Question about holding Tawny Ports | Clint Hall, Seattle Email | 08-Jul-2005 06:55
	An online wine retailer for whom I have considerable respect is advertising Warre's 20 Year Otima Tawny Port bottled in late 2004, which he says "can be enjoyed today or can be held for a number of years." How about that "number of years"? I've always been under the impression that it's not a good idea to hold onto tawnies more than about two years. (I know Colheitas are more durable, and some people claim Colheitas can even improve with age, but the issue here isn't Colheitas.) So what's your experience. How long do you hold your Tawnies -- unopened, of course.

	Tawnies don't usually improve, but... | Thor Iverson Email | 08-Jul-2005 07:15
	...they don't die very quickly either. I think it's more of a suggestion that there's no hurry to open it, not that the wine is going to reward cellaring with greater glories. Just my opinion. Roy, you out there? FWIW, I don't adore the Optima bottlings.

	Warre's Optima | Clint Hall, Seattle Email | 08-Jul-2005 07:32
	Agreed, the 10-year Optima leaves a lot to be desired, but the 20-year version is touted as being made from better quality grapes and so forth. I've never heard anyone claim that Tawnies can improve in the bottle although some, including Roy, assert that Colheitas can. Clint

	I've never had a Coheita that did, but... | Thor Iverson Email | 08-Jul-2005 07:41
	...I've never understood why it was impossible. I think it might be largely a matter of taste, and how much "fruit" vs. "barrel" you want in your Ports.

	The small corks don't suggest | Oliver McCrum Email | 08-Jul-2005 23:54
	that the producers intend the wines to have a long future in the bottle. I've never seen a Colheita or Tawny with a good cork.

	True, but... | Thor Iverson Email | 09-Jul-2005 03:47
	...I was leaving open the possibility that there were differently-corked wines.