Your personal top 10

[Steven Kooij]

In random order:

- Cockburn '83: the location(s) made it even more good.
- Croft '45: only tasted the dregs, but sooo tasty!
- Fonseca '20: sublime
- Fonceca '85: got to have more of this!
- Niepoort '63: Port & friends in the best setting possible
- Qta. d. Loureiro 1871 - just because such an old Port still was really tasty!
- Romariz '44 Colheita: from cask! Thanks again, Stephano!
- Sandeman '55: better than the Graham's, IMHO
- Taylor '48: it took a while for this to open up, but when it did...wow!
- Taylor '63: do I need to add a comment?

[Marc Sherwin]

1. Burmester 1940 Colheita
2. Dalva 1952 White
3. Burmester 40 year tawny
4. Casa Santa Eufemia Special Reserve White
5. Casa Santa Eufemia 40 year tawny
6. 1970 Grahams
7. 1944 Royal Oporto
8. Sandeman 40 yr Tawny (early in my education)

Still looking for worthy items for #'s 9,10. Nothing really jumps to mind.

[David Spriggs]

Let me update my previous post by adding some explaination:

1. 1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional - simply the most complete Port - and probably wine - I've ever had. What every grape hopes to become.

2. 1997 Quinta do Noval Nacional - A personal favorite. This pushed all my buttons (not everybody's, but mine). Again, superb balance. Probably more forward than the 1963 was at the same age. The balance and bouquet of this Port are amazing.

3. 1994 Fonseca - One of the best young Ports I've ever had. The 1994 Taylor is right up there as well. I used to be partial to Taylor, but I as I grow older I appeciate the Fonseca style more and more.

4. 1994 Quinta do Noval Nacional - A truely amazing wine. I've only had this once and it was not decanted. This could move up on my list if I have it decanted.

5. 1970 Fonseca - My personal favorite for drinking right now. The spice, balance and lack of heat make this a winner. And... it's still got a ton of upside.

6. 1963 Fonseca - This used to be number one on my list, but at it's current age there is a lot of bottle variation. Still, it's superb.

7. 1948 Graham - only had once in my formative Port years. A super impressive Port - balanced, rich, with that Grham's spice I love.

8. 1977 Gould-Campbell - A classic port. If you like you ports to be all about black fruits and on the drier side, this this is for you. It's hard to believe that Ports can get better than this.

9. 1994 Taylor - Another winner! This is more structured and probably longer lasting than the Fonseca. Needs serious aging and thus, is just a slight question in my mind whether it is more balanced than the Fonseca.

10. 1994 Vesuvio - A HUGE, thick Port - coats every crevice in your mouth.

PS:
I love the 1994 vintage. I could have also put Graham and Dow in the list. Both are top Tier.
I also stuggled of 1966 Grahams and 1955 Grahams and 1985 Fonseca....


-Dave-

[Roy Hersh]

I had to save this from slipping back to Page 2 of this Forum. For my money, this is one of the best threads so far in 2008 and I hope that everyone here participates, no matter how extensive or limited their experience to date. It is great to be able to look back even a year from now and see how your list has changed.

And remember, there is no specific category of Port that your TOP 10 must come from, so you can mix it up a bit too!

[Carlos Rodriguez]

Is time since last post on this topic, but I do like it. Here are mine:

- Croft lbv 1985. It was the firts port I can remenber I've drunk.
- Fonseca lbv 1970. It's one of the best lbv I've try.
- Taylor Quinta Vargellas 1987. My first VP.
- Graham's Malvedos 1988. Very good wine.
- Krohn Colheita 1970.
- Kopke Colheita 1977. My wife favorite.
- Dalva 1994. I've got a good remenber of it.
- Delaforce 1970. The oldest VP I've tried.
- Dow's Quinta do Bomfim 1998. Tasted in a nice place.
- Graham's 1994.

[Soren Bodker]

It is not so easy but I will try.

- Feist Old Reserve Vintage 1878 - the closest I will ever come to heaven still being alive.
- Noval Nacional 1997 - everything you can expect from a VP + extra power
- Taylor Vargellas Vinha Velha 1997 - so hard to get so nice to drink - only one bottle left :wall:
- Noval VP 1966 - fully matured and everything you can expect from a matured VP (sorry Roy I really like this)
- Dalva white Colheita 1952 - two good things happened this year my birth and the Dalva
- Feist Colheita 1935
- Ramos Pinto 10 years Tawny
- Portal VP 2003
- Casal dos Jordoes VP 2004 - young but ready to pure in the glasses - so much delicate flavour
- Taylor Vargellas 1991 - an amazing year for the Vargellas

[Glenn E.]

1. 1906 Brunheda Colheita, bottled in 2007(?) - First place is easy, nothing else comes close to this glass that I had at Roy's house.
2. 1977 Porto Rocha Colheita, bottled in 2006 - My first Colheita is still one of the best Ports I've ever had. I haven't opened one recently, though, so I may have placed it on too high of a pedestal.
3. 1970 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port - Another tasting provided by Roy, this is easily the best VP I have had.
4. Ramos Pinto 20-yr old Tawny - My current standard, which I first tasted on a beautiful afternoon at the Solar do Vinho do Porto
5. Porto Rocha 20-yr old Tawny - My first Port, and I've had more of this Port than any other. It was my standard until I had the Ramos Pinto 20-yr old.
6. 1991 Kopke Colheita, bottled in 2006 - Shows older than it is, it's comparable to both of the 20-yr olds list above it on the list.
7. 2005 Kopke Vintage Port - I've had this a two different tastings and was very impressed both times. I need to pick up a case of it to lay down.
8. Niepoort 10-yr old Tawny - Given to me by a friend, this 10-yr old is really the only one I like. I find most 10-yr olds to be too young for my taste.
9. 1985 Warre's Vintage Port - My first VP with any real age, it's softer than I prefer but still makes the list due to that first impression.
10. Broadbent Auction Reserve Ruby Port - I use this as a "filler" to open when I'm in the mood for Port, but not for anything in particular. It surprises me every time. I had to include it on my list because I drink a lot of it!

Wow, my list has certainly changed in the last 8 months. Only one Port is still on my list!

1. 1906 Brunheda Colheita. I really don't see this changing. Simply a stunning Port, and still the oldest Tawny I have tasted.
2. 1952 Dalva Golden White Colheita. I only had a tasting glass at Vinologia, but what a glass it was! Nectar of the gods.
3. 1947 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port (Berry Brothers & Rudd bottling). My WOTN from the 2009 Port Gala. What VP wants to be when it grows up.
4 tie. 1966 Kopke Colheita. I have had this several times now, and it never fails to impress.
4 tie. Kopke "Roy Hersh blend" Old Tawny Port. Another bottle from the 2009 Port Gala, graciously shared with us by the man who created it.
5. 1974 Noval Colheita. Served in the same flight at the 2009 Port Gala as the 2 Ports tied at #4. I hope they saved some for later bottling!
6. 1957 Porto Rocha Colheita. A fabulous Colheita, but something of a letdown for me at the 2009 Port Gala. I think my expectations were unreasonable.
7. 1960 Niepoort Vintage Port. My notes from the event have this tied with the '47 Noval, but with time to reflect the Noval has pulled ahead.
8. 1963 Fonseca Vintage Port. Magnificent right now, but don't drink it. It's only going to get better, which is actually a bit difficult to comprehend.
9. 1955 Burmester Colheita. A beautiful, lightly floral nose backed up by dark caramel and an intriguing minerality in the mouth.
10. 1960 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port. Perfectly mature and integrated right now.

Honorable Mentions:

Quinta do Noval 40-yr Old Tawny Port. A 40-yr old you might actually pay for; it's sometimes available below $100 in the US.
San Leonardo 30-yr Old Tawny Port. Almost impossible to find, but worth the trip to Portugal.
1953 Royal Oporto Colheita. Another 2009 Port Gala bottle, but this one didn't show well. A couple of people said that they'd had much better bottles, and if not for a strange sneaker-like rubber scent on the nose this might have rivaled the '47 Noval for my top honors at the 2009 Port Gala.
1964 Noval Colheita. I really liked the bottle I opened, but it just felt off. I'm hoping that it was damaged in shipping (the bottle had obviously leaked into the packing materials) in which case future bottles could be really fantastic!

[goncalo devesas]

Quinta da Romaneira Over 40y old
Colheita "Golden white" 1952
São Leonardo 30y old
Colheita 1967 Quinta da Romaneira :twisted:
Quinta de Santa Eufemia white 30y old
Val de Figueira VP 2000
Quinta do Vallado 20y old
Quinta do Vesuvio VP 2005
Portal VP 2006
Casa Amarela 10y old

[Moses Botbol]

Quinta da Romaneira Over 40y old
Colheita "Golden white" 1952
São Leonardo 30y old
Colheita 1967 Quinta da Romaneira :twisted:
Quinta de Santa Eufemia white 30y old
Val de Figueira VP 2000
Quinta do Vallado 20y old
Quinta do Vesuvio VP 2005
Portal VP 2006
Casa Amarela 10y old

Yikes, the only one I have ever tried on your list is Colheita "Golden white" 1952
:help:

[Eric Ifune]

Krohn 1863 Colheita in cask.
Krohn 1896 White Colheita in cask.
Krohn 1896 Colheita in cask.
Niepoort 1912 Colheita.
Sandeman 1935.
Noval 1947.
Dalva 1952 Golden White Colheita.
Grahams 1955.
Grahams 1963.
Fonseca 1970.

[Eric Menchen]

No fair listing all those cask samples

• Burmester 1955 Colheita
• Sandeman 40 Year Old Tawny
• S.Leonardo 30 Year Old Tawny
• Cálem 10 Year Old Tawny
• Sandeman 1935
• Niepoort 1960
• Taylor 1977
• Bumester 1985
• Smith Woodhouse 1985
• Quinta do Vesuvio 1994

[Monique Heinemans.]

Problem is that I never make notes, mostly I just buy/try one or two bottles and if I like it I buy more of them.
So a few bottles that I'm pretty sure of I liked a lot, are:

- Graham vp 1985, my very first bottles of vp I ever bought (about 7 or 8 years ago). I had 6 and drank them all....after that I started to collect vp.

- Fonseca vp 1985, had it the first time at a blind tasting of the 2000 vp (in 2006), and loved it very much. So rich and still young!

- Niepoort vp 2003, I had a cascsample as a gift from Dirk Niepoort himself, which made it particular special, drank it over three days, it was just stunning!

- Quarles Harris vp 1977, maybe not the best '77, but for the price a winner.

- Taylor's vp 2000, my favorite of the blind tasting vp 2000 (the only tasting notes I've ever made ánd kept...).

- Ferreira Duque de Braganca 20 y old, my all-time favorite old tawny port, a uge bomb of flavours in your mouth!

so I'll keep it with these.

[David Spriggs]

That's a good list Monique! All of those are top tier!
-Dave-

[Jim R.]

My tasting notes for wines no longer in my cellar are not available so here goes from current cellar notes in alphabetic order:
1. Cockburns 1983
2. Dow 1977
3. Dow 1983
4. Fonseca 1985
5. Grahams 1970
6. Grahams 1985
7. Offley Boa Vista 1983
8. Smith Woodhouse 1983
9. Taylor 1970
10. Taylor 1977
11. Warres 1985
So, shoot me for having eleven and post those tasting notes! I love them!

[John M.]

My list is more modest (of course I hope to correct that) so here goes (I've yet to have a properly aged VP but I have something in my cellar to try soon):


1. 2007 Croft VP.
2. 2007 Taylor-Flad VP
3. 2007 Grahams's VP (Exotic aroma)
4. 2007 Dows VP (Seems like this one will age nicely)
5. 2000 Warres VP
6. 2005 Fonseca, Quinta do Panascal
7. 2004 Quinta da Romaniera
8. 1997 Romariz VP
9. 2000 Dows VP
10. 2003 Cockburns VP

I'd also add, I love LBVs and my few favs of that are
11. 2003 Quinta de la Rosa LBV
12. 2005 Niepoort LBV
13. 2004 Dows LBV
14 Quinta do Crasto LBV

[Eric Ifune]

After this past weekend, I have to add a few.
1900 Niepoort Colheita
1935 Taylor
and a particularly beautiful bottle of the 1977 Fonseca.