For The Love Of Port

You can choose if they are from just one experience or a consistent favorite. This should be very enjoyable to read while sipping some Port. Now we just need someone to go first!

My once a month favorite port is 70 Taylor

My fav once a year is 48 Taylor

OK. Here goes:

1945 Croft
1945 Fonseca
1955 Dow
1963 Fonseca
1970 Fonseca
1977 Fonseca
1977 Taylor
1994 Dow
1994 Fonseca
1994 Taylor

-Dave-

Oh, jeez . . . .

O.K., following Dave's example and posting in vintage order:

1908 Cockburn (or was it the 1912? One was better than the other, but both were wonderful!)
1927 Taylor's
1935 Sandeman
1945 Croft
1945 Graham's
1948 Taylor's
1963 Quinta do Noval (the 1st great Porto I remember having; strong emotional attachments!)
1970 Taylor's
1977 Fonseca
1977 Taylor's

There are certainly outstanding wines from vintages like 1992, 1994, 2000 (and 2003?) that may one day surpass some of those on this list, but I'm a) having a hard time limited this list to only 10, and b) trying to keep this list to wines with at least some maturity . . .

Cheers,
Jason

Lets see, I never had so much old VP as you guys though, but strong emotions came with these in any order:

Dow's 1977
Taylor 1970
Niepoort Colheita 1982
Noval Nacional 2000
Noval 20 years old
Offley 82, the first VP I bought
Offley Colheita 1975
Ferreira 1960
Barros Colheita 1963
Smith Woodhouse 1983

Jason Brandt Lewis wrote:
having a hard time limited this list to only 10

I certainly had a hard time selecting just 10. If I had more space I would have added wines like 1977 Dow and 1992 Taylor... But the 1994s are so good I thought they deserved a mention.

-Dave-

Fred,

Thanks for mentioning the Colheitas. I have only limited experience with them and need to seek out some of you selections!

-Dave-

1927 Taylor
1931 Quinta do Noval
1945 Graham
1955 Fonseca
1955 Taylor
1955 Warre
1966 Graham
1966 Fonseca
1970 Fonseca
1970 Graham

1962 Nacional (my birth year - better than its reputation!)

Cheers, Victor

Roy, Here I am post number one. I needed sometime to register. That can be a hassle sometimes. It went smoothly with no cyberspace scolding about not filling in a mandatory item.

All time favorite ports NOT in order of quality:

1977 Ferreira because it was my first vintage port circa 1988 whenI first understood what VP was. I still have some . I still love it. It is an underated port.
1955 Taylor The oldest I have had and one of the best.

1963 Taylor
1963 Graham especially the Berry Bros bottling.
1977 Taylor
1970 Graham
1992 Taylor
1983 Cockburn
1983 Graham
1963 Fonseca
These popped into mind first. There are many memeorable Warre's , Dow's ,even a 1963 Burmeister, a 1962 Guimaereans, 1991 Nacional etc. etc.

Henderson is here?

Damn, there goes the neighborhood!

What took you so long Richard? We've been busy drinking without you!


Seriously, I'm very glad to have you join us. Welcome aboard.

Now there is just ONE more Port expert from the USA that I am waiting on. I know he has been reading in "stealth" mode, but one of these daze he'll join us for real and quit the excuses.

I've just rediscovered this thread and thought it might be fun to resurrect. My top 5 has certainly changed in the last 6 months - is that because my memory is fading or is it because I have been able to appreciate the more recent ports better than I could in the past.

Also, I haven't had the opportunity to taste / drink any really old ports. Other than the 1937 Burmester Colheita my oldest wines are from 1963, my birth year. Sadly, the 1937 Colheita was drunk right at the beginning of my port drinking days so I didn't really take any notes and don't really remember it too well ... but it must have had an impact since I'm now hooked on the stuff.

My top 5, in no order of preference because that will depend on the mood I'm in, are:

* Quinta do Vesuvio 1994 - knocked my socks off the first time I had one last year
* Fonseca 1966 - a wine which I've had in my cellar for many years and which gets opened every now and then
* Taylor 1963 - my birthday wine
* Grahams 1980 - great "once a month" wine
* Warre 1983 - great quaffing wine, my daily port


Alex

For me Port it's not only Vintage Ports...so like Roy said...could be a consistent flavour...here it goes,orderer by preference:

>Quinta do Noval NACIONAL 1978 -No words!
>Taylor's 1977; - Outstanding!
>Burmester VP 1970; - Smooth and jammy!
>Dalva Golden White 1952; - Longest after taste ever! >10 min
>Qta da Romaneira Over 40y; - Best character Port
>Quinta do Vallado 20y; - Best everyday Old Tawny Port
>Casal dos Jordões 10y; -Best Value of all Ports, and Port with the most outside standard flavours that I ever tasted. Always a surprise for ALL the wine experts that goes to my bar!
>Casa de Santa Eufémia Old Reserve White -1972 - Best White Port ever tasted,excelent with foie gras.

I've only tasted about 20 ports in my entire life (most of my ports are from the 90's and in need of cellaring). But. . I have been fortunate to have been served a few great ones - ones that hooked me:

1983 Niepoort Colheita
1970 Graham's
1977 Kopke Colheita

Croft ’45
Niepoort ’52 (Garrafeira)
Sandeman ’55
Grahams ’55
Niepoort ’63
Dow ’70
Taylor ’70
Fonseca ’77
Cockburn ’83
Fonseca ’85

Interesting list, Gustavo. I'm a bit puzzle by your first 2: I think neither a Nacional nor a Vargellas were produced in '77...

Steven Kooij wrote:Croft ’45
Niepoort ’52 (Garrafeira)
Sandeman ’55
Grahams ’55
Niepoort ’63
Dow ’70
Taylor ’70
Fonseca ’77
Cockburn ’83
Fonseca ’85

Interesting list, Gustavo. I'm a bit puzzle by your first 2: I think neither a Nacional nor a Vargellas were produced in '77...

You are right Steven.
I went to check in a little tasting book that I have from Slowfood,and there it was:
Quinta do Noval 1978 Nacional

Taylor's 1977 (only) !

Barros Very Old White
Barros Colheita 37
Niepoort Garrafeira 52
Fonseca Guimarães 76
Graham´s 85
Quinta do Vesúvio 94
Graham's 94
Quinta do Vesúvio 2000

Roy, I hope you don't mind, but can we quailfy the responses here? Many people have not had the pre 1963/1955 Ports and anything post 1985 is not mature enough for drinking yet IMNSHO.

Can we get about five responses pre 1963, five 1963-1985 and five post 1985 to present? I have to run now, but I'll be back to post mine later.

Paul

Paul,

There are really no rules. In fact, you can do whatever you'd like, as I have now.

I had a hard time narrowing it down to just five, so instead, I have cast my votes for ten. In multiples of, that is:

1900 and Older:
1900 Taylor Vintage
1863 Niepoort Colheita
1896 Dow
1853 Saintsbury's King Pedro V - Colheita
1900 Niepoort Colheita
1854 Ferreira
1896 Taylor
1896 Royal Oporto Colheita
1863 Ferreira "Vesuvio"
1830 Ferreira (more for the experience)


1901-1929
1912 Taylor
1927 Niepoort
1924 Taylor
1927 Taylor
1912 Niepoort Colheita
1912 Taylor's Quinta de Vargellas -OMG
1924 Dow
1908 Taylor
1927 Cockburn
1926 C. da Silva


1930-1962
1931 Quinta do Noval
1945 Croft
1931 Quinta do Noval Nacional
1948 Fonseca
1945 Taylor
1948 Taylor
1948 Graham
1935 Niepoort Colheita
1945 Niepoort
1931 Niepoort


1963-1976
1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional
1963 Fonseca
1967 Quinta do Noval Nacional
1970 Quinta do Noval Nacional
1970 Fonseca
1963 Graham
1966 Quinta do Noval Nacional/
1970 Taylor
1970 Graham
1966 Fonseca


1977-1986
1977 Taylor
1985 Fonseca
1985 Quinta do Noval Nacional
1977 Dow
1977 Fonseca
1985 Graham
1983 Cockburn
1980 Dow
1983 Dow
1983 Gould Campbell


1987-1994
1994 Quinta do Noval Nacional
1994 Taylor
1994 Vesuvio
1994 Fonseca
1992 Taylor
1994 Dow
1992 Fonseca
1992 Quinta do Infantado
1987 Quinta de Vargellas
1991 Croft

It's one hell of a list once you start putting it together. I was surprised by how many truly great Ports there are....and I have been lucky enough to try. Most of the pre 1963 wines I have had with you, Roy. Remember the 1912 Niepoort Colheita? The 1900 Taylor?

Pre 1963

1900 Taylor
1912 Taylor
1912 Niepoort Colheita
1924 Taylor
1927 Taylor
1931 Quinta do Noval
1945 Taylor
1948 Fonseca
1945 Taylor
1948 Taylor
1948 Graham
(Honorable mention to 1955 Graham and Taylor)

1963-1976

1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional
1963 Fonseca
1963 Taylor
1963 Dow
1966 Dow
1966 Fonseca
1966 Berry Bros.
1970 Fonseca
1970 Taylor
1970 Graham

1977-1985

1977 Taylor
1977 Fonseca
1977 Dow (when it's not corked!)
1977 Fonseca
1980 Dow
1983 Cockburn
1985 Quinta do Noval Nacional
1985 Graham
1985 Fonseca

Post 1985

1992 Quinta do Infantado
1992 Taylor
1992 Fonseca
1994 Quinta do Noval Nacional
1994 Taylor
1994 Fonseca
1994 Dow
1997 Niepoort
1997 Noval
1997 Fonseca
2000 Taylor