For The Love Of Port

Ferreira Vintage Port 1982 39,80€; decanted only four hours before drinking - though I have been told to decant more, this time 4h seemed perfectly sufficient for this bottle.

A really charming Port! It might not be a great vintage for VP, nor perhaps one of the best houses for VP (I adore their 20yo Tawny, though), but this '82 is drinking well and is showing some maturity and is just a great deal of fun. Like Ferreira in my experience usually, this is on the sweeter end of what one usually sees in VPs, but is well balanced with some tobacco scents bringing in the savoury aspects. Very nice and drinking very well though not hugely complex. "Off-vintages" can be so much fun - but I might be a bit biased as I was celebrating my 27th b-day with this. :)

Happy Birthday!

"Off-vintages" can be so much fun

Yes they can, so long as the price isn't too high per bottle. I've bought a number of "off vintages" more for the educational side of personally learning how those vintages are holding up. Mainly it's one bottle here or there, as I generally prefer to spend the majority of my money on the higher quality vintages. But these often do provide a good "bang for your buck" and are worth seeking out, especially for daily drinkers.

Happy birthday my friend. Wow, just 27 now, eh? I wonder how old you were when we first met on Squires?

Anyway, I agree about the Ferreira 20 year old Tawny ... big time!

As Moses and I were discussing in another thread, Ferreira is one of the masters at making very fine Ports in mediocre vintages. Sandeman used to be great at it too ... but that ended some time ago.

I've had the '82 on several occasions and they've always been quite pleasant and for the price you paid ... why not!

Thanks for posting your TN, Otto!

If the price is right and I have not had it before, I'll buy any off vintage. Sandeman has an '82 which I think may have been their last decent vintage until '94. Ferreira is a fun brand to buy. I did not even know they made an '82... I guess that would be the proper vintage as '83 is a SQ (which is a great Port).

Andy, I, too, would rather spend money on the "great" vintages, but when a country with exorbitant alcohol taxes has a 27yo, fully mature port for half the price of a recent good vintage, it is good to try it! Especially since we have no mature, "good" vintages available.

Roy, I started reading these wine boards when I was 19 (legal drinking age in Finland is 18), but I can't remember at what age I dared to join them! Roy and Moses, is the Sandeman '82 still drinking well? Having been born in that year, and since I cannot afford the greats (e.g. Bordeaux) of that vintage, I'm always on the lookout for cheaper, less prestigious but still healthy wines.

Moses Botbol wrote:Sandeman has an '82 which I think may have been their last decent vintage until '94.

Dagnabbit, I just recently bought some 1985 Sandeman, and paid more than I've seen some '80 and '82 bottles at. Hopefully my experience with them will be better than yours Moses.

Otto Nieminen wrote:Andy, I, too, would rather spend money on the "great" vintages, but when a country with exorbitant alcohol taxes has a 27yo, fully mature port for half the price of a recent good vintage, it is good to try it! Especially since we have no mature, "good" vintages available.
.

Yes, that is a shame about those prices you have to pay :help:

I originally had a case of this. Drank the last one about 3-4 years ago. It was always a not profound, but nice and enjoyable vintage. Mid weight, sweet, not too much grip. Glad you enjoyed yours on your birthday!