What is the best vintage of Vintage Port for drinking now?

[Roy Hersh]

Everyone has a difference of opinion, as some like to drink young/fresh VP and others when it is mature, while others like ancient bottles. So for you, what is the sweet spots in these three categories and/or overall?

[Glenn E.]

But there are so many!

For overall pleasure, capturing some age along with some still great primary fruits, I guess I'd have to go with 1985 Graham. It's just so perfectly situated right now.

[Moses Botbol]

My last dozen or so vintage bottles have all been from ’63 – ‘70

As of today

For prime time vintages; 1963 is line in the sand for where mature bottles begin. Lesser 1970 producers will also fit in for '63. Good '63 bottles have decades ahead IMO.

For a more fruity taste; anything from the 80's. Good 80's vintages have decades of life ahead so no rush on those, the crap from the 80’s just drink whenever. ’70 comes down to the bottle, but as a whole, I am in no rush on that vintage.

77 Vintage seems like a crap shoot with bottle variance and/or cork issues. I'd drink them on any moment. The Graham I'd like to sit on and am really warming up to.

90's and on; I'm holding off until at least 25 years old.

[Eric Menchen]

I've had wonderful bottles from a spectrum of vintages, but the most standouts I've had in the last few years have been from 1970. Maybe that is just my luck of the draw ...

[Andy Velebil]

IMHO, some of the non-classically declared years are drinking suburbly at the moment. 1995, 1992 (ok I know, but for some it wasn't declared), 1986 to name a few.

[Al B.]

I had to give this some thought before replying.

I absolutely love the 2011s at the moment (with one or two exceptions). The 2009s are also still in their first flush of babyfat. I have lots of halves of these two vintages for drinking over the next 5 years, or so.

Then for pure enjoyment I skip over the ports from the rest of the '00s, '90s and '80s and start with the '77s right back to about '55 before I start getting selective about the shipper in my expectations. Sure I open bottles from '87 and '85 and '83 but this is mostly because I want to make my older stocks last. I also open bottles from '94, but this is mostly so I can see how the vintage is evolving.

I find '77 to be less of a crap shoot than some here and have had plenty of good experiences. I tend to avoid Dow and Gould Campbell but have been pleasantly surprised by the unexpected quality of some shippers such as Delaforce, Morgan and Rebello Valente. I will happily open and drink most ports from '77 as I find this is the vintage where the balance of fruit and secondary characteristics just comes together in the balance that I start to like. I'll then happily drink most things from most producers going back until 1955 - even the Royal Oporto 1963 I opened in October last year was still tolerable and the Sibio was downright delicious. Earlier than 1955 I start to get a little more cautious - the big names I will happily open for pleasure, but if we're talking about a 1932 Butler Nephew then I will be keen to taste it for academic purposes but won't expect it to bring pure drinking pleasure (although it was pretty good!).

If I had to choose one vintage for current drinking, balancing price and quality, I would probably go for the 1967 vintage. I find these are terrific ports which are virtually overlooked by consumers and so are pretty good value for money. Opportunistic buying can still pick these up in the UK for about the same price as the 2011 vintage was offered - but buy before the 50th birthday market starts to push up the prices in 2015/16!

[Miguel Simoes]

If I had to choose one vintage for current drinking, balancing price and quality, I would probably go for the 1967 vintage. I find these are terrific ports which are virtually overlooked by consumers and so are pretty good value for money. Opportunistic buying can still pick these up in the UK for about the same price as the 2011 vintage was offered - but buy before the 50th birthday market starts to push up the prices in 2015/16!

Always find your comments on these issues v insightful. Now let me go see if I can find any '67s...

[Roy Hersh]

Alex B. wrote: I find '77 to be less of a crap shoot than some here and have had plenty of good experiences.

Same with me!

[Glenn E.]

Alex B. wrote: I find '77 to be less of a crap shoot than some here and have had plenty of good experiences.

Same with me!

Me as well.

[Roy Hersh]

That being said, to answere my own original question, I would have to say that 1970 would be my happy place for now @ 44 years of age. I have a great deal of success with this particular vintage and love lots of them from a wide bearth of producers.

[Moses Botbol]

That being said, to answere my own original question, I would have to say that 1970 would be my happy place for now @ 44 years of age. I have a great deal of success with this particular vintage and love lots of them from a wide bearth of producers.

Is there any producer who did not make a 1970 vintage?

[Roy Hersh]

Derek can likely give you the best answer. I know that Suckling had tasted about 3 dozen of the 1970's and another reference I have states that 41 shippers declared that year.

[Derek T.]

Is there any producer who did not make a 1970 vintage?

I'm not aware of any. The most I have tasted in one day is 35