Your Top 10 Port List for 2009 & Discussion

[Roy Hersh]

Actually, if you want to narrow it down to just one, please do. But I know how this goes and everyone is going to have a tough time narrowing it down, so a Top 10 List should make this fun. I have a feeling we'll see a number of Ports listed, that harken back to late Jan. into Feb. when we had our Port Gala and probably a few from the 2 FTLOP Tours as well, but then again ... there will be lists without any wines from either. Your selections can be any category of Port (why do I think I will see Nimrod on at least one list here?) and at any price range.

Very interested to here WHY you select the wines that you do. Thanks! I realize this is not easy. But it should be a ton of fun!

[Derek T.]

I want to pick just one, for now

It was a very easy choice for me. It is Constantino 1941* VP, tasted at Quinta do Crasto with Miguel Roquette, grandson of the man who made it, and a bunch of guys from here and a few others back in May.

This was a simply stunning bottle that would have graced any line-up at any tasting but the situation and company in which it was enjoyed made it even more special. An experience I will not forget.

Derek


*Edited 09/12/09: In my initial post I said this was a Constantino 1947 but it was actually a Constantino 1941. As if it was not enough that I tasted this in the company and place that I did, I believe it was the first WWII port I have ever tasted

[Roy Hersh]

Thanks Derek.

There must be a lot of people out there who are for something special from Santa to put on their list afterwards. Jeez.

[Frederick Blais]

In any orders, Port that left me a good impression in 2009, since I'm not taking notes anymore most of the time, I might miss some but these were very good bottles.

Dalva 52
Vesuvio 2005
Taylor 70
Fonseca 85
Taylor 92
Niepoort 42
Vesuvio 2007
Niepoort Colheita 83(bottled 1992)
Warre 1997
Graham 1970

[Eric Menchen]

OK, I came up with 9. All but two are from the Gala. (To confuse you who attended and recognize 8 bottles, 1960 Taylor was served there, but that wasn't the bottle that made my list--it was another bottle of that I had later in the year. ) These are not rank listed:

1935 Sandeman VP
1960 Niepoort VP
1960 Taylor VP
1977 Taylor VP
1985 Burmester VP
1985 Smith Woodhouse VP
1994 Quinta do Vesuvio VP
1955 Burmester Colheita
Sandeman 40 Year Tawny

[Glenn E.]

Geez, give us a minute! It took me 2 days just to find all of my notes from this year!

This year was the first year that I really started taking tasting notes, and it's also the first year that I started scoring. So that made it reasonably easy to pick my top Ports from the year! As it turns out, I have 11 Ports that scored 95 or higher this year. (Or, when from the Port Gala, received 2 stars on the night. The Port Gala was before I started formally scoring. 1 star indicated the flight winner. 2 stars indicated something very special.)

Listed in the order that I tasted them throughout 2009.

1966 Kopke Colheita (didn't get the botting date)
NV Porto Kopke "Roy Hersh Blend" (bottled in 2006, I think)

These first two were the stars of the opening night at the Port Gala for me. The 1953 Royal Oporto Colheita (bottled 2003) might have made my list except for a pretty bad nose. My notes indicate that it had the best flavor of all the Colheitas, but that it was killed by a nose smelling of sneakers/Converse rubber.

1947 Noval Vintage Port (BB&R bottling)
1960 Niepoort Vintage Port

Two Ports from the Gala's final evening. My comment on the 1947 Noval was something along the lines of "if this is what Vintage Ports aspire to be, then I'm beginning to understand why the rest of you like them so much." The Niepoort started slowly, but built up layers over time and eventually finished the night in second place behind the '47 Noval.

2007 Quinta do Vale Meao Vintage Port (cask sample)
2007 Quinta do Portal Vintage Port (cask sample)

These two are my top rated 2007 Ports out of the 20 or so that I was fortunate enough to taste. They are both astoundingly good already, and have seriously long lives ahead of them. I didn't get the chance to taste the 2007 Noval or I suspect it would have made it on this list as well. The 2007 Porto Rocha and 2007 Duorum are honorary mentions - I scored both of them 94-97.

NV Kopke 40-yr Old Tawny Port (bottled 2007)
NV Noval 40-yr Old Tawny Port (bottled 2002)
1957 Kopke Colheita (bottled 2002)

These three bottles were from a "small" tasting we did to see how various 40-yr olds compared to one another. Naturally other bottles kept appearing (including a couple of Madeiras), and then there were the nine 2007 cask samples that we tried at the same sitting, so we eventually topped out at 18 bottles for 5 guys. Yikes! It's a good thing I was writing stuff down as we tried them, because otherwise I'd have never remembered anything from that night.

The Noval and Kopke 40-yr olds were both superb. I had the Kopke narrowly edging out the Noval. We also tried a couple of rarities that night - the Porto Rocha Three Centuries and the ultra-rare Porto Rocha 150th Anniversary Porto - but neither of those made my 95-point cutoff. The 1957 Kopke only scored 93 on the first night, but I tried it again 3 nights later and it had improved dramatically, putting it over the threshold for inclusion.

1937 Warre's Colheita (bottled 1997) from the FTLOP 4th Anniversary
1968 Quevedo Garrafeira Particular Colheita (bottled 1999) from the FTLOP 4th Anniversary

On a very hot weekend at the end of July, a small group of Port-heads got together to celebrate the 4th Anniversary of FTLOP. Roy brought a surprise guest with him - Oscar Quevedo. Oscar brought a bottle of his family's private Colheita. The Holiday Inn provided us with an air conditioned room, and a grand time was had by all.

I was very puzzled by the Quevedo Colheita, as it still had a lot of red left and plenty of tannins. Oscar explained that they had kept it in a much larger barrel than you would normally use for a Colheita, so it hadn't aged as quickly due to relatively less exposure to air. It was wonderfully complex, showing notes of both an older Colheita and an older VP.

The 1937 Warre was just a phenomenal Port, and would probably make my top 10 list in just about any year.

[Derek T.]

This year was the first year that I really started taking tasting notes, and it's also the first year that I started scoring.

Glenn wins the "Fastest Down the Slippery Slope Award 2009"

[Derek T.]

I noticed an error in my initial post so have updated it and added a further note.

[Moses Botbol]

In any orders, Port that left me a good impression in 2009, since I'm not taking notes anymore most of the time, I might miss some but these were very good bottles.


Niepoort 42

Was that a Garrafeira?

[Roy Hersh]

Glenn wins the "Fastest Down the Slippery Slope Award 2009"

Agreed. Closely followed by Eric M., albeit his wife also appreciates Port, whereas Glenn's doesn't. That only makes it more difficult to go through bottles as quickly. At this rate, I predict Glenn will be renting space at an off-site wine storage facility sometime in 2010.

[Gary Richardson]

For 2009, so far, my list is:

1937 Noval Colhieta: Opened 2 nights ago when my 'dealer' said he had 14 bottles available. Celebrated by opening the one that I had. Going tonight to buy them.

1983 Graham: Served at this year's Sukkot party to several wine drinkers who had little experience with Port. Went over very well.

1983 Fonseca: Opened for some friends visiting from Colorado. I think that the only time they drink Port is when they visit me, and they always appreciate it.

1978 Krohn Colheita: Shared with several friends during the Thanksgiving holiday over 3 days.

1975 Barros Colheita: Opened during the week of insanity while buying and selling a house.

1970 Dow: No story, just liked it.

1940 Burmester Colhieta: OK ... This was on New Year's Eve so technically not 2009 ... but I am counting it, anyway. Graciously provided by my brother-in-law as a treasured purchase from his most recent visit to Portugal.

1986 Niepoort Colhieta: Tasted at a restaurant in San Francisco while perusing the city with my wife and brother-in-law before a family wedding (cannot remember the name of the place.)

1982 Dow's Colheita: Bought as a gift for my sister-in-law, but she opened it after dinner at Volt in Frederick, Maryland (yes, one of the Voltaggio brother's restaurant from Top Chef.)

As I read this, I realize the dominance of Colheita's on the list. Funny ... since I am more of a Vintage drinker. Probably because I tend to drink more Port with my brother/sister-in-law and they are Tawny drinkers. But, I am working on them.

Alas ... There are still a few days to fill the remaining spot!

-- Gary

[Roy Hersh]

As I read this, I realize the dominance of Colheita's on the list. Funny ... since I am more of a Vintage drinker. Probably because I tend to drink more Port with my brother/sister-in-law and they are Tawny drinkers. But, I am working on them.

Actually, it seems that they are "working" on YOU.

Great post Gary and some impressive Ports listed too. Nice job.

[Gary Richardson]

As I read this, I realize the dominance of Colheita's on the list. Funny ... since I am more of a Vintage drinker. Probably because I tend to drink more Port with my brother/sister-in-law and they are Tawny drinkers. But, I am working on them.

Actually, it seems that they are "working" on YOU.

Hmmmmm ... I hadn't thought of that. Sometimes it takes an impartial 3rd party to uncover the nefarious plots of the evil inlaws. I will be more cautious.

-- Gary

[Edward Nemergut]

The best of 2009 (so far):

!977 Taylor (November 2009)
1970 Fonseca (November 2009)
1970 Taylor (October, June, and April 2009)
1977 Gould Campbell (August 2009)
1963 Croft (June 2009)
1977 Dow (May and February 2009)

Honorable mentions might include a 1970 Graham and a 1977 Graham.

If I had to pick only one, it would be the 1970 Taylor, which remains my all-time favorite!

[David Spriggs]

An amazing year of tasting....

1863 Krohn White Colheita (99 points) - A barrel sample!
1977 Gould Campell (98+ points) - At the Graham's Port Lodge with Paul Symington
1896 Krohn White Colheita (98 points) - - A barrel sample!
1947 Quinta do Noval (98 points) - At the Port Gala - Thanks Alan!
1977 Taylor (97 points) - At Quinta do Panascal
1994 Quinta do Vesuvio (97+ points)
1968 Quevedo Garrafeira Particular Colheita (96 points) - With Oscar and his family at Quinta Sra do Rosário (Quevedo)
1934 Justino's Verdelho (96 points) - At Justino's in Madeira
1990 Niepoort Robustus (96 points) - At Restaurante D.O.C. with the Niepoort crew
1963 Grahams (96 points) - At the Port Gala


Runners up:
1970 Fonseca (96 points)
1952 Dalva Golden White (96 points)
1896 Krohn Colheita (96 points)
1966 Graham's (96 points)
1959 Niepoort Colheita (96 points)

[Andy Velebil]

hey Dave,
One of those isn't a Port

[Glenn E.]

Runners up:
1952 Dalva Golden White (96 points)

It truely is an amazing year when the Dalva Golden White Colheita doesn't even make the top 10!

[Roy Hersh]

1863 Krohn White Colheita (99 points) - A barrel sample!

David,

You were the first to name a score and I could swear you gave this a perfect 100 points. Why'd you change your mind now?

[Eric Ifune]

I gave it 100 points, my first and so far only 100 given.
To me it was mind boggling they had more than a single cask. May have to go back!

[Moses Botbol]

I know this is heresy here, but I rarely ever take notes on wine or port. I am not sure what I have had (beyond this list) this year to make a top ten, but I do know I had these this year that were excellent (they are a top ten any & every year):

1935 Taylor
1931 Noval
1970 Fonseca
1955 Graham
1970 Graham
1952 Dalva Colheita
1970 Niepoort
1952 Delaforce Colheita
1963 Fonseca
1963 Dow
1938 Niepoort Garrafeira