What is the best single bottle of PORT you've had in 2011?

Roy_Hersh · October 22, 2011, 7:45pm

I know it won’t be easy to choose just one …

G_Bienstock · October 22, 2011, 8:27pm

As the nights will soon begin to cool off it is time to stand up a Vintage Port. I do not think I opened a bottle last winter so it is time to get cracking.

Either a 1983 Dow with crossed fingers or 1985 Graham.

Roy_Hersh · October 22, 2011, 8:41pm

Decant either for 8 hours or so for maximum pleasure.

E.Todd · October 22, 2011, 9:44pm

2007 Dow Vintage Port, after about 60 hours in the decanter.

Mike_Maguire · October 22, 2011, 9:51pm

Easy choice,63 taylor mind blowing

Xavier_Lavoipierre · October 22, 2011, 9:54pm

1985 Fonseca, but still very primary. Two days after opening the bottle it was simply stunning.

Pat_Martin · October 22, 2011, 10:03pm

2003 Grahams was intense and thrilling last Spring.

Phil_S_t_a_f_f_o_r_d · October 22, 2011, 10:07pm

1977 Dow.

At the other end of the spectrum…Two nights ago had the 2009 Fonseca Vintage at the NY Wine Spectator event and it was unbelievable. Mindblowing in all regards. Can’t wait to have it again in 20 years…

Howard_Horwitz · October 22, 2011, 10:38pm

1963 Graham’s

Michel_D · October 23, 2011, 12:42am

1963 FONSECA VINTAGE PORT - by far the best I had this year

David_Bu3ker · October 23, 2011, 12:45am

1994 Fonseca - so young, but so full of promise

Keith_Levenberg · October 23, 2011, 1:43am

I think my current rate is about 1 bottle of Port per year… easy question!

Tran_Bronstein · October 23, 2011, 2:16am

1977 Graham’s Vintage Port generously brought up from Atlanta by Todd and Maria in town for a convention which they shared with Michael Grammer and at dinner on Thursday night.

T_Melloni · October 23, 2011, 3:08am

I am in that camp. So far, I have had only 1 for the year . . .but it was a great bottle. Mesmerizing.
A 2007 Quinta do Noval. Opened a half bottle and drank out of a plastic cup while sailing. Just packed with everything that was good.
It ranks up there with one of the best wines that I tasted in 2011 (and that includes sampling about 50 wines at a Gambero Rosso Tre Biccieri event).
Plastic cup, outside in the open air, having to focus on wind direction, sails, waves, etc. and this wine still rocked my boat.

Randy_Bowman · October 23, 2011, 3:13am

Can’t remember which vintage ports I’ve had this year, so the single best bottle is a Taylor Fladgate 40 year old tawny.

paul_hanna · October 23, 2011, 3:17am

1945 Grahams VP was stunningly magnificent.

In a year where I have had a number of truly amazing wines (11 bottles of Faiveley Musigny including 2 x 1947, DRC and Leflaive Montrachets, 1961 top Bordeaux, etc…) this is easily amongst the very top, if not the top wine I have had…

Mark_Golodetz · October 23, 2011, 3:18am

The Taylor Scion, a tawny from 1855. Unbelievably complex.
Best vintage was 1994 Dow; the plushness of the vintage really suited the more austere Dow style, and this is certainly the best Dow I have ever had.

G_Bienstock · October 23, 2011, 3:20am

I forgot about this one. Fred and Robin opened a bottle this summer, and I agree on both accounts.

Ignacio_Villalgordo · October 23, 2011, 11:35am

Niepoort 1900

Roy_Hersh · October 25, 2011, 4:51am

Keith L. wrote:
I think my current rate is about 1 bottle of Port per year… easy question!

Brilliant response Keith, so what is your answer, it should be equally as easy. I assume you haven’t forgotten the one bottle you had?