ThePortForum.com

RonnieRoots wrote:So Derek's argument makes more sense (and is actually not as boring as Andy suggests).

Apparently the US humor was lost on those on the other side of the pond. The comment was meant as a joke.

Tried the Vesuvio and Dow Senhora da Ribeira yesterday - both very sound wines, with good prospects; neither giving any hint that the vintage was in any way below par.

The strange thing for me is that if I'd had them blind, I would probably have got them the wrong way round. The Senhora was rich and opulent, expressing the style that I've come to associate with a young Vesuvio, while the Vesuvio was quite dry and austere.

Last year I noted that the 2009 Vesuvio was 'more like a Dow than a Vesuvio' - which leaves me thinking there's been a style shift here..

When I tried the 2009 Sr da Ribera against the Bomfim, the latter seemed markedly more Dow-ish than the former (perhaps unsurprisingly since Bomfim has been the main Dow quinta for most of the last Century). Whilst not doubting that a change of style could take place, I wonder if that could affect the perception of the two Ports?

I wonder if that could affect the perception of the two Ports?

I don't have a particular benchmark expectation of the SdR style as I do a Vesuvio or Dow. My observation is that the V09 and V10 are closer to my expectations of a Dow wine than they are of a Vesuvio, whereas the SdR10 (- what is our 'official' abbreviation for that SQ..?) - generally ticked the right boxes for Vesuvio..

Since consistently should never get in the way of a good theory, I'm quite tempted to ignore my previous comments about microclimates and speculate that it's something to do with them being directly opposite to one another over the river...

Anyway, I really haven't drunk enough of the SdR to know what I think of it. (I think only quite a few vintages are in existence in any case). Presumably in the future it will make a good comparison, since there aren't many port brands that have two SQVPs declared.

Andy Velebil wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:So Derek's argument makes more sense (and is actually not as boring as Andy suggests).

Apparently the US humor was lost on those on the other side of the pond. The comment was meant as a joke.

Hey man, call me boring again and I'll have to kick your scrawny Yanky butt

JacobH wrote:Since consistently should never get in the way of a good theory, I'm quite tempted to ignore my previous comments about microclimates and speculate that it's something to do with them being directly opposite to one another over the river...

Anyway, I really haven't drunk enough of the SdR to know what I think of it. (I think only quite a few vintages are in existence in any case). Presumably in the future it will make a good comparison, since there aren't many port brands that have two SQVPs declared.

My theory is quite simple.

1. 2011 will be a general declaration. Now is a good time for a shipper to keep his powder dry.

2. Some shippers had good commercial or sentimental reasons to declare 2009. Some worked, some worked less well.

3. 2010 is not a great vintage, but any shipper worth their salt could produce a very sound wine if they wanted to.

4. Vesuvio has been produced every year apart from two disastrous vintages since 1989.

5. Producing two SQVPs is more credible than producing one.

There is nothing strange to me in what has happened with the 2010 vintage.

uncle tom wrote:(- what is our 'official' abbreviation for that SQ..?)

Given precedent, since it is a Dow property it should start with D. If we are allowing three-letter abbreviations, then DSR probably makes the most sense. If only two, then DS and DR seem equally sub-optimal to me.

DRT wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:So Derek's argument makes more sense (and is actually not as boring as Andy suggests).

Apparently the US humor was lost on those on the other side of the pond. The comment was meant as a joke.

Hey man, call me boring again and I'll have to kick your scrawny Yanky butt

only if you're hefty Scottish arse can catch me

Andy Velebil wrote:

DRT wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:So Derek's argument makes more sense (and is actually not as boring as Andy suggests).

Apparently the US humor was lost on those on the other side of the pond. The comment was meant as a joke.

Hey man, call me boring again and I'll have to kick your scrawny Yanky butt

only if you're hefty Scottish arse can catch me

Fair point

We never did produce a summary of the vintage ports we found shipped from the 2010 vintage so I thought I would resurrect this thread and create just such a summary. Further up the thread there is mention of:

• Quinta do Vesuvio
• Quinta do Bomfim
• Quinta de Malvedos
• Quinta das Canais
• Quinta de Vale d'Agodinho from Quevedo

And a few hours ago I encountered a bottle of 2010 Quinta das Lamelas

Following a few wine searcher links, the following also appear to have been declared

- Dourum Quinta do Castelo Melhor
- Kopke Quinta de Sao Luiz
- Quinta da Revolta
- Quinta Seara D'ordeans
- Rozes
- Sao Pedro Das Aguias

There are listings also for Crasto, Presidential and Calem, but it is not clear to me whether those are genuine or errors.

Updated list incorporating Rob's findings and some more of my notes.

• Bulas
• Duorum Castelo Melhor
• Pocas Quinta da Santa Barbara
• Quevedo Quinta Vale d'Agodinho
• Quinta da Revolta
• Quinta das Lamelas
• Quinta do Crasto
• Quinta do Estanho
• Quinta do Tedo
• Quinta Seara d’Ordeans
• Ramos Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira
• Rozes Sao Pedro das Aguias

Sogevinus

• Burmester Quinta do Arnozelo
• Calem
• Kopke Quinta de Sao Luiz

Symington Family Estates

• Cockburn Quinta das Canais
• Dow Quinta do Bomfim
• Dow Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira
• Graham Quinta dos Malvedos
• Quinta do Vesuvio

• Vista Alegre

Links to other vintages:
2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005

2010 list updated - now nearly twice the size as before!