For The Love Of Port

Now after 15 yr. Wich are your 1994 favourites Vintage Ports?

Please, choose more than one and in order of preference.

1. Quinta do Vesuvio
2. Smith Woodhouse
The Taylor isn't ready, IMHO, but could very well pass both of the above with time. I currently own more of this vintage than any other.

I actually haven't had that many 1994s, but according to my notes from this year's Port Gala I liked:

1. Graham
2. Taylor Fladgate
3. Ramos Pinto Q.d. Ervamoira

I noted that the Vesuvio was more approachable than the Taylor Fladgate, but that it was also softer and apparently I didn't like that quite as much. I also noted that the Fonseca was very similar to the Taylor Fladgate but that the tannins were just too huge to be palatable right now. The Ramos Pinto got 3rd for its "drinking right now" ease, but won't have the life of any of the others.

Glenn E. wrote:I actually haven't had that many 1994s, but according to my notes from this year's Port Gala I liked:

1. Graham
2. Taylor Fladgate
3. Ramos Pinto Q.d. Ervamoira

I noted that the Vesuvio was more approachable than the Taylor Fladgate, but that it was also softer and apparently I didn't like that quite as much. I also noted that the Fonseca was very similar to the Taylor Fladgate but that the tannins were just too huge to be palatable right now. The Ramos Pinto got 3rd for its "drinking right now" ease, but won't have the life of any of the others.

Yikes, have a few of the Ramos and never tried one yet. If the Ramos '94 is anywhere like their '85 or '70; I would not worry about it fading quick.

I tried a '94 Graham and wasn't very impressed, sadly. I think it must've need 24+ hours to decant as the Sandeman did (and I wouldn't normally put Sandeman in the same league as the big guys).

I keep reading good things on the Vesuvio which I have and never tried either. What about the '94 Nacional or Nacional? What about Niepoort or Cockburn? I'd imagine Croft is great in '94 too?

I own many of the 94's yet have just about zero experience drinking any of them

What are your general assesments on the amount of acid in 94's? They seem quite ripe, but can't recall their backbone for longterm aging.

Moses Botbol wrote:Yikes, have a few of the Ramos and never tried one yet. If the Ramos '94 is anywhere like their '85 or '70; I would not worry about it fading quick.

Oops, didn't mean to imply that. It's not fading... not even close. But to me the rest of the '94s that I've tried feel like they're going to last forever, while Ramos Pinto feels like "merely" a 30-40 year bottle. It's 15 years old now and feels like it needs another 15-20 so I think your stash is safe.

I'll break this into 3 categories, as I think that is a fair way to represent several styles.

The best drink now and for a long time....1994 Quinta do Vesuvio

The best affordable that will out live us all...1994 Taylor's

The best of the best, but whoa expensive...1994 Quinta do Noval Nacional

What's your choice? Wich 1994 do you like?

Few houses at the moment. The 94 favourites are going like that:

1 - On first place with 2 votes:
- Quinta do Vesuvio
- Taylor Fladgate

2 - Second place with 1 vote:
- Smith Woodhouse
- Graham
- Ramos Pinto Q.d. Ervamoira
- Quinta do Noval Nacional

Tops in terms of overall excellence for me are (in order of preference):

1. Quinta do Noval Nacional
2. Taylor
3. Fonseca
4. Quinta do Vesuvio
5. Dow
6. Ferreira in a tie with Graham

I have more 1994's than any other vintage. My favorite 1994's:

1. Taylor
2. Quinta do Vesuvio
3. Fonseca
4. Dow
5. Graham


The Quinta do Noval Nacional is great, but I have only had it once and it was without decanting.

David Spriggs wrote:The Quinta do Noval Nacional is great, but I have only had it once and it was without decanting.

Sacrilege!

Eric Menchen wrote:

David Spriggs wrote:The Quinta do Noval Nacional is great, but I have only had it once and it was without decanting.

Sacrilege!

Well... Surprisingly, it was a spur of the moment decision to open it. It was very generous to do so and I was thrilled to taste it!

Roy Hersh wrote:Tops in terms of overall excellence for me are (in order of preference):

1. Quinta do Noval Nacional
2. Taylor
3. Fonseca
4. Quinta do Vesuvio
5. Dow
6. Ferreira in a tie with Graham

The only 1994 VP I tasted so far was 1994 Ramos Pinto VP (not the Ervamoira). I found it to be pretty good and do not understand the quit modest TNs on it.

1. : In the matter of rationality this is out of reach.

2. : 100 points are not good for an interesting price in my area.

3. I do have an owc/6. I will not touch them for at last 20 years .

4. 2 owc/6 so far. Recently stocked up 8 bottles, beneth an owc/6 .

5. The day after tomorrow I will probably buy 6 bottles at 44 EUR each .

6. 6 bottles to leave alone. I was unfortunately 2 years too late in the matter of Port for the 1994 Ferreira VP. I could have purchased this one for a song.

I will not report about the owc/12 of 1994 Warre's VP I could have purchased last week for 44 EUR/each. Too much pain.

Michael

Michael M. wrote:6. 6 bottles to leave alone. I was unfortunately 2 years too late in the matter of Port for the 1994 Ferreira VP. I could have purchased this one for a song.

I see the Ferreira 1994 for around $40-50 around Boston all the time. I think I have a few bottles...

Moses Botbol wrote:

Michael M. wrote:6. 6 bottles to leave alone. I was unfortunately 2 years too late in the matter of Port for the 1994 Ferreira VP. I could have purchased this one for a song.

I see the Ferreira 1994 for around $40-50 around Boston all the time. I think I have a few bottles...

Moses, price I would have payed was about 18 EUR. Finally I purchased 1997 Ferreira VP at this price.

Moses Botbol wrote:... Ferreira 1994 ... I think I have a few bottles...

I did not expect anything else .

Michael

Michael M. wrote: Moses, price I would have payed was about 18 EUR. Finally I purchased 1997 Ferreira VP at this price.

Wow, well done. That's a great price!

Michael,

Great prices. Worth buying as many as you can afford when those opportunities arise!

I am amassing a good collection of 94’s, yet feel shy to open any of them. So far (from a memory stand point) I have:

Graham
Warre
Cockburn
Vesuvio
Ramos Pinto
Sandeman
Ferreira
Presidential
Delaforce

The only ones I have tried (not necessarily from my collection)

Graham
Sandeman
Ramos Pinto
Delaforce
Presidential

Moses,

I know you will disagree, but I think you are missing a valuable reference point by not trying these 1994s now (just 1 of each anyway). It would help you to then better understand their evolution with true perspective ... even in hindsight.

I can understand if you only had one bottle of a particular shipper's 1994, but doubt that is the case with most if not all of what you've listed. Regardless, just seeing what they are like at full maturity is fun but the educational aspect of trying these at 15 years of age is worth pulling the cork.

Just one man's opinion.

Moses,
Do *not* open the 1994 Vesuvio. You will be ruined for all other Ports.

Roy Hersh wrote:Moses,

I know you will disagree, but I think you are missing a valuable reference point by not trying these 1994s now (just 1 of each anyway). It would help you to then better understand their evolution with true perspective ... even in hindsight.

I can understand if you only had one bottle of a particular shipper's 1994, but doubt that is the case with most if not all of what you've listed. Regardless, just seeing what they are like at full maturity is fun but the educational aspect of trying these at 15 years of age is worth pulling the cork.

Just one man's opinion.

I do not disagree with you at all. Most of the 94's I have are all cases, the lowest number would be 6 bottles for any one producer like Vesuvio or Presidential.

I broke down last night and pulled the staples off the Presidential 1994 OWC. My initial thoughts were that it's a bit simple, not as hot as I expected and a bit lush. This was pop and pour, so tonight it should show better and I'll do TN's then. Seemed young to me, as expected.