What is the highest rated LBV you've had?

[Andy Velebil]

There have been some terrific LBV's over the years, some rivaling well placed VP's. So the question is, what is the highest rated LBV you have had. This could be what you personally scored it or what someone else scored it. And it doesn't need an actual "score" even your thought of it being the best counts.

[Rune EG]

Very interesting question.
The highest rated is 2005 Quinta do Portal LBV 93 pts.

Three LBVs have got 92 pts:
2006 Quinta do Crasto LBV unfiltered (three different bottles at three separate occassions)
2003 Quinta do Portal LBV
2003 Smith Woodhouse LBV

Interesting to note that noen of the Niepoorts, Taylors, Grahams etc came to these levels (they were mostly in the high 80s).

[Marco D.]

I have fond memories of the 2003 Niepoort LBV. Actually I remember a bunch of nice LBV from that vintage, but I think the Niepoort was my favorite.

[John M.]

Highest score was for a 2000 Warres with a 2005 Niepoort (2x) and 1995 Smith Woodhouse (a personal favorite) a touch lower.

On a general basis my top scores show a lot of Warres & Smith Woodhouse, with some Crasto, Niepoort and Dows.

[Monique Heinemans.]

From memory and description, as I never give points, my favorite late bottled vintages are Warre's 1992 and Smith Woodhouse 1995.
I still have the SW '95 in my cellar, so must try one again soon.

[John M.]

From memory and description, as I never give points, my favorite late bottled vintages are Warre's 1992 and Smith Woodhouse 1995.
I still have the SW '95 in my cellar, so must try one again soon.

I love 1995 SW.....may have to visit!

[Glenn E.]

There have been several that I've liked a lot, but the only one that ended up on my trophy shelf was a 1994 Pocas LBV. You could have slipped than into a tasting an no one would have known it was an LBV and not a VP.

According to the TNDB I gave it 95 points. And, lest you think I'm crazy, Roy gave it 94!

[Paul C. Metman]

From memory and description, as I never give points, my favorite late bottled vintages are Warre's 1992 and Smith Woodhouse 1995.
I still have the SW '95 in my cellar, so must try one again soon.

I love 1995 SW.....may have to visit!

Smith Woodhouse LBV '95 is definitely also my favorite LBV, and ......still easily available in NL for €17.99!!

[Monique Heinemans.]

From memory and description, as I never give points, my favorite late bottled vintages are Warre's 1992 and Smith Woodhouse 1995.
I still have the SW '95 in my cellar, so must try one again soon.

I love 1995 SW.....may have to visit!

Smith Woodhouse LBV '95 is definitely also my favorite LBV, and ......still easily available in NL for €17.99!!

Hi Paul!

We may have to visit it too, as we are finally planning a trip to Portugal next year....probably as you advised, by car and boat!

Many greetings, Monique

[Paul Fountain]

On the 2014 harvest tour we did a vertical of Quinta de la Rosa LBVs and the 94 was very very impressive.
The 03 Noval LBV was a bit of a wow moment for me as well and was one of the ports that started me on the path.

I don't have access to that many over here... I really wish I could get some of the SW or Warre's

[Glenn E.]

The 03 Noval LBV was a bit of a wow moment for me as well and was one of the ports that started me on the path.

I like that one, too, and purchased a 6-pack specifically to age. I also picked up a 6-pack of 03 Quevedo LBV for the same purpose.

I have opened one of the Quvedos and found it still too young, so don't plan to test another bottle of either until at least 2018. I expect both to easily make it 20 years, though, and most likely 25.

[LOUISSS J]

It was a Smith Woodhouse LBV 2002 (drank last year). It was really good and it surprised me. Maybe because it have 13 years or maybe because this Smith woodhouse LBV is good no matter how old it is... ? I'll have to buy a young Smith Woodhouse LBV to see.

[Christian Gollnick]

Last year I had the good luck to attend an amazing tasting at Oscar and Claudia Quevedo.
We did a blind tasting of 23 Port Wines - half of it were Vintage Ports, the other half LBVs (12:11)
It was just amazing to see for example the Ramos Pinto Vintage 82 against the Ramos Pinto LBV 82. Or the Niepoort 92 Vintage against LBV. Or the Vieira de Sousa 2011 LBV against the Vintage.
We were 19 people - and each of us voted for the wine of the night. There were 5 different wines that got picked by some of the guests as WOTN - and all 5 were Vintage Ports. That shows me that the quality difference between Vintage Ports and LBVs still exists. It still is worthwhile to spend a little bit more to get a Vintage Port.

[Monique Heinemans.]

Last year I had the good luck to attend an amazing tasting at Oscar and Claudia Quevedo.
We did a blind tasting of 23 Port Wines - half of it were Vintage Ports, the other half LBVs (12:11)
It was just amazing to see for example the Ramos Pinto Vintage 82 against the Ramos Pinto LBV 82. Or the Niepoort 92 Vintage against LBV. Or the Vieira de Sousa 2011 LBV against the Vintage.
We were 19 people - and each of us voted for the wine of the night. There were 5 different wines that got picked by some of the guests as WOTN - and all 5 were Vintage Ports. That shows me that the quality difference between Vintage Ports and LBVs still exists. It still is worthwhile to spend a little bit more to get a Vintage Port.

I must agree on that, despite I really liked the Warre 1992 LBV and the Smith Woodhouse 1995 LBV, I do prefere a nice VP by far and as there are enough VP's to find for 5 or 10 euro's more, I tend to choose a VP.
Interesting tasting by the way!

[Eric Menchen]

I don't regularly record notes on LBVs, but I have some which I reviewed to try to answer this post. And reading this one, I think it probably beats out all the ones for which I only have mental notes:
2003 Quinta do Tedo LBV - 93-94 points
http://www.fortheloveofport.com/ftlopfo ... 12&t=38753
Worth noting is the one mentioned that I think will outlive the above, 2003 Crasto LBV.

I have a bunch of older LBVs (e.g. 1994), but have yet to open them. I want to throw a few into blind tastings to see how they compare to VPs. I don't think they will be out the best VPs, but I hope they still make things interesting.

[Roy Hersh]

94 points 2 or 3x.

I remember off the top of my head, 1994 Noval and 1994 Pocas being two of the greats. I believe there was one more, but just can't reign it in at the moment.

[Bert VD]

it might just be the fact that it was my last LBV, but i was really impressed by a Niepoort 1992. (more impressed than i was by for example a 1987 Warre LBV or a 1985 Cockburn VP)

[Lisa Stevens]

Paging through my book of tasting notes, here are the ones that stood out:

Quinta do Portal 2000 LBV - 91 points. 92 points in a different tasting
Quinta de la Rosa 1995 LBV - 91 points
Quinta do Crasto 2008 LBV - 92 points
Quinta do Noval 1994 LBV - 91 points
Dow 1991 LBV - 93+ points
Smith Woodhouse 1995 LBV - 92+ points
Quinta do Crasto 1996 LBV - 91 points
Taylor 1997 LBV - 92 points
Grahams 2008 LBV - 91 points
Quinta do Crasto 1994 LBV - 92 points
Quinta Vale della Maria 2010 LBV - 93 points
Quinta do Noval 2005 LBV - 92 points
Quevedo 2011 LBV - 91+ points
Andresen 2011 LBV - 92+ points
Andresen 2003 LBV - 94 points (Vic gave this a 95)
Quinta do Crasto 2000 LBV - 91 points
Quinta do Crasto 2004 LBV - 91 points
Quinta do Crasto 2011 LBV - 91+ points
Quinta do Noval 2009 LBV - 91 points
Quinta do Infantado 2000 LBV - 92 points

Looking at my list, it is easy to see that I like Crasto and Noval in pretty much any vintage. I was super impressed by the 3 LBVs that we tasted at Andresen.

[Andy Velebil]

For me I've had a few that were rocking good. Here are the standouts, which may change as I've still got to go through some notes I've not yet transcribed (I'm way behind on some notes ).

All were at least 91+ points with one being 93 points.

2000 Quinta do Noval LBV (unfiltered)
2002 Vista Alegre LBV - Which given the horrible year is pretty amazing.
2006 Dow's LBV - which was a shocker as it's filtered.
2003 Niepoort LBV (my highest rated at 93 points)

[Al B.]

The highest I have ever scored an LBV port is with 93 points. These were Quevedo 2004 when tasted in 2010 (I guessed it to be a 2007 VP!), Sandeman 2010 and the bottle matured Warre 1994. The Warre has been tasted a few times and has consistently been in the 90-93 point range.