POLL: Best Vintage of the 1980s ... and why

[Roy Hersh]

There are quite a few choice vintages that were utilized for the production of Port during the decade. Which is your favorite vintage overall and from that vintage, can you name the VPs at the top of your list?

[Derek T.]

I have had to go with 1985, not because I know it to be better than all of the others because it is the vintage I have had most expreience of from this decade and have found it to be consistently excellent.

My tasting notes only extend to Graham's, Fonseca and Harvey's from the 1985 vintage. Each of these have different qualities...

Harvey's was extremely god for drinking now but is unlikely to improve

Graham's is also drinking well now but has a long life ahead of it and is likely to improve further

Fonseca is not, to my taste, a wine for drinking now but will more than likely go on improving for decades to come

Wine of the vintage for me is Graham's as it will give me more pleasure in my lifetime than the other two mentioned above.

Derek

[Alex K.]

I have cheated.

I've gone for the 1987 vintage because of all the single quinta ports that have come out of it that are drinking superbly right now. Of course, in a few years time the full vintages will come through and beat it but I live today and hope for tomorrow.

[Paul Eddy]

I voted for 85 for the same reasons as Derek. I've not had a bad 85
(except for infanticide on some Smith-Woodhouse) and I think
the Graham's is wonderful.

Paul.

[Tom Archer]

In time, I suspect that '87 will prove the great survivor of the decade, but I went for '83 because it is drinking really well right now.

'80 lacks stamina and '85 is a flawed gem. '82 ruined the reputation of some venerable names - and why was '88 included, but '89 not?

With some wines not yet mature, it's hard to pitch a proper league table for immediate gratification, but going forward ten years, I would venture the following pecking order for the whole decade:

87
83
85
89
80
82
88
84
86
81

Tom

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

I’m with the 1985 majority.

Whenever I have compared the ’83s to the ’85s, the former were always more expensive and less good.

[Scott Anaya]

Darn. I really need to do a comprehensive 80's VP tasting, complete with big hair and bad music.

I really have only had 85's with any regularity, with a few unmemorable ones from other vintages of that decade. So with my narrow and limited 1980's VP experience, I voted for the 85 out a process of elimination.

'85 Grahams has been my go-to house VP for the last 7 years or so and it just continually is one of the most delicious VP's I get to regularly drink from my small cellar.

:arrow:Toms list and reasoning leads me to the conclusion that I should work to procure a few 87's and 83's for future enjoyment. Any specific recommendations from the gang for those years

[Guest]

I'd say the 1985 Grahams is the best single port of the decade. I am sure that will stir up a lot of debate...

Was '85 the most widely declared vintage of the decade as well?

[Alan C.]

1985.

Harveys

Sentimental Reasons.

[Marc J.]

I'd have to go with 85. The 83's are strong, but the best of 83 don't have the combination of finesse and power that is found in the better 85's. Just about across the board the 80's were light wines that didn't have much backbone and were nice short/mid term wines that are fading. The 1982 vintage was just a mistake from the start. The only other year that I can think of that rivals 1982 is 1975 - neither year produced ANY wines of consequence. With that being said, 1987 is somewhat of a sleeper of a vintage. I don't believe that it will ever rival 85 or 83 but in time it may eclipse the 1980 vintage, although this is a tall order given that only a handful of shippers declared 1987.

[Todd Pettinger]

I cannot partake in this vote I have only tried one VP from the 80s.

Although I do have a bottle of Warre's 85 in the cellar that I am getting very excited to open up. It sounds like there are quite a few fans of not just the 85 year but of that particular wine.

I also have a bottle of 87 Quinta do Vale d Marie in the basement, although I am thinking that one will be my Christmas port. My b-day is upcoming and given the lack of being able to source a 1976 for my 31st, the Warre's 85 will make a decent stand-in :)

Todd

[Jay Powers]

Unfortunately, I can not match up with Tom's breadth of experience, having only tasted 80, 83, and 85 to my recollection. I choose 1985 primarily for the Warres (excellent quality/value to my taste) and Grahams, and the fact that it is my eldest daughters birthyear....thus we have had many 1985's, more than the rest of the 80's combined, as I strain to source a new one (or more) every time she visits.

It seems like I need to find some 1987 Ports to try, based on others recent comments and threads!

Jay

[Ronald Wortel]

I'll go for '87. '85 is too hazardous IMO, with a couple of very good ports (where Fonseca stands out as exceptional), but too many having the risk of VA (Warre, Niepoort, Sandeman, Romaneira, Smith Woodhouse, and a couple of others I can't remember). 1980 Dow is very good, but I believe it's sort of a loner in that vintage. I haven't tasted any 1982 (apart from Sandeman and Borges, but those don't count), so can't comment on that vintage. I've tasted some nice examples of 1983, but also not enough to form a solid opinion.

[Derek T.]

I'd say the 1985 Grahams is the best single port of the decade. I am sure that will stir up a lot of debate...

Was '85 the most widely declared vintage of the decade as well?

Moses,

No argument from me on this - Graham's 1985 is the most memorable 1980's port experience I have had to date and it has a long life ahead of it.

Derek

[dave leach]

i've had pretty good luck with both 1983 and 1985. i voted for 85, but it was close.

as far as the 85 graham, i too agree it was the port of the decade. however, the 83 cockburns was every bit as delicious, unctious, and wonderful, but i've already had 3 corked bottles of it and i dread opening the remaining 5 bottles i have. therefore, my vote goes to the 85 grahams.

83 gould campbell was a sleeper, sneaky good.

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

I’m sampling now a Fonseca 1985, decanted six hours ago, that is still dark purple and closed. Another decade or two are needed. It will be magnificent.

[Todd Pettinger]

While we are on the topic of '85s and '83s... what would be a price a guy can expect to pay for an 83 or 85? Are the prices on WineSearcher pretty much standard fare? Or is there a big price differential when it lands in your local wineshops? I only ask because I have found some of both these years (Dow and Fonseca and perhaps a Taylor IIFC from 83; GC, Smith Woodhouse, Warre and Fonseca from 85)

Todd

[Luc Gauthier]

Todd , this is the lowdown in Québec :
'85 Taylor 240.00
'85 Fonseca 216.00 :arrow:
'85 Dow 96.00
'85 S & W 85.00

'83 Taylor 158.00
'83Graham 120.00
'83 Offley 82.00 (Boa Vista)

[Gary Banker]

I voted for 1985. I have had Smith Woodhouse, Warre, Martinez, Cockburn, and Taylor from 1985. They were all good. The Martinez and Cockburn seemed the most mature. I thought that the Warre, SW, and Taylor would improve with more age. The Taylor's tannins were more apparent, which I liked.

I've had others from 1980, 1983, and 1987. I would put 1980 in second place.

Gary

[Eric Ifune]

I'm the sole voter for 1980. Because of the Dow; in my opinion, the best vintage port of the decade.