If you only had one Vintage Port to recommend from 1997-2004

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:38 am

The keyword is ONE

So which one bottling of Vintage Port would you recommend to buy?

The buying objective of "drink now" or "cellarworthy" is up to you, but you can only choose ONE, so give this some thought.

NOW FOR THE TRICKY PART ....

Once someone makes a recommendation, that VP can not be "seconded" or even mentioned again (I'll see to that! :twisted: ). So everyone who wants to add their two cents, must do so with some originality.

Go for it!

Johannes Stadler · Post by **Johannes Stadler** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:59 pm

Would it probably be possible to add a note for what you think would be a reasonable Price for the Port you recommend at the moment? Or is that too dangerous to end up in a lot of discussion?

I'd really like it if everybody could add a number from what price down they thinky they themselves would buy that particular bottle to give an overview of the market.

Kurt Wieneke · Post by **Kurt Wieneke** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:23 pm

I recommend the 2003 Graham's Vintage Port.

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:19 pm

2000 Quinta do Noval Nacional

I could drink this everyday for the rest of my life and be quite happy

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:50 pm

I will recommend Vesuvio 1994.

The rationale being that it is a fabulous drink now, but will cellar for many decades. However, most important of all, Alex "Vesuvio" Bridgeman will now have to think of something else to choose :twisted:

Derek

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:54 pm

Derek, you been drinking? from 1997 to 2004 :twisted:

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:00 pm

Andy V. wrote:Derek, you been drinking? from 1997 to 2004 :twisted:

No - just stepped out of the car after a 9 hour drive - eyes and brain obviously not working too well

- maybe some port will help

OK - I will think of something different

Derek

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:56 pm

Before I declare my choice I have to confess that, apart from on the Harvest Trip and the Nov 05 FTLOP Offline, I can only recall drinking 1 VP from within this vintage range. It was the Fonseca 2000. So my choice is based on others opinions rather than my own experience.

My choice is Niepoort's 2000 - at around £35 per bottle it seems outstanding value for a wine that score 98-99 points. For reference, Andy's choice of NN00 is around £500 per bottle and gains the same score as the Niepoort

I have a soft spot for Niepoort for two reasons - (1) the first 2 serious bottles of port I bought were from this shipper and (2) they have the best looking bottles on the planet 8)

Derek

Jay Powers · Post by **Jay Powers** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:13 pm

Andy and Derek have too much free time. I might have said the 2000 Nacional (Andy). I could say the 97, but for the price I won't be able to buy to many for myself.

Without the Nacional, I might have said Niepoort 2000 (Derek), but Derek beat me to it. The 97 would be another good choice.

But then there's always the Grahams 2000, one of my favorite from the period.

In the end, I'm torn between the 97 Niepoort and 2000 Grahams, but to pick only one I'll say:

Niepoort 1997

Jay

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:17 pm

1997-2004?

- All much too young..!

Tom

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:23 pm

Andy V. wrote:2000 Quinta do Noval Nacional

I could drink this everyday for the rest of my life and be quite happy

Andy if would'nt restrict myself to some price range, I would indeed recommend that wine too. This is the wine that gave me the most pleasure between those years. I did drink it with Mr Connelly, ex-Noval sale director.

Now I'd recommend Fonseca 2003. Just the perfect exemple of balance, complexity, purity and intensity in a young VP. Great one!

David Spriggs · Post by **David Spriggs** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:10 pm

This is an impossible question...

Best without cost as a consideration -- 1997 Qunita do Noval Nacional ( Duh!)

Best with cost- 2003 Fonseca V.P. (I'm still looking for more of this)

Honorable Mention - 2003 Niepoort V.P.

2003 is an amazing year! Don't let it pass you you by!!

-Dave-

tastingnote · Post by **tastingnote** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:08 am

If it has to be from '97-'04, the only port that has really surprised as to how good it was there and then was 1999 Niepoort LBV! Everything else is infanticide!

Peter

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:29 am

Tom, Peter and others ...

The buying objective of "drink now" or "cellarworthy" is up to you,

To clarify, nobody is saying this is for drink now consideration. We are talking about ONE great VP and you can certainly choose to keep it in cellar for as long as you'd like. This is a hypothetical question which is meant to provide insight to buyers of great VPs, as to which we the Port loving consumer, would purchase to drink OR cellar. I hope this might make your selection process a little bit easier.

Ronald Wortel · Post by **Ronald Wortel** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:30 am

I'll go for the 2001 Fonseca Guimaraens. It was delicious upon release, is still delicious now after a couple of years in bottle and I predict that it will remain to be delicious for a long while. And: still available under €40.

tastingnote · Post by **tastingnote** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:42 am

Apologies Roy! Let me change my previous post! To drink now, Niepoort LBV 1999! To keep, for me it has to be Grahams 2000. If I'm still around then, I have every intention to drink one in it's 50th birthday!

Peter

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:09 am

Roy Hersh wrote:The keyword is ONE

......."drink now" or "cellarworthy" is up to you, but you can only choose ONE, so give this some thought.

The above is taken from Roy's original post above - you guys who are trying to sneak 2 or 3 bottles onto the Desert Island have some more thinking to do - the baggage allowance on this trip is ONE BOTTLE

Derek

Mike McCune · Post by **Mike McCune** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:02 am

2000 Fonseca

tastingnote · Post by **tastingnote** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:11 am

OK Mr Turnbull, I get the POINT!!!

I'll go with the Graham's 2000.

Hows the 1994 Vesuvio tasting???

Peter

Walt R. · Post by **Walt R.** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:15 am

I have only tasted 5 to 10 ports from 1997 to 2004, however, I found the 1997 Taylor to be the best.

For The Love Of Port

If you only had one Vintage Port to recommend from 1997-2004

If you only had one Vintage Port to recommend from 1997-2004

03 Graham's

Re: If you only had one Vintage Port to recommend from 1997-

Re: If you only had one Vintage Port to recommend from 1997-