For The Love Of Port

I realize this might not be the most well-known producer of Vintage Ports, as in the USA it seems we see far more of their Tawny Ports but afterall, they have been around since 1880. We might not wind up with as much feedback as per usual, but I really hope that folks will weigh in with their favorites! I have seen plenty of TNs and mentions of the Ramos-Pinto Ports over the past several years, so please do feel free to share your favorite Vintage Port.

Cheers

The 1926! A stunning wine and I've never even seen another from that year.
Second would be the 34 and then I'd jump to the 80's, where Ramos was very consistent.
And the 31 isn't worth seeking out - OK, but not worth the money.
I'll see if I can locate my notes - but a backup in my basement has left things totally disorganized and I'm not sure where they are right now.

From my experience the 1994 is one of the more powerful Ramos-Pinto VPs, although the '83 is also a nice bottle of juice. I'd give the edge to the 1994!

For me, it has to be the 1983, one port in my early days that really hook me. Tasted for the last time 2 years ago, it was holding well and delicious!

While I give good marks to the 1983, my favorite has to be the 2003. I think this will be a solid VP for many years to come and is one of their best efforts in the past couple of decades.

Alan,

As 1926 is my father's birth year, I have opened the C. da Silva Vintage Port from that very year on three, possibly four occasions. I kept one of the empty bottles too. The 2nd bottle I opened was while partying in Vancouver with Dirk Niepoort, Cristiano van Zeller, Bartholomew Broadbent, Miguel Roquette (Crasto) and Sandra Tavares da Silva (right before her wedding) in 2001, as it was then 75 years old and still beautiful.

I have not had the 1926 though, but if you should ever be fortunate enough to be invited down into their Gaia cellar, there is some very ancient and great bottles down there. On one of our tours, our guests were treated to not only the 1937 Colheita which is gorgeous, but the 1890 Colheita which is one of the greats!

I will have to reserve judgement on my favorite Ramos-Pinto VP until others have had a chance to weigh in.

I wish I had something to add as I have only had a couple of RP vintages and both were great. I wish there was more variety on the store or auctions for RP.

The 03 has ranked quite well among the o3s. On top. The 94 is also quite nice. I have some notes on older fellows, but none quite great (vinagrinho apeared a bit more tham should).

Guilherme

Given how widely distributed Ramos-Pinto Ports are and how popular, I must say that I am a bit surprised that this thread did not have more responses.

I will admit though, I don't see almost any Ramos-Pinto Vintage Ports older than 1983 for sale here in the USA. I wonder why that is?

My one and only Ramos Pinto VP was the 1997. What an unexpected pleasure this was and a port I will buy if I see at a sensible price in the future.

Since I have only had this VP from this shipper, I guess this is therefore my favourite.

Alex

Alex,

The logic behind your difficult decision makes a ton of sense.

Like Andy, I'd have to say that the 2003, of the handful of vintages I have had from this producer, really stood out as the cream of the crop.

Has anybody tried others since this thread last appeared?

I only know 1994 Ramos Pinto Vintage Port. I already tasted 2 of 6, the last bottle about 2 years ago. I will not touch a further bottle bevore 5-10 years. I never understood why the 1994 often is regarded as a weaker Vintage Port of the year 1994. Perhaps not a bruiser but I remember it as an attractive Vintage Port on high level.

Michael

1970 has been the best Ramos vintage I have tried so far. Still young!

Does nobody goes for 1991VP? Is it so bad?
I just bought some bottles. To drink them soon.

Vintage 1995 - the only one I ever tasted