Which port has surprised you most

[simon Lisle]

with me Venteloza lbv 94. superb

[David Spriggs]

1999 Vista Alegre LBV - wow! Awesome LBV!
-Dave-

[Roy Hersh]

1999 Quinta do Portal Vintage Port

[Michael M.]

Disappointing 2004 Niepoort Late bottled Vintage Port.

[Kurt Wieneke]

1987 Graham's Malvedos. An unexpected beauty.

[Frederick Blais]

Recently I was really surprised by Warre's Cavadinha 87.

[Andy Velebil]

Recently I was really surprised by Warre's Cavadinha 87.

So was I. I picked up a 1/2 bottle at the Oporto airport recently for dirt cheap and was amazed at how good it was. Even in a 1/2 bottle, it still was on the up swing and had plenty of life left in it before it reaches its peak.

[Roy Hersh]

I very much enjoy the '87 Cavadinha and had it during my very first trip to Portugal and a few times since. Then again, why any surprise. The only surprise is why 1987 was never declared. There are many gorgeous 1987s out there. I am going to start a thread about this.

[Carlos Rodriguez]

The Kopke Colheita 1977, bottled in 2008.

[Andy Velebil]

The Kopke Colheita 1977, bottled in 2008.

Carlos,
I really like this one too. It's a very good Colheita and I'd recommend you buy whatever you want now as the last of it was bottled this year. So when its gone, it's gone and sadly there will be no more bottled

[Erik Wiechers]

The Quinta do Javali 2004

[Todd Pettinger]

Amusingly enough, there have been some very good bottles that I have drank, but the Niepoort Ruby was the one port that shocked me the most this year. That's right - a ruby. It is better than most LBVs and I would venture as far out on the limb as to say some of the SQVPs I have tried. One or two VPs come to mind that may have also been inferior to this particular Ruby, but they were both very young, so I would need another 15-25 years to judge them when they should be in a better shape.

[Carlos Rodriguez]

Andy,
Thanks for the notice, I didn´t knew it. I'll buy some.

[Andy Velebil]

Two that really stood out to me this year where the...

Messias 10 year old Tawny

Messias Tawny Port

[Lars F]

The Niepoort 10Y white tawny

-Lars

[Moses Botbol]

1970 Morgan

One of the most smooth velvety ports I can ever remember having. Pure strawberry jam flavor and just so well integrated with just 5 hours decanting. The nose was a little soft, but I would put this on my top 20 best ports ever. Where can I get more? :help:

94 points

[Andy Velebil]

Moses,
I've had a 1945 Morgan VP that was also one of the top VP's I've had. I was shocked about that and from a company that I had never heard about until trying it.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Andy,

I have a couple of half-bottles of the '87 Cavadinha and had been thinking that because it was a half-bottle it might be fading (a recent half-bottle of '94 Noval LBV was disappointing). But to hear you say that a RECENTLY purchased half-bottle is on the UPSWING is good news indeed.

Now I'm thinking, do I also have a half-bottle of the '86 Cavadinha? Hmmm, maybe thats the one to try.

Cheers....Mahmoud

[Andy Velebil]

I'd drink the '86 first and leave the '87 for a bit longer. The 1/2 bottle I had of the '87 was very good and still on the upswing, even out of a 375ml bottle. A very tasty SQVP for sure.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Thanks Andy.

I'm out with relatives for Christmas so it'll be an unsatisfying turkey dinner. Perhaps I'll decant the '86 Cavadinha in the morning and have the port when I come home.

Cheers...........Mahmoud