

Anyway ..... I'm enjoying a glass of this nice liquid even as I type. It's going very well with a turkey pot-pie. Go figure.

Francis, you're serious? That most generous of you!
Please send me an e-mail: steven.kooij@lycos.com

quote:

---

Originally posted by StevieCage:
Francis, you're serious?

---

OK StevieCage, "You've got mail."

##

Received and reply send

Hey stevie, can't wait till you get the bottle(s). Share???

That goes without saying, Lady Roots!

I was kind of hoping for that as well Stevie!

OK .......... all things are a GO !!!!!

As of 4:37 pm cst, a package of "olive oil" was sent on it's way to Amsterdam. Now it's all in the hands of the US postal Service.

Be aware, StevieCage, that to be safe, I shipped the "olive oil" in an Adam&Eve sexual product box marked "marital aids". The shipping tag has the gift box checked, so I think it will be free of any duty fees.

Anyway .......... enjoy the "olive oil".

##

Sincerely,
John Doe/Smith

I had written this a looooong time ago, but somehow never posted it. Francis, my sincere apologies for that - it does not mean that I did not appreciate your extremely kind gesture. Note: Francis send me both bottles as a gift, and paid for the shipping as well. Thank you again Francis - I owe you big time.

A post like this really shows what a great place this forum is...some days after my last post on this thread a large box arrived at my office, with not just one, but TWO bottles of this Aussie port...
The first bottle, I must admit, was opened and emptied at an evening with friends...and empty before I could manage to write a proper TN on it...one could see that as a good sign!

The second bottle was opened at a more "proper" occasion: a Port tasting at the Roots' place. We hosted this tasting for some collegues and friends of Lady Roots, and I thought the Penfold's would make for an interesting ringer. It was paired with a Qta. d. Romaneira 1994 Colheita (itself a bit more expensive than the Penfold's).
There was no mistaking which was which; the Penfold's was picked out as not being "real" Port. That being said, it was indeed a very, very tasty glass of wine: for my taste a bit to sweet, but for a $10 wine impressive. Indeed, several people preferred this over the Romaneira!
I agree completely with Francis' TN on this wine. I have yet to try an Australian port-style wine at this price that offers this much drinking pleasure.

Fantastic TN reply Stevie. You owe me nothing at all. I'm glad you and the others enjoyed it.

I'd love to be educated on the ideas of a "real" port vs. this Aussie. Anyway, ..... I'm glad things were as they were.

##

John Doe/Smith

I don't know who Iceman is or isn't, but this thread is cool.

This is one of my all-time favorite tasting notes!

Thanks Francis.

quote:

Originally posted by GreenDrazi:
Thanks Francis.

Francis? Who is Francis?? This is so confusing.
The Club Reserve is a fine glass of juice though.

##

CONGRESS INTENSIFIES PUSH TO DRILL IN ARCTIC
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, some members of Congress are exploiting higher gas prices by stepping up calls to sacrifice the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Industrial activity in this awe-inspiring landscape could drive polar bears from their dens, expel countless migratory birds from their nests and force the 123,000-strong Porcupine caribou herd from its preferred birthing ground. Meanwhile, drilling in the Arctic Refuge would not reduce prices at the pump until 2025, and even then would likely save Americans only 1.5 cents per gallon. The fastest way to make America more energy independent is to improve the fuel economy of our cars and trucks, which account for 40 percent of our oil use.