Port Vintages

Question 1

Widely declared vintages of the 2000’s

Answer 1

2000: winter drought, late harvest, immediate, appealing fruit
2003: abnormally warm, big, full-bodied wines
2007: rainy spring, warm harvest, elegant, balanced. biggest vintage declaration to date.
2011:

Question 2

Widely declared vintages of the 1990’s

Answer 2

1991: ideal weather, harmonious, rich
1992: exceptional concentration and structure
1994: “monumental,” very widely declared
1997: atypical - dry winter, rainy spring. high tannin.

Question 3

Widely declared vintages of the 1980’s

Answer 3

1980: rainy spring, small fruit set, excellent quality, small quantity. widely declared
1982: hot summer, early harvest, delicate, elegant
1983: abnormally cold until September, very late harvest, exceptional. split vintage with 1982
1985: classic, intense, firmly structured. widely declared
1987: not a big vintage year, but many single quintas
1989: hot summer, early harvest

Question 4

Widely declared vintages of the 1970’s

Answer 4

1970: exceptional, huge declaration, mature fruit
1975: 1st post-revolution vintage, widely declared, ultimately short-lived
1977: late bloom, slow maturation, nearly all declared

Question 5

Widely declared vintages of the 1960’s

Answer 5

1960: hot year, sweet, elegant, late fall rain, almost all declared
1963: classic vintage, balanced, big production
1966: high sugar levels, some sunburn, low quantity, very sweet
1967: cold spring, hot summer, late harvest, smaller number of declarations

Question 6

Widely declared vintages of the 1950’s

Answer 6

1950: delicate and sweet, “ladies’ vintage”
1955: excellent, harmonious, widely declared
1958: rainy and humid until October, fine aroma and flavor

Question 7

Widely declared vintages of the 1940’s

Answer 7

1942: first vintage bottled exclusively in Portugal due to the war. small production
1945: classic, full-bodied, concentrated. small production, widely declared
1947: exceptional, surprisingly large production

Question 8

Other iconic vintages of the 20th century

Answer 8

1897/1896: split vintage
1900: delicate, harmonious, large in quantity and quality, widely declared
1912: full bodied, harmonious, generous in quantity and quality
1920: first widely declared vintage post WWI
1927: vintage of the century, large harvest
1931: irregular, largely undeclared due to the international depression; Quinta do Noval Nacional was one of the wines of the century
1934/1935: split vintage