Ten Great Ports & Madeiras For the Holidays

[Moses Botbol]

http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/16/ten-gr ... #continued

Well, are they your picks too?

[Andy Velebil]

The writer takes a few liberities with some info, but overall I thought it was a good list of things to get, with one exception. The 1994 Quinta do Crasto VP isn't exactly easy to find now days and it probably would have been better if they put another easy to find bottle in its place.

[Glenn E.]

There are several US listings for it on wine-searcher - and 3 are even at the price he listed - but yeah, you're not going to walk into a store and see it on the shelf. It's pretty much an internet-only Port at this point. Then again, that's close to true for just about any 1994 these days.

I wish he'd have recommended some Ports from other years. Everything he listed is from 1994, which sort of implies that 1994 is the only good year you can find right now. There are some bangin' 1997s available that he could have listed, and a couple of 1985s are easier to find than (and just as good as) some of 1994s he called out.

[Moses Botbol]

I wish he'd have recommended some Ports from other years. Everything he listed is from 1994, which sort of implies that 1994 is the only good year you can find right now. There are some bangin' 1997s available that he could have listed, and a couple of 1985s are easier to find than (and just as good as) some of 1994s he called out.

I thought all 1994's was odd too. Heck, he mentions 4.5K on a bottle of Madeira, but not 1970 Fonseca for instance? 1994 Niepoort??? When was the last time that was on the shelf in the US?

[Andy Velebil]

Most of the large producers 1994's are still relatively easy to find on the shelf at upper-end wine stores. And yes, the Niepoort isn't easy to find anymore either. The 1997 Niepoort is a far easier VP to find than the 1994.

It is odd why all the 1994 recommendations. It almost seems like he went to a recent tasting where 1994's were poured and hence the rec's. But that's pure speculation....

[Moses Botbol]

It is odd why all the 1994 recommendations. It almost seems like he went to a recent tasting where 1994's were poured and hence the rec's. But that's pure speculation....

Ok, would you recommend any of the 1994's over 1970 Fonseca as a holiday gift?

[Andy Velebil]

It is odd why all the 1994 recommendations. It almost seems like he went to a recent tasting where 1994's were poured and hence the rec's. But that's pure speculation....

Ok, would you recommend any of the 1994's over 1970 Fonseca as a holiday gift?

Yes, if someone only liked younger VP's

[Glenn E.]

It is odd why all the 1994 recommendations. It almost seems like he went to a recent tasting where 1994's were poured and hence the rec's. But that's pure speculation....

Ok, would you recommend any of the 1994's over 1970 Fonseca as a holiday gift?

Sure, for any holiday after 2034. I'm sure the 1970 Fonseca will still be alive in 2034, but I'm also pretty confident that the 1994s will be showing better than the '70 Fonseca by then.

[Moses Botbol]

Sure, for any holiday after 2034. I'm sure the 1970 Fonseca will still be alive in 2034, but I'm also pretty confident that the 1994s will be showing better than the '70 Fonseca by then.

The article is written for the now and I'd still take 1970 Fonseca over 1994's in 2034.

[Eric Menchen]

1994s are pretty rare in these parts. I see more 1985s. Even online, 1994 Niepoort is pretty rare. To his credit, the author did say, "[Y]ou have to search." There's a not so great bottle here.