For The Love Of Port

4-5 years ago Roy published a great article in FTLOP newsletter ranking the top 50 port shippers based on the quality of their VP.

I would very interested in seeing a ranking of shippers based on the quality of their colheita.

I have been focusing on VP but is eager to learn more about tawny style wines and especially colheitas.



Andreas

Define the parameters for ranking the best Colheita and then this can be achieved.

Roy,

With the inspiration from your 2005 Top 30 (I just re-read and see that I was inaccurate in the post above):

Overall quality
Consistency
Colheitas released between 1970-2000
No restriction on vintages
Price no object

Please indicate which shippers you find represent a good PQ ratio.



Andreas

Roy Hersh wrote:Define the parameters for ranking the best Colheita and then this can be achieved.

Does my parametres make sense?

Andreas Nielsen wrote:Does my parametres make sense?

I think they are fine, but haven't had enough colheita to make an informed argument. I like the Kopke & Rocha that I've had, and a few others, but any ranking I came up with would be rather speculative and generally based on the impressions from others.

Good parameters. I'll let others chime in first...

OK, I'll go.
In no particular order,
Krohn
Kopke
Niepoort
Noval

This is a lot harder than it sounds - many people probably can't even name 50 Producers who make Tawny Ports! I doubt I could. And not all of the ones who produce Tawnies also produce Colheitas, making it even more difficult.

But... alphabetically within each group...

Top Tier (consistent production, consistently high quality)
Kopke
Niepoort
Noval

Second Tier (either less consistent production OR not quite as high of quality)
Andressen
Barros
Burmester
Dalva
Krohn
Porto Rocha
Warre

Third Tier (less consistent production AND less than top-tier quality)
Feist
Moreira
Royal Oporto

There are many, many more producers who deserve to be ranked, but I just don't have the experience to do so. Maybe some day I will!

Interesting input so far - thanks. Very inspirering.

Have no real experience with Colheitas but just ordered some Dalva and hope that will be a good starting point for my Colheita endeavours

Also tried the Quevedo 20 years tawny that I really enjoyed.

Cheers,

Andreas

What about Delaforce?

Moses Botbol wrote:What about Delaforce?

3rd tier for me. I haven't been impressed by the few I've had.

Any thoughts on Dow? Only had the '97, but it was quite tasty. Didn't know if that was representative of the rest of their work.

Bradley Bogdan wrote:Any thoughts on Dow? Only had the '97, but it was quite tasty. Didn't know if that was representative of the rest of their work.

I'd put them at "average". Not a bad thing, but not one of the top Colheita or tawny shippers IMO. The Symingtons don't have any incredible tawny or Colheita normal offerings as whole.

Andreas Nielsen wrote: I would very interested in seeing a ranking of shippers based on the quality of their colheita.

I have been focusing on VP but is eager to learn more about tawny style wines and especially colheitas.

Most excelent Andreas!

I think you have instigated a Colheita taste off. It is afterall the only way to have a true comparative listing, instead of using memory or tasting notes.

While I have tasted a few of the ones Glen listed, my favorite BY FAR was the 1937 Noval Colheita. Then again this was the first one I tasted and we didn't have any others within months of it.

My list and Glenn's are divergent. More to come, in time.

Phyllis D wrote:

Andreas Nielsen wrote: I would very interested in seeing a ranking of shippers based on the quality of their colheita.

I have been focusing on VP but is eager to learn more about tawny style wines and especially colheitas.

Most excelent Andreas!

I think you have instigated a Colheita taste off. It is afterall the only way to have a true comparative listing, instead of using memory or tasting notes.

While I have tasted a few of the ones Glen listed, my favorite BY FAR was the 1937 Noval Colheita. Then again this was the first one I tasted and we didn't have any others within months of it.

I think that's a great idea. Would be very interesting to read the notes here on the forum
I'm hoping to taste some more Colheitas this spring, but the problem is that I always end up buying vintage port. Have to work on that

Andreas

Roy Hersh wrote:My list and Glenn's are divergent. More to come, in time.

Looking forward to your list Roy.

Andreas

Here's my list of favorite producers, in no particular order

Noval
Kopke
Rocha
Andresen
Niepoort

Andy Velebil wrote:Here's my list of favorite producers, in no particular order

Noval
Kopke
Rocha
Andresen
Niepoort

Very good list, but I can't speak for Rocha; never had one. Would you put Burmester on par with Kopke?

Moses Botbol wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote:Here's my list of favorite producers, in no particular order

Noval
Kopke
Rocha
Andresen
Niepoort

Very good list, but I can't speak for Rocha; never had one. Would you put Burmester on par with Kopke?

IMO, I prefer Kopke to Burmester. So would put Kopke a notch up.