What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

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Roy Hersh
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What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Roy Hersh »

Choose your faves that you've tasted this year ... one or two ... from any category. :winepour:
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John M.
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by John M. »

Tie (Points wise) between a 40 Year San Leonardo Tawny and a 1960 Ferreira VP....gave both 96 points and may have been stingy. Both were memorable.
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Edward J
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Edward J »

The year is just heading in to Port season, so I'm thinking the best may be yet to come.
The "best" Port is quite a statement as there are so many factors, many not having to do with the actual Port it self. Was properly decanted or pop-n-pour at the right temperature? By it self or with food? In a proper glass with good company? Perhaps tasted along side another Port, it didn't quite taste as good, or maybe better!

Vintage Port: Dow's 1985
Colheita: Kopke 1975 (although the 76 is just as good)
Tawny: Sandeman 40 years old , Honorable mentions to RP30yo.
Branco: Quevedo 30 yo White Port
California port: Heitz Ink Grade Port
Moses Botbol
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Moses Botbol »

Probably '63 Dow and '85 Fonseca. Haven't had anything too crazy this year.
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Glenn E.
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Glenn E. »

The 1966 Noval Nacional at the FTLOP 11th Anniversary Tasting. My first truly great Nacional... after 5 tries? 6? LOL

I haven't opened any Mourao 60-yr olds yet this year, though, or the Nacional would likely be in 2nd. :wink:
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Jasper A.
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Jasper A. »

I just noticed it so far is a poor year for me with tasting port.

I think the best one is the 1966 Single harvest from Taylor's, and i was pleasant surprised with the Quinta do Noval 20 year old tawny.
Christian Gollnick
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Christian Gollnick »

In many years it's difficult for me to decide which Port was the best - in this year it's pretty easy: 100 year old Quinta do Mourao. In September I will be back in Portugal - but I have the feeling that it will be very difficult to top this wine...
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Gerwin de Graaf »

At the Quevedo winery a couple of weeks ago, Claudia was kind enough to give us the chance to taste many great ports right from the barrel. I think both the 1970 Red and White Colheitas were my favourite Colheita's this year.

For VP my favourite untill now was my first 1985 Fonseca.
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Roy Hersh
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Roy Hersh »

My question to you Gerwin, is why did you not come and join us when I was in The NL last month? We had a nice group of FTLOP'ers meeting in Amsterdam at Restaurant Lastage and we had some incredible Ports that night ... not to mention awesome dinner wines too! You should've been there! [dash1.gif]
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
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Thomas V
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Thomas V »

As of right now it will have to be the 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio.

However as I will indulge in port next week in Porto/Douro and have some interesting tastings upcoming in the latter part of the year this could very well change.
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Gerwin de Graaf »

Roy Hersh wrote:My question to you Gerwin, is why did you not come and join us when I was in The NL last month? We had a nice group of FTLOP'ers meeting in Amsterdam at Restaurant Lastage and we had some incredible Ports that night ... not to mention awesome dinner wines too! You should've been there! [dash1.gif]
Actually, I cannot think of any (good) reason (or excuse) to not be there, other than that I did not know the date on which this meeting took place [dash1.gif] . Maybe I was already in or on my way to Portugal when you were over here (which would be a valid reason), but I fear that this was not the case. So, I probably could (and should!!) have been there as well :( :( [dash1.gif]
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David Spriggs
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by David Spriggs »

There were so many great Ports at the last Seattle tasting, that it's hard to chose. But I will say that the best so far this year is the 1966 Fonseca Vintage Port. Stunning VP!
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Lisa Stevens »

Like Glenn, it was the 1966 Nacional at the 11th anniversary tasting. I don't have my notes here right now, but I believe I gave it 98 points! Stunning! And a few of the other 1966s were just smig behind the Nacional, as you can read in Roy's summer vacation story in the newsletter that just got released!

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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Eric Ifune »

I'll admit, I haven't had that many Ports this year. The best so far is the San Leonardo 60. Still waiting to open a 100.
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Roy Hersh
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Roy Hersh »

That last trio of 1966 Taylor-Fonseca-Nacional Vintage Ports was crazy good. I can imagine that for some at our event who had not had much prior experience with well aged VPs, that may be one of the greatest 3-pack of Ports they have ever had in their lives. All showed amazingly well.

I believe I had scored them all one point higher on the day of our tasting, but used my 1 point "differential" to curb my enthusiasm as I may have been so excited to try these again after going through the earlier flights, a 2nd time at the end of the day ... that my reality check, score wise, was in order. That being said, even at the 1 point each inflated scores, only mentioned to those in attendance, I could've probably lived with those ratings too, but just thought it prudent to not let them be based on emotions of the moment. [shrug.gif]
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Allan Engelsted Laurents
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Re: What is the BEST Port you've had so far in 2016?

Post by Allan Engelsted Laurents »

Vintage: Niepoort 1942
Colheita: Niepoort 1900
Tawny: Niepoort VV
White: V. de Carvalho Special Reserve (20 YO)

So far an amazing Portyear!
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