Which VP year do you have the most bottles of?

[Erik Wiechers]

1. 2000 25 bottles (Noval, Croft, Taylor)
2. 2003 19 bottles( Noval, Portal)
3. 2004 19 bottles( Noval, Javali)
4. 1994 17 bottles (Dow, Fonseca)
5. 1997 14 bottles (Niepoort)

And approx. 50 bottles of different vintages, from 1920 till 1977)

[Carlos Rodriguez]

Returning to this post:

2003 - 9
1999 - 7
2005 & 1996 - 5
2000, 1997 & 1988 - 3

[Eric Menchen]

Most - 1997, the year I was married. After that, 1960. But I only have about 12 bottles of VP, so it doesn't take much to be #1 or #2 in my collection.

[Derek T.]

My list now looks like this:

1997 : 77
1991 : 61
1996 : 44
1985 : 32
1994 : 25
1993 : 24 (halves - son's birth year)
1965 : 19 (my birth year)
1988 : 19

I think I can stop buying 1997s now

[Roy Hersh]

Derek,

Wow, you have been very busy shopping over the least couple of years. I remember your early posts. One question, why the love for 1988 (over say, 1987) is there special meaning to that vintage for you?

I am still holding one bottle of 1965 to open in your honor ... one day ... here, of course!

[Scott Anaya]

1994
2000
1985---this was no. one but I have been drinking thru them madly the last few years.
1992

[Derek T.]

Derek,

Wow, you have been very busy shopping over the least couple of years. I remember your early posts. One question, why the love for 1988 (over say, 1987) is there special meaning to that vintage for you?

I am still holding one bottle of 1965 to open in your honor ... one day ... here, of course!

Roy,

Yes, I have been busy - I blame you and others here for giving me the bug

The 1988 thing is easy to explain. A couple of years ago I bought 1 bottle of Smith Woodhouse Madalena 1988 and loved it. I then found a supply of 6 packs in a local wine merchant going for a steal, so I bought 4 and put 3 of them into storage

1965 at Roy's place? - thanks!

[Richard Henderson]

1992 76 Oldest son's birth year
1983 45 Anniversary year
1998 22 Youngest son's birth year

[Andy Velebil]

1992 76 Oldest son's birth year
1983 45 Anniversary year
1998 22 Youngest son's birth year

I think your youngest son will be raiding his brothers stash when they get older

[Richard Henderson]

You are probably right Andy but 1992 was a much better year for VP than 1998; however 1998 was a much better year for Clarets than 1992 so they may have a little trading to do!

[Eric Menchen]

What a geek I am. 1994 seems to be a sweet spot on the price spectrum for me. I've found some good deals from there. No 2003 and not much 2000, but I'm hoping to change that with the next FTLOP buying opportunity, and perhaps when the 2007s come out there might be some deals on 2000 and 2003?

[Andy Velebil]

Yeah thats a little nerdy But I do like it....so guess that makes me a nerd too

[Al B.]

The top three years in my cellar are:
1963 - 90 bottles (my birth year)
1994 - 66 bottles (my desert island vintage)
1997 - 56 bottles

Things are a little different now, there have been some tempting deals around that I have not been able to resist:

1963 - 174
1997 - 103
1994 - 71

The jump in 1997 is partly explained by 2 cases of Smith Woodhouse @ £8 per bottle - what a great price that was!

[David Spriggs]

I'll update mine too:

1994 - 224 bottles
1977 - 90
2003 - 67
1992 - 50
1985 - 48
1970 - 31

I guess I liked 1994! I'm surprised to see that much 2003 in my cellar, but I recently bought some more - so I do continue to like that vintage.
-Dave-

[Andy Velebil]

update: 2003 is still the leader with 146 bottles and 2000 isn't far behind at 102 bottles. Interestingly, 1977 is my #3 ranking now...guess I bought more than I thought of this vintage recently. But can one ever have enough of 77's

[Tom Archer]

But can one ever have enough of 77's

Umm.. yes..

I currently have 137 '77's, and still have a few gaps that I want to fill, but few is the operative word. In general I see it as a vintage to drink now, rather than one to hoard. Along with '63 & '70 it is part of the trio of my most drunk vintages for casual quaffing at home, averaging around 6-7 bottles a year.

Like '63, it is a vintage that has little more to offer, and several wines that are weakening, while the '70's just seem to get better and better. As '70 is a plentiful vintage, and I have plenty of them, there is no cause for restraint - the Kopke '70 is in my decanter at the moment; barely mature, and incredibly dark for it's age - buy some if you can - and enjoy!

Tom

[Roy Hersh]

Tom,

I've only had the Kopke '70 a few times, but it has always been a very solid entry. The 1970 Niepoort gets little love for some reason, but for me, it is one of the truly great Ports of the vintage!

I assume your fireworks biz is gearing up for the busy season. I hope the economy keeps that sector of celebrations strong, to keep your business flourishing!

[Ronald Wortel]

1. 2000
2. 1977
3. 1994

2000 is still number one, with 34 bottles, followed by 1995 (20 bottles), 2003, 1994 and 1977 (all 17 bottles). The total number of vintage ports in the cellar is 175, merely 40% of the total cellar.

[Glenn E.]

My latest totals counting all Port, not just VP:

1964: 30 - my birth year. I have 1 VP, 3 SQVP, and 26 Colheitas
1994: 26 - nearly the opposite of 1964, there are only 3 Colheitas in this bunch
2003: 19 - all VP, and 5 are magnums
1985: 16 - all VP
1977: 14 - 8 VP, 6 Colheita

[Eric Menchen]

New year, time to take stock. Looking at the above, I totally turned around and corrected that 2003 deficiency, as I now own more of that than anything else. Second up is 1994, then 1997 ... I still want to get a little more 2000 and 2007, but things are filling out nicely.

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