ready for drinking
can be drunk now, but will improve further
     
Drinking Status
 Year Rating
2003 98
The 2003 wines have great ‘traditional’ tannic structure with attractive ripe fruit flavours - classic Vintage Port. A general declaration.
2000 97
The 2000 Vintage will be remembered for the immense concentration of its wines and for the small quantities produced.
1997 96
One of the great Vintages of the decade, featuring full-bodied and harmonious wines. General declaration.
1994 99
Classic, monumental wines with fabulous rich fruit character. An outstanding Vintage. Probably one of the best of the 20th Century. General declaration
1992 94
A good Vintage with some rich and concentrated wines, the best of which are very good. Declared by some Port houses in favour of 1991
1991 93
The first “Declared Vintage” for six years – the longest gap between declarations for decades. A very small but good Vintage not dissimilar to some of the 1983's. Declared by most but not all houses.
1985 93
A great classic Vintage, with concentrated, rich and potent wines. General declaration.
1983 92
An exceptional Vintage, with outstanding, powerful wines, but unjustly overshadowed by the 1985s and the 1977's before them. As a result these wines are very good value at auction. Declared by most houses.
1980 90
A hugely underrated year, the good wines are outstanding. This Vintage is like the '66 in that it only became recognised for its real star quality years after the declaration. Overshadowed by the 1977, but as a result a real bargain at auction. General declaration.
1977 97
A classic Vintage, concentrated, long-lasting and complex. Declared by all the major Port houses.
1975 80
A light Vintage, but the best are elegant and a pleasure to drink. General declaration.
1970 95
A classic Vintage, with great balance, good structure, and long-lived wines. One of the absolute finest Vintage Ports of the last 50 years. Declared by all the major houses.
1966 93
An outstanding Vintage of exceptional quality, but always unjustly overshadowed by the 1963. Now recognised as being one of the very best post-war Vintage Ports. Declared by most of the major Port houses.
1963 96
A monumental Vintage of legendary proportions that needs no introduction. One of the 20th Century's finest. A Vintage Port against which all others are judged. Declared by all the major Port houses.
1960 87
A very good Vintage that produced elegant and sweet wines. Declared by all the major Port houses.
1955 94
Outstanding, fruity wines for long-term ageing - a real pleasure to drink, now or in a few decades time. One of the most underrated Vintages of the 20th Century. Declared by most of the major Port houses.
1950 86
Also known as the "Lady's Vintage", this was a delicate and subtle Vintage. Declared by some but not all Port houses.
1948 99
Classic Vintage, with rich and individual wines that are unfortunately rather hard to find. Declared by some but not all Port houses.
1947 93
An outstanding Vintage that was only declared by a few shippers. Fine, attractive wines.
1945 95
A superlative Vintage, the quality in the Douro Valley reflecting that of most other growing regions in Europe. This wine is one of the superb 'reference years' by which all other Vintages are judged. Declared by all the major Port houses.
1935 95
Classic refined wines, rich with fruit and tannins without perhaps the power of the 1934's. Declared by several major Port houses.
1927 100
A truly majestic Vintage, with poise and class. 1927 was without doubt one of the 20th century's truly great Vintages. Declared by all of of the major Port Houses.
1904 90
An outstanding Vintage, not particularly deep in colour now, but well-balanced and delicate. Another great classic Vintage Port. Declared by most of the major Port Houses.
1900 90
Despite the fact that the wines were not remarkably dark when young, 1900 proved to be a year of exceptionally fine quality. A classic Vintage Port year. Declared by most of the major Port houses.
*rating assigned by Wine Spectator
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