Birth Year Ports & Madeira

[Roy Hersh]

The good news is twofold. With most people on FTLOP, birth year Ports and Madeira are going to cover all but the most difficult years. I know some of your years and today for example, saw a bottle of 1965 Delaforce Colheita in 500 ml for 119 USD which I thought a rather good price, and remembered of course, that was Derek's birth year.

But how important do you feel it is to have Port or Madeira from your birth year?

I assume it makes a pretty big difference if you are born in a year like 1972 compared to 1970 as an example ... but some might be even more considered with having the birth year wines of their children, significant others, siblings or parents for special occasions.

What say you?

[Glenn E.]

1964 wasn't a great year for Port, so since that makes my birth year difficult I have started collecting as many "anniversary" year Ports as I can find. But my life doesn't seem to fit well with good Port years, so I'm having to make do with whatever I can find. My wife doesn't drink Port, so I haven't spent too much time tracking down her significant years.

I have a few 1964 Colheitas and will be trading birth year bottles with Derek in order to obtain a Graham's Malvedos SQVP. High school graduation (1983) is pretty easy, but college (1987) isn't. 1987 is also our anniversary, so I do have a few of those I tracked down to drink when we throw parties to celebrate.

[Scott Anaya]

I always keep an eye out for good deals on my 1971 Birth year Ports (Colheitas) and Madeiras. I also keep a stock of '71 German Rieslings and a few Sauternes around as well as they are fun to have for mine and my wifes Birthdays or other special occassions.

[Gary Banker]

1946 is a difficult year. I have Barbeito boal and malvazia, but they are scarce. I had to buy mine from Patrick Grubb in the UK. There are good armagnac, but not cheap, and I prefer non-distilled drinks.

Glenn,

I graduated from high school in 1964. I may have been drinking Thunderbird when you were being born. K&L sells a 1964 white colheita. There are some good madeira from Broadbent and Blandy.

[Marco D.]

Being a 1961 guy is a double edged sword. Lots of wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Italy to choose from, but the prices are quite dear. I must say, however, that '61 Ports and Madeiras are tough to come by (by the way... thank you Roy for the 1961 Calem Colheita... I owe you). I was able to find a 1961 Madeira as well, but this seems like a tough year for Portugal in general.

In Richard Mayson's book on the Douro, he mentions that he was born in 1961 as well and has relatively good things to say about the 1961 Taylor's Vargellas. I'll have to keep an eye out for that one.

[Richard Henderson]

We are okay here with my 1951 Barbeito boal and the beloved's 1957 covered with Henriquez and Barbeito boals.

It is good to have them but when to open them? Our children could open a bottle upon our deaths???? Or our 100th birthdays?

[Lars F]

Being from 1973 I'm pretty much screwed when it comes to port, and I rarely see any wines from this year at all. I try to compensate by stocking up for my daughter (2003) and will hopefully be able to find some good SQVP's for my son (2006).

That being said, I'd love to have something from 1973

-Lars

[Ronald Wortel]

It's not important, but it's fun to drink port from your birthyear. I'm from 1975. Not great, but still some nice bottles can be found, especially the Croft can be very enjoyable. There's no stack of '75's in the cellar though. We are well stocked with 1977's on the other hand. That being LadyR's birthyear, it's too good of a chance to let go.

For our wedding dinner we decided to get in between and serve Fonseca Guimaraens 1976 and a SA Pruem Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkap 1976. Both great wines.

If the vintage permits, we certainly plan to buy some 2008 ports (our wedding year), because it's a lot of fun to have and drink port from a year that's special to you. It gives opening such a bottle just that little bit extra.

[Andy Velebil]

Being from 1973 I'm pretty much screwed when it comes to port, and I rarely see any wines from this year at all.

I am in the same boat as Lars...1973 for me. And we all know what happened to the Port from that year . I've only had one Port from 1973, although it can't be labeled as such due to the regulations. I know of only one other that exists and has not been bottled yet.

[Lars F]

I know of only one other that exists and has not been bottled yet.

-which one is that? Something which will be widely available or the the-family-has-one-pipe-and-Roy-is-the-only-one-who-is-likely-ever-to-taste-it... kind

-Lars

[Glenn E.]

I graduated from high school in 1964. I may have been drinking Thunderbird when you were being born. K&L sells a 1964 white colheita. There are some good madeira from Broadbent and Blandy.

I've seen the Krohn Vintage White Colheita for sale, but haven't picked one up because I'm not sure what it is. That seems to be by far the most readily available 1964 Port, and it's even quite reasonable on price.

The Graham's Malvedos and Taylor's Vargellas are the only SQVPs I have seen, and they're pretty rare. There are some "lesser" shippers with VPs as well - J.W.Hart, Messias, Casa do Douro, Da Silva, and Real Compania Velha all show up from time to time.

Then there are the Colheitas... Noval, Rocha, and Pocas are the most reasonable. I've also seen a Kopke and a Barros.

And then there are the grails of 1964... apparently Niepoort bottled a Garrafeira, but it's pricey! And of course Noval bottled a Nacional, but that's even further out of my price range.

[Andy Velebil]

I know of only one other that exists and has not been bottled yet.

-which one is that? Something which will be widely available or the the-family-has-one-pipe-and-Roy-is-the-only-one-who-is-likely-ever-to-taste-it... kind

-Lars

Lars,
You're just going to have to come on the trip one day and discover it for yourself...until then my lips are sealed :devil:

[Jan-Tore Egge]

Another 1964. When I turned 40, I toyed with the idea of getting some Nacional, but I guess I would have had to go abroad to get it, and it would be very expensive (though not as expensive as the 1963, of course).

ANybody tasted the 1964 Nacioanl?

[Gary Banker]

Lars and Andy,

You 1973 people should try the 1973 D'Oliveira Boal. DePrez Wines (http://www.bestwinevalues.com) has it for $65 per bottle, which I think is the madeira bargain of the year. I would buy more, but am heading for an alcohol-free zone for a year. RWC also has the 1973 D'Oliveira Verdelho, which I have bought but not yet tasted.

Getting back to Roy's original question, I've found that non-enthusiasts are not too impressed by birth year wines, but wine people like the idea. I think that they are a worthy addition to a celebration and include them when I can for other observances as well.

[Eric Ifune]

59'er here. Great in much of the world, but not in Portugal. Have quite a few table and non-fortified wines but don't have any fortified from 1959. I do have some excellent Delamain Cognac.

[Todd Pettinger]

I love how Roy just managed to get half the board to tell us how old they were - good job - sneaky! :devil: :twisted:

I myself am from '76 and as such there is not a lot kicking around. I have a single bottle of Guimaraens from that year and hope to obtain one or two more bottles from a friend within the next while so I can justify opening ONE of them

'77 is the wife's birth year so a bit easier to find. Still pricey where I come from so I don't have a large stack in the cellar - just three. Hope to obtain more if I can get ajob that pays me a bit closer to what I am worth.

A special year is kinda neat to open a bottle from. I don't find it critical to having a bunch of bottles from one particular year or another, but if I could manage to pick a bunch up, I would not hesitate to do so. It is neat to think of exactly what was happening the year you were born, including a bottle of the very wine in front of you being vinified. Very cool.

Todd

[Paul_B]

Hi,

1967 for me and not much hope for VP only a handful of brands declared, but I have my eye on a Krohn Colheita...anyone had this one?
Or any other recommendations from this mediocre year?

Thanks
Paul

[Luc Gauthier]

Some of the availabilities for 1962 :
- Niepoort Colheita ( approx,. $300.00 )
- Noval Nacional (over $ 1,000)