It's amusing to speculate which mainstream VP of a vintage you would choose to lay down for consumption 100 years after it was made..
Croft '60 comes to mind - of '63 I'm not sure.. Dow '66 maybe - Cockburn '70 perhaps, but Calem and Niepoort are probably just as robust - Croft '75 might still have a whisper of life, 66yrs hence..
Quarles Harris is a robust '77 - Dow or Graham '80; either will last a lifetime - '83 - a harder call.. - Fonseca '85 will barely be mature by the time it makes a century!
The '87's are almost all pretty tough, but Churchill Agua Alta would be my pick. Graham & Croft '91 are probably long players..
So Roy, what would be your mainstream* picks for the more recent vintages?
*Nacional makes the choice too easy!
Tom
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
Of the Ports which I've drunk recently, Dow 1980 and Graham Malvedos 1987 particularly come to mind. I do think choosing these slightly older wines is cheating a bit; what about some speculation on the recent vintages? Any 2007s in 2107s?
Fun indeed. These come to mind:
- Taylor 2003
- Fonseca 1985
- Dow 1980
- Fonseca Guimaraens 1976
- Fonseca 1966
And finally, the Fonseca 1920 that we consumed a few years ago at the Christmas offline was so incredibly beautiful that I would be very surprised if it wouldn't survive another 11 years.
And finally, the Fonseca 1920 that we consumed a few years ago at the Christmas offline was so incredibly beautiful that I would be very surprised if it wouldn't survive another 11 years.
We'll find out in time - I have seven bottles left of that stash, although I can't be 100% certain they are all the same (an assortment of re-used bottles, but matching capsules) Remind me to open another when you're next in Blighty..
Tom
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
And finally, the Fonseca 1920 that we consumed a few years ago at the Christmas offline was so incredibly beautiful that I would be very surprised if it wouldn't survive another 11 years.
We'll find out in time - I have seven bottles left of that stash, although I can't be 100% certain they are all the same (an assortment of re-used bottles, but matching capsules) Remind me to open another when you're next in Blighty..
Tom
Ronald, how soon can you get here?
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
And finally, the Fonseca 1920 that we consumed a few years ago at the Christmas offline was so incredibly beautiful that I would be very surprised if it wouldn't survive another 11 years.
We'll find out in time - I have seven bottles left of that stash, although I can't be 100% certain they are all the same (an assortment of re-used bottles, but matching capsules) Remind me to open another when you're next in Blighty..
Tom
Ronald, how soon can you get here?
I will surely do that Tom!
Derek, the lottery draw is in a few days. I'm pretty sure I'll win the jackpot, but let me wait it out just to be certain.
JacobH wrote:what about some speculation on the recent vintages? Any 2007s in 2107s?
Absolutely. I think the Vale do Meao will last 100 years easily, though it may be mature by then. The Warre, Portal, and Sandeman all also have the stuffing to last that long as well. (Note that I wasn't fond of the Sandeman and gave it only 90-93 points, but that was because I felt the tannins were overpowering. However, that will help it live a long life!)
Here's my list of (well cellared) VPs which I think will be thoroughly enjoyable on their 100th birthday - but only based on those which I have actually tasted and not including Nacional:
Croft 1945
Croft 1927
Fonseca 1948
Fonseca 1966
Gould Campbell 1977 (when not corked)
Grahams 1955
Noval 1931
Noval 1997
Vesuvio 2003
But I'll only be able to see if I was right with about half of these
I wonder how much they will be worth when they are 100 years old...
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Several have mentioned, and I echo, Fonseca 1985. It probably won’t be mature in my lifetime but I have almost six cases to allow a good watch to be kept.
Yes, F66. Delicious now. I doubt that time will make it more delicious, but it will last awhile, very slightly fading. F70 also excellent and will last ages, and, slightly junior, F63.