1963 Taylor or Fonseca

[Don Cornutt]

I have had both of these in the past. This is one year I search for when available. Price is usually not bad.
I really like the Fonseca. This is a knowledgable group of folks here. Am I missing another great producer?
Thanks. (Edited for year screwup.)

[Moses Botbol]

Does Ferreira or Sandeman have anything for that Vintage? That's kind of an odd vintage and those two houses are good in off years.

[Tom D.]

I wonder what it was that you drank, exactly. Neither of those shippers declared a 1953 VP. You perhaps had a single vintage tawny or special release of some sort? Never seen anything from that vintage from T or F.

[Roy Hersh]

1953 Royal Oporto Colheita is excellent.


Thanks for the visit here, Don. See you soon in the ATL!

[Don Cornutt]

I screwed up. I meant 1963. That is a very big difference.

[Moses Botbol]

I screwed up. I mean't 1963. That is a very big difference.

Yes, that is a night and day difference...

[Don Cornutt]

Am I missing another really good port from 1963?

[Phil W]

Am I missing another really good port from 1963?

There are a large number of good ports from 1963, as this was a year when all the houses declared, and is regarded as one of the best years of the twentieth century. The key thing to look for is the provenance (how the wine has been stored over the last fifty years) since this will have a huge impact on the quality of the bottles you try, especially when considering the minor houses from 1963 (where many have started to fade unless they have absolutely perfect provenance). Given that you have tried the Fonseca and Taylor, the obvious candidates to try next would be the other major houses, Graham and Dow, and possibly Warre, Croft and any others you can find with good provenance at decent price

[Moses Botbol]

Am I missing another really good port from 1963?

Most....

In all seriousness, 1963 is a true "classic" vintage. Taylor & Fonseca are at the top of the vintage, but others that are in that same circle are Dow, Graham, Niepoort, Sandeman, and Warre (in the order I would rate them). I am sure I am missing a few. Some interesting ones at next tick down include Croft, Ferreira, and Cockburn.

At this stage of the game, storage plays a big part when wine is over 50 years old. Some are reporting 63's are fading while others have bottles that take 10+ hours open up.

[Don Cornutt]

Thanks

[Roy Hersh]

Don't forget the top wine of the vintage ... Noval Nacional 1963 is a great one and not mentioned.

[Andy Velebil]

I enjoy, from well stored bottles, Ferreira, Niepoort, Warres, Dow, and Sandeman to name some off the top of my head

[Eric Ifune]

I've had Grahams from several different bottlers, all have been great.