For The Love Of Port

I have experienced some 1994's that closed down late in the game - say the 15 year mark. Are the 1994 VP's going to be ready for their 20 year inaugural?

My general impression of the 94's is that while it is a relatively forward vintage, a few more years will repay the patience.

Peak drinking from 2020 - 2050 maybe..

They better be! I have bottles of Dow and Churchill from that year that I bought for my daughter's 21st birthday in February 2015.

I don't think the '94 will be ready at 20 (or 21) years of age. I've been drinking 3-4 1994 ports a year for the last 5-6 years and they are very good but take 24-48 hours to show at their best. In my opinion these are going to be 30 year ports rather than 20 year ports.

If you plan to open some for your daughter's 21st birthday in a couple of years, it might be worth experimenting with decanting times before the big event!

I've really enjoyed Quinta do Vesuvio, Martinez, and to my surprise, Smith Woodhouse from 1994. Checking my notes, I also found the Dow very approachable. I suspect some of the lesser names (Gould Campbell, Rozes, Delaforce) might be good closer to 20 than 30. But there are plenty I will save for the long haul.

Al B. wrote:I don't think the '94 will be ready at 20 (or 21) years of age. I've been drinking 3-4 1994 ports a year for the last 5-6 years and they are very good but take 24-48 hours to show at their best. In my opinion these are going to be 30 year ports rather than 20 year ports.

Would have to agree with the above.

Having had the Churchill's 2 years back it is a relatively "weak" wine that is in my opinion entering drinking window. It is not a block buster but definitely offers enjoyment of a fine mature port.

The Vesuvio has some baby fat to shed, the Taylor and Fonseca will have you sucking the walls of your mouth from the tannins and gobs of fruit they have.

The rozes acutally made a decent blockbuster in 94 and is not one I would say is ready. It is quite muted when i had it last year and one that merited at least 48 hours of decant before it appealed to my tastes. (i like resolved tannins and silky smooth mouthfeels in 'young' ports)

Jeff G. wrote:... The rozes acutally made a decent blockbuster in 94 and is not one I would say is ready. It is quite muted when i had it last year and one that merited at least 48 hours of decant before it appealed to my tastes. (i like resolved tannins and silky smooth mouthfeels in 'young' ports)

Nice to know, thank you. I picked up some of that for $23/750ml. Perhaps I should get more if I see it at a good price.

I've got a younger brother born in '94, any suggestions on something that would likely retail for $50 or less that would be a good birthday wine in 2 years? Other than Rozes, since its already been plugged?

You can get warre 94 for $50 on winebid.com. Should be v decent :)

Okay, so how about the 1997s? Will they be ready at 20 years or, more important, when my younger child turns 21 and I can uncork the Taylor I have?

Bradley Bogdan wrote:I've got a younger brother born in '94, any suggestions on something that would likely retail for $50 or less that would be a good birthday wine in 2 years? Other than Rozes, since its already been plugged?

Anyone know who "flashpwb" is? That is the bidder on some 1994 Cockburn at $30 (+15%) each at Winebid:
http://www.winebid.com/Item/4268073/1994-Cockburn
There are a good number of other lots of 1994 up for bid at Winebid this week, but not at $50 or less.