For The Love Of Port

It is that time of the year. Look through your tasting note notebook if you need to, but it would be great if you would share which was your Top Port that you drank this year.

All year? Darn, I struggle to remember what I did last week.

Vintage
* 1970 Grahams
* 1964 Quinta do Noval Nacional

Wood Aged
* 1975 Kopke Colheita

Exotic
* Leonardo 90yo white tawny
* Barão de Vilar tawny - vatting of 1843, 1870, 1888

Can't think of any one stand out for the year... Mostly the usual stuff everyone else here drink. Some of the better ones off the top of my head (mostly because it was within the last few months):

'70 Fonseca
'70 Dow
'35 Croft
'60 Niepoort
'66 Graham
'35 Cockburn
40 year Leonardo
'63 Warre

Top was a 1975 Kopke Colheita bottled in 2015.

Top VP was a 1994 Ramos Pinto

On the other side the least favorite of a non-flawed bottled was a Delaforce 10 year Tawny.

Surprisingly, I only tasted 34 Ports this year....by far the least in many years. Guess I got my 2018 resolution!

John M. wrote: Surprisingly, I only tasted 34 Ports this year....by far the least in many years. Guess I got my 2018 resolution!

34 unique ports or 34 bottles of port total?

Moses Botbol wrote:

John M. wrote: Surprisingly, I only tasted 34 Ports this year....by far the least in many years. Guess I got my 2018 resolution!

34 unique ports or 34 bottles of port total?

34 Bottles, only one duplicate Port...the 1995 SW Madelena. I am so surprised by the low total. Usually am 50-70/year.

Quinta das Lamelas "100" Years Old Tawny, bottled in 2016. I gave it 98+ points. A little solvent aroma prevented it from scoring higher. I had the S. Leonardo "60" multiple times, and while it was very good, it wasn't quite as great as when I've had it in previous years.

1964 Brunheda white port (98)
1977 Taylors VP (97) - a very nice bottle
Brunheda 40 years tawny (97) - a couple of points up from normal score
2011 Graham's Stone Terraces VP (96)
2015 Graham's Stone Terraces VP (96)
2000 Niepoort Moscatel white (96) - a couple of points up from normal score

I don't even really need to look through my notes for this, as this will probably be my answer for at least the next few years.

Quinta do Mourao "60" Very Old Tawny Port

After giving it 100 points the first time I tasted it, I've given it 99 every time since. It's consistently the best Port I taste in any given year, except for it's momma the "100" which is a much more rare treat. I do have 2 of those, but I have no idea when they'll get opened.

Past the "60", though, it gets more difficult. I opened one of my last two Quinta da Romaneira 40 Year Old Tawny Ports this year, so that deserves mention. I've also had the Mourao "60" White a couple of times, and while it's magnificent it just doesn't measure up to the regular Tawny for me.

LBV: 1927 Ramos Pinto LBV -- They don't make 'em like that anymore

VP: 1947 Sandeman VP - Just amazing! (Edit: I forgot about this one and it was even better than the Sandeman. 1927 Quinta do Noval VP from magnum.).

Colheita: Not sure yet, still sorting through my notes

White Port: 80 Year Old White Port by Lamelas

Very Old Tawny (cask sample) thought to be circa 80 years old, Vieira de Sousa

Colheita: 1952 Kopke tied with 1976 Krohn

LBV: 1990 Fonseca

Vintage Port: 1927 Fonseca (Finally a perfect bottle, after one corked and one lackluster/oxidized bottle in the past half decade).

The year's not completely over, but so far:

- White Port: Quevedo 30 YO White port
- TWIOA: Quevedo 40 YO Tawny (2015 bottled)
- Colheita: 1983 Niepoort (from Magnum, ex-cellars brought by Dirk to the Port event in Leverkusen Nov 3rd)
- Vintage: tie between 1977 Warre and 1983 Niepoort (from Magnum, ex-cellars brought by Dirk to the Port event in Leverkusen Nov 3rd)

1937 Noval Colheita

Free budget

White:
60 Anos S. Leonardo White

Tawny:
1967 Niepoort Colheita

VP:
1945 Adriano Ramos-Pinto VP


On a budget - 30$ or less

White:
2003 Dalva White Colheita

Tawny:
2000 Niepoort Colheita

VP:
1997 Sandeman Vau VP

Looking through my notes, I had quite a few really nice ports. 60 different bottles scored 94 points or higher. 2017 wasn't a killer year for vintage ports for me after 2016 has some mind blowing bottles, especially from 1966. You had to score 95 points to make my Top 5 VP list. Now tawny ports, not surprisingly, were the exact opposite, with some killer tawny ports like the 1937 Noval Colheita, the S. Leonardo 60 yro white, and even the legendary Romaneira 40 yro just missing the cut even though they scored 97 points each! That said, there were no 99 or 100 point wines this year. I guess the bar has just been raised that high.

Top 5 Vintage Ports
Fonseca 1977 VP
Taylor 1977 VP
Dow 1997 VP
Quita do Vale Meao 2000 VP
Quinta do Vesuvio 1994 VP

Top 5 Tawny Ports
Kopke 1937 Colheita
S. Leonardo 60 yro Tawny
Brunheda 40 yro Tawny
Quita dos Lemellas 100 yro Tawny
Brunheda 90 yro Tawny Cask Sample

-Lisa

1- 1999 SW lbv Decanted 3 hrs . Plums
2- 1989 Burmester VP . A leaker but took a chance
Pleasently surprised. Not "A" calibre . Touch of caramel
16.5/20

Thomas V wrote:Free budget

White:
60 Anos S. Leonardo White

Tawny:
1967 Niepoort Colheita

VP:
1945 Adriano Ramos-Pinto VP


On a budget - 30$ or less

White:
2003 Dalva White Colheita

Tawny:
2000 Niepoort Colheita

VP:
1997 Sandeman Vau VP

I like the on a Budget distinction: For me the best under $30 was a 1995 Smith Woodhouse Madelena VP.

Lisa Stevens wrote:

Top 5 Vintage Ports
Fonseca 1977 VP
Taylor 1977 VP
Dow 1997 VP
Quita do Vale Meao 2000 VP
Quinta do Vesuvio 1994 VP

Top 5 Tawny Ports
Kopke 1937 Colheita
S. Leonardo 60 yro Tawny
Brunheda 40 yro Tawny
Quita dos Lemellas 100 yro Tawny
Brunheda 90 yro Tawny Cask Sample

As I was around for quite a few of those, my questions are:

a. Vintage Ports - Given the 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio was at the bottom of your Top 5 ... saying a TON ... what was it about the 2000 Meao that you liked better?

b. Tawny Ports - I remember what you gave the 1937 Kopke and 1952 Kopke, so why was that one left out of your top 5?


Not at all meaning to sound argumentative, Lisa, I know you will take this in the right way. I honestly would love to hear your thoughts on this. I know your palate pretty well and respect it a lot!

hmm doubts. Had some realy nice port this year.

We had a realy nice bottle of 1977 Croft vintage port with christmas. Also realy liked the Taylor's 1967 single harvest.

Jasper,

If not too late, see if you can get your hands on the 1966 Taylor Single Harvest Tawny Port!