For The Love Of Port

As far as I can tell, no producer declared a VP in '88 and only some of the big houses put out a SQVP after what seems to have been a small, and tough, year. Still, its my birth year, and I'm curious if anyone has knowledge of someplace where I can pick up an '88 to try, and if there are choices, a recommendation or two.

While it's true that there were no full blown ports declared from the 1988 vintage, you have no shortage of choice. Here are some thoughts:
- Delaforce, Warre and Romaneira made colheitas, but I'm not the right person to give an opinion on colheita ports
- Vargellas - I was disappointed
- Smith Woodhouse Madalena - very flavoursome and tasty
- Malvedos - was very youthful when last tried in 2010
- Fonseca Guimaraens - deep and pretty powerful
- Cavadinha - very pleasant port, straightforward but enjoyable
- Sandeman Vau - mature, fairly light and quite delicious

Thanks for the info, Al!

Man, I never thought I was old, but I graduated high school in 1988

Moses Botbol wrote:Man, I never thought I was old, but I graduated high school in 1988

Oh hush you whippersnapper!

(1983)

Glenn E. wrote:

Moses Botbol wrote:Man, I never thought I was old, but I graduated high school in 1988

Oh hush you whippersnapper!

(1983)

you young-uns! (1979)

you young-uns! (1979)

Ditto

Man, you guys are old :-P. At least its still (relatively) cheap to drink stuff older than I am!

Damn, I'm old. 1977.

Churchill 1987, both my high school and graduation year, and a Port.

I finally feel like a baby, 1991 (with plenty of Ports to chose from)

I graduated HS in 2006, but graduated undergrad in '10 and grad in '12, so at least I'm not 0-3 so far on port years, just 1-2 with the 4th TBD. I'll have to strategically plan my engagement...

At the Big Fortified Tasting in London last month, the Sandeman reps said they were sitting on quite significant quantities of the 88 Quinta do Vau, so worth keeping an eye out for when that gets released. Not a blockbuster, but i really enjoyed it and will be looking to acquire some if the price is sensible.

Quinta de la Rosa also declared in 1988 (the Bergqvists' first vintage after deciding to start producing at La Rosa again) - i don't actually know whether Quinta de la Rosa ports are strictly speaking "single quinta" ports. Anyway, i have never seen or had it, so good luck finding it! [EDIT - actually, winesearcher is showing 1 (rather expensive) UK listing]

I seem to recall that Fonseca Guimaraens was a pretty serious wine when i tasted it, with plenty of ageing potential (and, by the by, not a SQVP)