Vintage Port |
1977 |
Croft |
11 |
Bottle |
75cl |
Convert Price£80 |
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|
|
Vintage Port |
1977 |
Taylor's |
1 |
Bottle |
75cl |
Convert Price£95 |
Rating
96
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2000
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
1st Jan 1989
Source
Buying Guide, 2nd Edition, The Wine Advocate
This house must certainly be the Latour of Portugal. Their ports are remarkably backward yet still impressive when young. Of all the vintage ports, those of Taylor need the longest time to mature and even when fully mature seem to have an inner strength and firmness that keep them going for decades. Their tawnys are also among the very best, though somewhat expensive. The 1977 has consistently been at the top of my list of vintage ports in this great vintage, although the Dow, Graham, and Fonseca are equally splendid. It is a mammoth, opaque, statuesque vintage port of remarkable depth and power, but is should not be touched before 2000.
Tasting Notes |
|
96 |
Vintage Port |
1977 |
Graham's - owc |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£925 |
Graham is another great port house, producing one of the deepest-colored and sweetest styles of vintage port. Along with Taylor and Fonseca, Graham has probably been the most consistent producer of great port in the post- World War II era. Their tawnys are quite good rather than exceptional, but their vintage ports are truly sublime and sumptuous.
Score: 93Robert Parker, RobertParker.com, January 1989
Tasting Notes |
|
93 |
Vintage Port |
1985 |
Fonseca |
5 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£630 |
“A troublesome vintage for many shippers, but Fonseca 1985 never fails to impress: tight-knit, dense and minty with a core of concentration and pure berry fruit. Succulent, wonderfully fresh and vibrant at 30 years old. Peacock’s tail of a finish. A real ‘wow’ of a wine that promises to last a lifetime.” 96 pts Richard Mayson
The 1985 vintage was preceded by an exceptionally cold, wet winter, with night temperatures well below freezing in early January. Berry set was excellent and the young bunches perfectly formed. The summer was hot throughout the region, with no rainfall during July and August. Fonseca picked earlier than most other shippers and the harvest was brought in under ideal conditions before the rain which fell later in the month of September. Conditions were ideal for fermentation resulting in must of exceptional colour and weight. Bottled in 1987. Round, rich and firm. Liquorice and freshness. (17.5 points)
Score: 17 - 18
Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2015-203004 October 2012
Deep crimson. Low key but well mannered nose. Thick, dry and clarety. Rather fine and serious and contained and compact. Yes! This one should run and run - real concentration and density. Lift and excitement. (18.5 points)
Score: 18 - 19
Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2015-203013 October 2004
Very dark and youthful ruby-purple. Very intense aromas of blackberry and black licorice. Full-bodied and lightly sweet, with chewy tannins and a rich licorice, blackberry undertone. Still tight. Drinkable now, but it needs a few more years. '77/'85/'97 blind Port retrospective. Best after 2010.
Score: 93
James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2010+01 January 2008
Tasting Notes |
|
96 |
Vintage Port |
1985 |
Taylor's |
3 |
Case |
Mag |
Convert Price£680 |
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|
|
Vintage Port |
1994 |
Quinta do Noval Nacional |
2 |
Bottle |
75cl |
Convert Price£875 |
Excellent medium ruby. High-pitched, still-youthful aromas and flavors of black cherry, minerals, graphite, licorice, espresso and menthol. Primary, intense and impeccably balanced, with strong but harmonious acidity giving grip to the sappy dark fruit flavors and extending the extremely long finish. Wonderfully dense and silky wine--more elegantly styled than the 1996, thanks in part to the relatively cool summer. This should almost certainly merit an even higher score in a decade or so. Amazing wine in the making, and likely to merit an even higher score 10 or 20 years from now.
-- Stephen Tanzer 96+ Stephen Tanzer Not Available Nov 2012
Tasting Notes |
|
96 |
Vintage Port |
1994 |
Quinta do Noval - 3x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£285 |
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|
|
Vintage Port |
1995 |
Taylor's Vargellas Vinha Velha - 3x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£350 |
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|
|
Vintage Port |
1997 |
Quinta do Noval Nacional |
2 |
Bottle |
75cl |
Convert Price£800 |
Rating
96
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2014 - 2045
Reviewed by
Neal Martin
Issue Date
30th Apr 2014
Source
212, The Wine Advocate
The Quinta Do Noval Nacional 1997 has a fragrant bouquet that boasts more delineation than the Vintage Noval, although it demonstrates approximately the same degree of vigour. There is a fine mineral component on the nose with macerated dark cherries, hoisin, cigar box and dried fig that seem to multiply exponentially with vigor. The palate is elegant on the entry with supple rounded tannins, well-judged acidity and purity, building gently in the mouth from its understated entry towards its peacock tail of mulberry, clove and raisin towards the finish. This is a step up from the 1994 Nacional, though if you want to split hairs, it does not possess the mind-boggling complexity of later vintages. However, it does purr with class. Drink now-2045.
Tasting Notes |
|
97 |
Vintage Port |
1999 |
Graham's Malvedos - 6x75 |
2 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£145 |
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|
|
Vintage Port |
2000 |
Dow - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£225 |
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|
|
Vintage Port |
2000 |
Warre's |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£360 |
Straightforward yet intense, ripe black raspberry liqueur and cassis scents are followed by a medium to full-bodied, elegant, restrained, balanced port with moderately high tannin as well as outstanding purity. It is a vintage port with impeccable finesse
Score: 91 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (143), October 2002
Lovely floral aromas of berries, violets and minerals. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and a racy finish. A harmonious yet well-toned Warre. Reminds me of the 1991. Best after 2010. 9,000 cases made
Score: 91 James Suckling, Wine Spectator
Tasting Notes |
|
91 |
Vintage Port |
2000 |
Graham's |
2 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£440 |
Smells like freshly picked orchids, with loads of ripe, clean fruit. Full-bodied, medium sweet and very powerful and racy. It lasts for minutes on your palate. Yet there's a balance and class to this young Vintage Port. This is the greatest glass of Graham I have ever tasted, young or old. Best after 2014. 9,000 cases made.
Score: 98 James Suckling, Wine Spectator Weekly, May 2003
Grapy, unformed, black raspberry liqueur and licorice-infused cassis notes leap from the glass of this opaque purple-colored wine. Sweet, plush, rich, and accessible, it is a forward, lush, concentrated effort that should drink well for two decades. While not one of Graham's most profound ports, it should evolve rapidly, providing immense crowd appeal. Drink 2002-2022.
Score: 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (143), October 2002
Tasting Notes |
|
98 |
Vintage Port |
2000 |
Fonseca |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£460 |
The 2000 Fonseca continues to exude finesse and focus on the nose, with pure blackberry, juniper berries, licorice and a touch of sloes, perhaps as Adrian Bridge remarked, just beginning to close after ten years in bottle. The palate is underpinned by very fine tannins, a sensual, svelte texture with wonderful acidity. The harmony and symmetry is alluring, the finish precise and demonstrating the persistency to suggest a long future ahead. Drink 2020-2060.
Tasting Notes |
|
96 |
Vintage Port |
2003 |
Taylor's |
1 |
Case |
Half bottle |
Convert Price£520 |
The 2003 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port improved each time I raised it to my nose or mouth. It displays a black color and a salty, graphite-laced nose packed with sweet black fruits that is reminiscent of a stellar vintage of Chateau Latour. With air, notes of molasses, burnt sugar, spices, and jammy plums emanate from the glass. Full-bodied, hugely dense, immensely rich, as well as thick, this behemoth is also amazingly balanced and harmonious. Raisins, molasses, licorice, black cherries, plums, and a distinctive note of violets are found in its complex, seamless character. Its interminable finish reveals additional notes of chocolate, kirsch, red as well as black currants, dark cherries, and rose blossoms. Armed with exceptional power, depth, and purity, this Taylor will proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest ever crafted by the Fladgate Partnership. Projected maturity: 2035-2060. Score: 98+
Tasting Notes |
|
98 |
Vintage Port |
2016 |
Warre's |
8 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£520 |
The 2016 Warre’s Vintage Port was picked from 19 September, the harvest took 10 days longer than usual in order to gain optimal ripeness. It has a tightly-wound but compelling bouquet with intense black fruit laced with clove, nutmeg and touches of smoke. This is a Warre’s with great precision and detail. The palate is sheer class: saturated ripe tannin that belie the structure underneath. There is a symmetry about this Vintage Port and a tension that keeps you returning for more. Wow. This is one of the finest Warre’s that I have tasted at declaration. Bravo! Production is 4,250 cases. Drink 2026 - 2070.
Score: 94 Neal Martin, vinous.com, June 2018
Very complex with dried flowers and roses. Full-bodied, very layered and tightly wound. Chewy and powerful. Firm and off-dry. Needs five or six years to soften. Beauty. Try in 2024.
Score: 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2018
Tasting Notes |
|
96 |
Vintage Port |
2016 |
Graham's |
5 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£620 |
The 2016 Graham’s Vintage Port is inky black in colour. The bouquet is voluminous and intense, the aromas almost shrouding your head! Blackberry, black olive, clove and a touch of smoke, just a hint of pencil box in the background. The palate is brilliant, quite brilliant. Supple tannin, a satin-like texture, perfect balance and unerring purity, this is a fabulous Graham’s that effortlessly fans out and caresses the senses on the finish. This Graham’s has huge potential and is going to give a lot of pleasure for many years. Drink 2026 - 2080.
Score: 96 Neal Martin, vinous.com, June 2018
Extremely complex aromas that show the classic Graham character of black-fruit marmalade and burnt oranges. Follows through to a full body with great grip at the finish. Lightly sweet. Chewy and powerful. Such a focus at the end.
Score: 99 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2018
Tasting Notes |
|
99 |