For The Love Of Port

1996 was the first experiment of the Vau line, though it was never released. Young berry fruit with plenty of tannins and searing acidity on the finish. Still a baby that needs time.
89-90 points

Andy, what do you mean by first experiment? Vau has been around much longer than 1996. I have a bottle of 1988?

Vau Vintage, as a VP, was first conceived/produced in 1996 though not released. The first commercial release being the 1997 vintage. At least that what what I was told during this tasting. I believe there was a Quinta d. Vau SQVP released prior to this, which is not the same thing.

Can you post a pic of the bottle you have? Would love to see it.

My 1988 is Quinta do Vau. I didn't think the newer "Vau Vintage" juice was any different, but just jazzy new marketing label. My guess is its no longer SQ per your comment, good to know!

Russ K wrote:My 1988 is Quinta do Vau. I didn't think the newer "Vau Vintage" juice was any different, but just jazzy new marketing label. My guess is its no longer SQ per your comment, good to know!

I think 1988 was the only vintage of Quinta do Vau produced (so they could release a VP on their 200th anniversary). At a tasting last year, it was mentioned that they were still sitting on a not-insubstantial stock of these (and, in the UK market at least, there would be a release forthcoming).

I like the 2000 Vau, and purchased a reasonably large quantity of it recently - i agree it has an uncommonly bright/acidic flavour profile for a port. Personally i'm not sure how much upside i believe there will be to long term cellaring (i.e. 5+ years) - i don't know whether the "early drinking" style this is touted as being was anything more than marketing spiel, but if i were to go out on a limb i'd say that halves drunk recently from the 97 and 99 vintages felt slightly tired.

Russ K wrote:My 1988 is Quinta do Vau. I didn't think the newer "Vau Vintage" juice was any different, but just jazzy new marketing label. My guess is its no longer SQ per your comment, good to know!

This "Vau Vintage" was specifically designed to be an earlier maturing VP, much like the Niepoort Secundum. Though the 1997 at the time of release showed far to much VP like qualities (rough tannins, etc) and while very good wasn't exactly what they were looking to produce. Then the 1999 was dialed back a bit and made in a more approachable style with softer tannins, etc. They do tend to be good values for mid term drinking.

Given 1/2 bottle size, I would expect the 1997's to be reaching maturity with the bigger formats still holding on for longer. I've got a couple halves I bought on release left. Next time I head to my offsite I'll pick one up and give it a go.

I recently bought and tasted the '99 Vau Vintage and as a result did a bid of background research.

Sandeman's used to buy grapes from Quinta do Vau for use in their vintage ports. In 1988 they bought the quinta but soon after replanted it. My guess is that the '88 Single Quinta was their first and only Quinta do Vau. Sandeman's replanted the vineyard with each varietal in it's own section, apparently a somewhat unusual practice at the time. That is one of the reasons why the Vau Vintage can be made in an early drinking style. First, they can pick each variety at it's ripest, and secondly blend those varieties that will produce a port with lower tannin profile. So, in effect, the Vau Vintage may indeed still be a SQVP.

As far as I knew the '97 was the first vintage and this is confirmed by Andy saying that the '96 was experimental.

Cheers.....................Mahmoud.