Vintage Port is unlike most wines in that a vintage – wines from a single year’s harvest – remain the exception, not the rule. While there are wines produced every year and many of these will have a year on the label, these are not all ‘Vintage Ports’. Rather they are so-called ‘Late Bottled Vintage’ (LBVs), ‘Single Quinta’ wines – often hailing from a single farm – or ‘wood ports’, ones that have enjoyed extended ageing in barrel. True Vintage Ports are declared by the various shippers only in exceptional years. This not only makes them rare - they account for a mere 2% of production – but usually guarantees wines of exceptional quality.
In this latest blog from MWH Wines – the home of affordable fine wine – we’ll run down the Port vintages from 1900 – which are often still delicious despite their advanced age. We hope you will find this of use, but if you are looking for a specific wine then please get in touch by calling Mike on 0118 984 4654 or by emailing MWH Wines here.
Vintage Port Vintage Chart
| 2017 | Outstanding | Warm year, concentrated wines that offer power and refinement |
| 2016 | Very Good | Exciting wines that promise much. Exuberant and full-bodied |
| 2011 | Outstanding | Shades of ’77, ‘66, ’45. Concentrated wines that have great futures |
| 2007 | Outstanding | Balanced and harmonious, well-structured and generous fruit |
| 2003 | Very Good | Fresher in style, yet no less serious. Good future |
| 2000 | Very Good | Aromatic wines that are rich and ripe with serious structure |
| 1997 | Outstanding | Firm, tannic wines with ripe fruit. Future legends |
| 1995 | Very Good | Extremely fruity, well-structured, with fine tannins, good length |
| 1994 | Outstanding | Classic vintage; superlative structure, great wines |
| 1992 | Outstanding | Some superb wines, high scores, some high prices |
| 1991 | Very Good | Lovely balance and excellent balance |
| 1987 | Good | Balanced and elegant, with good finesse |
| 1985 | Outstanding | Glorious wines that balance sweetness with power |
| 1983 | Very Good | Classically styled wines that are drinking well |
| 1982 | Good-Very Good | Underrated and undervalued, good wines to be had |
| 1980 | Good | Solid and well-structured, with focused fruit |
| 1977 | Outstanding | Very concentrated wines built for the long-haul |
| 1975 | Good | Lighter style, overshadowed by the wonderful 1977s |
| 1970 | Outstanding | Harmonious and well-structured, with intense fruit |
| 1967 | Average | Mixed year, Sandeman very good |
| 1966 | Outstanding | Best of the decade, rich and powerful |
| 1963 | Outstanding | Lovely wines, the best aromatic and with great charm |
| 1960 | Good-Very Good | Hot year, concentrated wines with long lives |
| 1958 | Good | Dozen shippers, wines light and tiring by now |
| 1950 | Good | Decent, with a few stars such as Noval |
| 1947 | Very Good | Few declared, those that did offer excellent wines |
| 1945 | Outstanding | Like most of Europe’s wines, a victorious joy! |
| 1942 | Good | Decent wines from a handful of good shippers |
| 1935 | Outstanding | Super concentrated and very long-lived wines |
| 1934 | Very Good | Tiny year but wines have such charm even now |
| 1931 | Very Good | Lovely year, some wines as good as the ‘27s |
| 1927 | Outstanding | Record 30 shippers declared this wonderful year |
| 1924 | Good | Small crop of good wines that have stood up well |
| 1922 | Good | Small crop of lighter wines |
| 1920 | Very Good | Small crop, superb concentration, rather like the 1977s |
| 1917 | Good | One of those years where declaration was driven by scarcity |
| 1911 | Good | Only Sandeman declared in what was a good year |
| 1908 | Outstanding | Great wines that combined powerful with balance |
| 1904 | Very Good | Balanced, refined wines that have lasted well. Now elegant |
| 1900 | Outstanding | Wonderful wines that have stood the test of time |
Like Some Vintage Port Help?
We hope you found this of use, but if you are looking for a specific wine then please get in touch by calling Mike on 0118 984 4654 or by emailing MWH Wines here. A recognised authority on these wines, he’ll be happy to advise you on which wine is right for you.
