Your preference in Vintage Port, 2000 or 2003?

[Roy Hersh]

This should be interesting. A poll would be fun ... but I'd like to hear why, more than just looking for votes on this.

[Glenn E.]

2003. Because of the Noval.

The '03 Noval was the first really young Port that I liked, and it sort of got me hooked. They've aged too much for me now, so I have to let them continue to age for 20 or so years and then start testing to see if they're old enough yet.

[David Spriggs]

This should be interesting. A poll would be fun ... but I'd like to hear why, more than just looking for votes on this.

2003 is my favorite. Lots of highlights - Fonseca, Noval, Vesuvio... and many great wines from smaller producers like Portal and Niepoort. I do have some favorites from 2000, just not as many. The style of the 2003's are particularly appealing to me - big, ripe forward wines with solid acidity and very ripe tannins. Also, the 2003 vintage was tasted pre-release on my first trip to Portugal, so that vintage will always be special to me.
-Dave-

[Roy Hersh]

Is everyone on vacation this week or what?

This is something I thought nearly everyone would have an opinion on (except maybe Moses ).

Don't be shy

[Russ K]

have not partaken in anything newer than a 1997 yet....so I have no opinion! a 2000 or two will be popped this year I suppose..

[Andy Velebil]

The one question I love to ask...I have to go with 2000

While I love 2003 VP's with their big bold deep fruit the one thing I am concerned about for their longevity is the lower acidity from such an overripe year. While 2000 was a touch cooler allowing more acidity to develop and making some better balances wines. I would say that the 2003's sometimes show better now (discounting that many 2000's are now shutting down) but I feel the 2000's will eventually make longer lived and better Ports in the long haul.

[Adam F]

2000, my first "real" port experience. I was blessed by Niepoort at a very drinkable phase and it got me hooked. I cannot put into words the experience it was magnificent, provoking, I wondered how I had missed the experience for so long. Reviewing my notes I have tasted more 2000's than 2003's and it edges it for me (despite the fact that I love a young port from time to time, for instance QdV 2005 was lovely a year or so ago).

I just checked and my cellar is almost even, 2 more bottles of 2000 to enjoy in my fifties.

[Al B.]

My first thought when I read the question was "I don't know, I haven't tasted enough of either to really have an opinion." Then I looked at my tasting notes database and was surprised to see that I've drunk nearly 40 different bottles from 2000 and over 50 from 2003, so I guess I should be able to make a decision.

But I can't! It's like saying which do I prefer, my son or my daughter. They're both lovely when they have their moments and they can both get sullen and sulky as they get a bit older.

The average score I've given to the 2000 ports I've tried works out to be 88.9; the average score for 2003 ports works out to be 90.8 so you could say that on the basis of the scores I have a preference for 2003.

Ask me the same question in 30 years and I might have changed my mind for all the reasons that Andy has given