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Are there any "stand-out" ports for the years 2004 and 2007? These are the birth years of my children and I want to lay something down for them.

Hello and welcome, I wish my parents had such foresight.

I believe there was much critical acclaim for the Dow 2007, but this often means an inflated price for something which is largely indistinguishable from its peers. Taylor produces an upmarket 'vina velha' which it made in 2004 (and 2007), again this is 'reputed', ie expensive. The advantage of these is that should your children prove feckless they will at least find it easy to sell the wines.

Vesuvio produces wine in every year and it seems (as far as one can tell for a producer which is a recent invention) to be very reliable.

But there are many others on this forum who have much more direct experience of judging young ports, they will doubtless be along shortly.

Vesuvio is generally the most obvious choice if you wish for the two gifts to be from the same producer. They produce in all but the very worst years, and as LGTrotter said they're very reliable.

2007 was a generally declared year, which means you have a multitude of options from that year. My favorite of the vintage was the Vale Meao. It's impossible to find in the US but definitely worth looking for if you live elsewhere. All of the major producers made excellent product in 2007, so if you have a favorite I'm sure you'll be able to find it. Dow received much critical acclaim as LGTrotter said, though I didn't understand it. I thought the Dow superb, but not the best of the vintage by a fair margin.

Go on; name your top wines for 2007. Assuming you can't find the Vale Meao.

I was at a loss about the 2004s.

Quinta do Noval also released ports from both 2004 and 2007. The Noval '04 was a pretty darn good port.

My top 3 '07s are Graham, Noval and Sandeman.

AHB wrote:Quinta do Noval also released ports from both 2004 and 2007. The Noval '04 was a pretty darn good port.

My top 3 '07s are Graham, Noval and Sandeman.

Please, stop talking about this, I have Vau'd not to buy any more post-2000 port, and you're just putting temptation in my way.

I was wondering if I needed to add to my stash of 21st century ports. I have one bottle of Graham 2000.

LGTrotter wrote:I was wondering if I needed to add to my stash of 21st century ports. I have one bottle of Graham 2000.

I bought too much 2011. Then I discovered I bought some 2012 while I wasn't looking. Please, let the young port madness stop. 2000 is my limit.

djewesbury wrote:

LGTrotter wrote:I was wondering if I needed to add to my stash of 21st century ports. I have one bottle of Graham 2000.

I bought too much 2011. Then I discovered I bought some 2012 while I wasn't looking. Please, let the young port madness stop. 2000 is my limit.

Having said that, my 'too much' is a lot less than some people I know. I mean, I don't necessarily need this; but that qualification would apply to three-quarters of their cellars…

Agreed-must stop buying post 2000 VP-what's that you say,mags, no DMs of 2011-count me in!

But isn't it rather mean of me not to store up treasure for future generations? I salute those magnums of 2011 as a beacon of hope.

LGTrotter wrote:But isn't it rather mean of me not to store up treasure for future generations? I salute those magnums of 2011 as a beacon of hope.

Indeed. The 2011 imperials represent the height of altruism for yet to be born grandchildren.