Top 10 Port Vintages of the 20th Century

[Roy Hersh]

1966 isn't iconic - mass market perception (such as it is for Port) is that it's the lesser sister of 1963 which gives the iconic nod to 1963.

Glenn,

Maybe because I was one of the first to put in writing that I prefer 1966 to 1963, over a decade ago ... that I find your comment very interesting. I agree with Derek and Alex that 1966 today, is clearly a better vintage at nearly 50 years of age. That being said, there are a handful of beautiful 1963's today. But in order to choose one over the other, one is advised to taste enough examples of both side-by-side over a number of years. Just saying.

[Glenn E.]

But in order to choose one over the other, one is advised to taste enough examples of both side-by-side over a number of years.

Ah, but to choose an icon one need not taste anything at all!

I'm not experienced enough with either vintage to be able to say which one is better. But figuring out which one is more iconic only requires reading reviews and observing public perception.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[stenanders ivarsson]

The article is quite superficial and simply seems to be a collection of random thoughts of a few in the trade. It isn't really a serious sattempt to identify the best vintages of the century, more like an attempt to pick out one or two per decade. The fact that 1975 is included in the other vintages of note just about sums it up for me.

...and to include 1985 and exclude 1966 is simply nonsense!

+1

I don't have a big problem including 1985 without 1966, though I understand what you're getting at, but to even mention 1975 in such an article exposes the lie. '85 vs '66 is forgivable... 1975 is not.

But looking further back, can 1931 really be included on the strength of just one Port? I can't recall ever hearing about that year except in conjunction with Noval. That doesn't sound like a stellar year to me, it sounds like a single magnificent exception.

By chanse I read this about only one house from 1931. I do not know the article you are discussing but someone I do hope have told you that there are more house from 1931. We know:Burmester,Cockburn,Dow's,Ferreira,Fonseca,Hooper,Hunt,Martinez,Offley Boa Vista
Quinta do Bragao,Quinta da Foz,Quinta do Noval,Quinta do Noval Nacional,Quinta do Roncao,Quinta do Sibio,Quinta de Terra Feita
Ramos Pinto,Real Companhia Velha, Rebello Valente,Sandeman,Taylor,Tuke Holdsworth,Warre

I have drunk at least 5 and had some more in the cellar

Kind Regards

Sten
Malmö- Sweden

[Andy Velebil]

The article is quite superficial and simply seems to be a collection of random thoughts of a few in the trade. It isn't really a serious sattempt to identify the best vintages of the century, more like an attempt to pick out one or two per decade. The fact that 1975 is included in the other vintages of note just about sums it up for me.

...and to include 1985 and exclude 1966 is simply nonsense!

+1

I don't have a big problem including 1985 without 1966, though I understand what you're getting at, but to even mention 1975 in such an article exposes the lie. '85 vs '66 is forgivable... 1975 is not.

But looking further back, can 1931 really be included on the strength of just one Port? I can't recall ever hearing about that year except in conjunction with Noval. That doesn't sound like a stellar year to me, it sounds like a single magnificent exception.

By chanse I read this about only one house from 1931. I do not know the article you are discussing but someone I do hope have told you that there are more house from 1931. We know:Burmester,Cockburn,Dow's,Ferreira,Fonseca,Hooper,Hunt,Martinez,Offley Boa Vista
Quinta do Bragao,Quinta da Foz,Quinta do Noval,Quinta do Noval Nacional,Quinta do Roncao,Quinta do Sibio,Quinta de Terra Feita
Ramos Pinto,Real Companhia Velha, Rebello Valente,Sandeman,Taylor,Tuke Holdsworth,Warre

I have drunk at least 5 and had some more in the cellar

Kind Regards

Sten
Malmö- Sweden

Yes, there were more producers than just Noval who declared in 1931. But it is ONLY Noval that anyone talks about as being stellar in 1931. Which gives rise to the debate as to whether it should be included as a "Top 10 Port vintage of the 20th Century." I say it should not as a "Top" vintage needs more than one producer to support that.