How long is long enough? I’ve been under the impression that vintage Port should age 20, 30, 50, or more years. I have some older bottles and am looking for input on whether they should be opened now or if I should let them continue to age. They are:
1963 Graham Porto Vintage Port
1970 Fonseca Porto Vintage Port
1977 Fonseca Porto Vintage Port
1977 Graham Porto Vintage Port
1978 Dow Porto Vintage Quinta do Bomfim Port
1979 Dow Porto Vintage Quinta do Bomfim Port
Your age is a factor when you have great selections like you have … There is but one port authority I know … Email him and get his advice and live with it, as I said he is an expert …
The 70 Fonseca is beautiful now. The 63 Grahams is wonderful also but may need even more decanter time. I had a 77 Fonseca a couple of weeks ago, still young.
I’'ll assume all are and have been well stored with good fill levels, etc.
1963 Graham = On a nice plateau and while I don’t see it getting any better it should hold here for a number of more years.
1970 Fonseca = Still on the upswing, but drinks lovely right now with about 8 hours decant.
1977 Fonseca = There are two kinds of bottles of this, one is a young, still has a long way to go VP, and one that is average at best. There is a ton of bottle variation in this vintage of Fonseca even from bottles within the same case.
1977 Graham = Has always been a spirity vintage. That heat has subsided a little in the past few years, but I don’t think it will ever get to where it needs to be. It drinks well now, and will continue for a number of more years. However, This won’t make old bones like other vintages of Graham’s. Drink this while the 1970 and 1966 Graham’s continue to mature.
1978 Dow’ Bomfim = Was a decent non-declared year and the last I had this it seemed to be at peak and holding. Won’t get any better, but still a nice SQVP.
1979 Dow Bomfim = I can’t recall ever having this (without looking at my records). It wasn’t a good year overall. Instinct tells me this is one to drink sooner rather than later.
1963 Graham - I agree with Andy. It’s fully mature but not in decline. Well stored bottles will drink fine for at least another 10 years.
1970 Fonseca - Again, I agree with Andy. 8 hour decant is a good number, but longer won’t hurt it if you need to have it open longer.
1977 Fonseca - I’ve heard of the bottle variation that Andy notes, but I’ve been fortunate in that I haven’t experienced any. Mine have all been great, youthful and with decades of life ahead of it. Unfortunately, you don’t know until the cork gets popped, and then it’s too late to save it for later. Decant 8-12 hours ahead.
1977 Graham - I’m generally in the minority that thinks pretty highly of this wine. While I agree that it’s a bit spirity, I also think it’s an excellent wine that has decades of life ahead of it. If you open in now, give it a minimum of an 8 hour decant. 12 wouldn’t hurt.
I haven’t had the two Bomfims, so can’t help there.
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