The 2014 Harvest

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jdaw1
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The 2014 Harvest

Post by jdaw1 »

We don’t yet have much information about the quality of the 2014 Douro grapes, but we have a hint of a little news.
Reuters, in an article entitled [url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/04/us-usa-weather-idUSBREA000JC20140104]U.S. Midwest, Northeast brace for Arctic blast, record lows[/url], wrote:Many parts of the U.S. Midwest braced for a blast of Arctic air this weekend that could bring some of the coldest temperatures in two decades before advancing to the Northeast, where residents are still digging out from a deadly snowstorm.

Starting Sunday, the deep freeze will be felt in the northern U.S. plains, including North and South Dakota, and through the Great Lakes region and Ohio Valley, according to the National Weather Service.

It will be some of the coldest weather to grip the region in two decades, with blizzard conditions expected in the Central Plains and Great Lakes regions, forecasters said.

"The last really big Arctic outbreak was 1994, said Bob Oravec, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. "Outbreaks like this don't occur everyday. They aren't unheard of, but they are unusual."
1994, eh?

Perhaps it would be better not to count chickens before they are conceived.
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DRT
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by DRT »

But was the outbreak in early 1994 or late 1994, the latter resulting in the rather bland 1995 vintage.
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jdaw1
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by jdaw1 »

DRT wrote:But was the outbreak in early 1994 or late 1994
Wikipedia wrote:The 1994 North American cold wave occurred in the northern United States and southern Canada on January 18, 1994. Temperatures in Chicago, Illinois reached −21 °F (−29 °C)
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DRT
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by DRT »

Is it too early to look for weather patterns in the Sahara to extrapolate the likelihood of slingshot hurricanes causing it to rain on the 28th of September and spoil the harvest?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by PhilW »

DRT wrote:Is it too early to look for weather patterns in the Sahara to extrapolate the likelihood of slingshot hurricanes causing it to rain on the 28th of September and spoil the harvest?
I heard that a butterly landed on a leaf in New Zealand this afternoon so it should all be fine,
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jdaw1
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by jdaw1 »

You just wait. In three years you’ll be reading AHB’s TNs of the ’14, the ’14 (or in five years, Roy Hersh’s), and I’ll be saying ‟told you so”. It’s inevitable.
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by PhilW »

Anyone into numerology would be worried; '94 is the only year ending in 4 which was a general declaration in the last 100 years (unless 24 was? I know the RP24 was good); years ending in 9 don't generally do well. Nostrophil says 2014 will not be a general declaration, but looks forward to being spectacularly wrong.
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by djewesbury »

But 2+0+1+4=7. Need I say more?
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jdaw1
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by jdaw1 »

PhilW wrote:Anyone into numerology would be worried; '94 is the only year ending in 4 which was a general declaration in the last 100 years (unless 24 was? I know the RP24 was good); years ending in 9 don't generally do well. Nostrophil says 2014 will not be a general declaration, but looks forward to being spectacularly wrong.
I hear your 1924, and raise you a 2011. Previously (well, since 1881), even a perfect the harvest wasn’t enough for a ‘1’.
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by PhilW »

jdaw1 wrote:
PhilW wrote:Anyone into numerology would be worried; '94 is the only year ending in 4 which was a general declaration in the last 100 years (unless 24 was? I know the RP24 was good); years ending in 9 don't generally do well. Nostrophil says 2014 will not be a general declaration, but looks forward to being spectacularly wrong.
I hear your 1924, and raise you a 2011. Previously (well, since 1881), even a perfect the harvest wasn’t enough for a ‘1’.
1931? And 1991 too now I think of it
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by jdaw1 »

1931 should have been, but wasn’t.

1991 should not have been, and wasn’t.
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by PhilW »

jdaw1 wrote:1931 should have been, but wasn’t.

1991 should not have been, and wasn’t.
Bit harsh on '91? Will take a bit more time to see, but seems 83-ish in quality to me at the moment (91/92 split aside).
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by DRT »

I think 1992 was definitely the right decision. I have heard many people agree with that.
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uncle tom
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by uncle tom »

some of the coldest temperatures in two decades
Global warming strikes again.. :lol:
Is it too early to look for weather patterns in the Sahara to extrapolate the likelihood of slingshot hurricanes causing it to rain on the 28th of September and spoil the harvest?
Yes
'94 is the only year ending in 4 which was a general declaration in the last 100 years (unless 24 was? I know the RP24 was good);
Yes, 1924 was declared. but 2011 was the first year ending in a one to be generally declared, ever..

Mystic Tom says:

I predict that 2014 WILL be declared, unless it's a total washout.

Reason: We sold out on 2011 in no time, so let's not hang about before we party again..
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by PhilW »

DRT wrote:I think 1992 was definitely the right decision. I have heard many people agree with that.
I'm not disagreeing about '92, nor trying to restart a '91 vs '92 debate right now.
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uncle tom
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by uncle tom »

nor trying to restart a '91 vs '92 debate right now
'91 - too many lame ducks, '92 - prices too high.

Debate ends.
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by DRT »

uncle tom wrote:
nor trying to restart a '91 vs '92 debate right now
'91 - too many lame ducks, '92 - prices too high.

Debate ends.
Not quite. You forgot to add "buy 1994 instead" :D
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uncle tom
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by uncle tom »

Not quite. You forgot to add "buy 1994 instead"
+1
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by Andy Velebil »

uncle tom wrote:
nor trying to restart a '91 vs '92 debate right now
'91 - too many lame ducks, '92 - prices too high.

Debate ends.
Hear Hear
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by Andy Velebil »

uncle tom wrote:
Not quite. You forgot to add "buy 1994 instead"
+1
1994 which are insanely priced. Buy 2000 at the moment.
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DRT
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by DRT »

Andy Velebil wrote:1994 which are insanely priced.
Wine Searcher is showing Graham 1994 at £45 today compared with £109 for Taylor 1992 and £31 for Graham 1991.

I know which one I would rather spend my money on :wink:
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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uncle tom
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by uncle tom »

Buy 2000 at the moment
Yes.

When the first two or three cases of a VP appear at auction, the prices are quite high as there are always a few people in the wings who didn't buy at release and have it on their wants list.

However, a decade after release these people are mostly sated, whilst the wines themselves are closed and will normally remain so for several years more, depressing market interest.

If you factor in storage costs and capital tie-up, ten to fifteen years after release is clearly the optimal purchase period (at the moment..)

1994 has past this period now, and as it becomes an acceptable candidate for near-term consumption, so prices have risen over the past two years.
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by SushiNorth »

On a related note, do we have a single, locked article somewhere that links to our discussions of specific vintages (i.e. 2013 harvest report, 2012 release discussion, 2011 declaration list, etc)
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Chris Doty
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Re: The 2014 Harvest

Post by Chris Doty »

Andy Velebil wrote:
uncle tom wrote:
Not quite. You forgot to add "buy 1994 instead"
+1
1994 which are insanely priced. Buy 2000 at the moment.
I dunno Andy, I got an email last month asking me to buy 94s, and some of them look rather attractive (Graham's at 67 per, delivered!?). The 94 Vesuvio is obviously a joke. My biggest problem with them is they wont start to be ready for another 6-8ish years yet. I fear the 00s will take aeons to fully integrate/develop. Will be great wines when they do though.


Grapes the Wine Company

Who needs Port for their holiday dinners? We have a great selection of 1994s that will definitely please all comers!

1994 Cockburn Vintage Port
24 btls available
Grapes Sale Price: $44.99/btl
WS 92

"A big and juicy, young vintage Port. Round, with loads of very ripe roasted and raisiny character. Full-bodied and medium-sweet, with a tannic backbone. Try after 2008.”-James Suckling, 1997


1994 Fonseca Vintage Port
24 btls available
Grapes Sale Price: $149/btl

WS 100 (WS WOTY 1997)

"Hold on to your hat. This is the best Fonseca since 1977, and it's probably even better than that classic vintage--more like the breathtaking 1948. Mind-blowing, with masses of color, aroma and fruit flavor. Smells like fermenting berries, boasting loads of crushed grape, violet and berry character. Big, full-bodied and very sweet, with tons of tannins and a sweet finish. Tannic and huge, it's a long-term, great Port.”-James Suckling, 1997



1994 Graham’s Vintage Port
48 btls available
Grapes Sale Price: $66.99/btl
WS 95, WA 96

"In a port tasting, tasting Graham's is almost like tasting a big, rich, succulent Merlot after a group of blockbuster, tannic Cabernets. Sweeter and more obvious than many ports, the opaque purple-colored 1994 is fruity, powerful, and rich, with an addictive hedonistic quality. It will be ready to drink in 8-10 years and keep for up to 30. As always, this is a showy, flamboyant port that has the advantage of being slightly sweeter than other 1994s. A great Graham's.”-Robert Parker, 1996



1994 Warre’s Vintage Port
60 btls available
Grapes Sale Price: $61.99/btl
WS 95, WA 94

"One of the finest Warres I have ever tasted, this opaque purple-colored wine is made in a drier style (a la Dow), yet it is expressive, extremely full-bodied, with superb richness, purity, and well-integrated alcohol and tannin. It possesses a great mid-palate as well as impressive length. Tasters should take note of the wealth of peppery, licorice-scented and flavored raspberry and blackcurrant fruit. Look for it to be ready to drink in 10-12 years, and keep for 30+. This is a profound example of Warre vintage port.”-Robert Parker, 1996
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uncle tom
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2014 vintage off to a good start

Post by uncle tom »

Merged into this thread by jdaw1.

Possibly the wettest winter in the Douro for eighty years..

http://quevedoportwine.com/very-wet-win ... 4-harvest/
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
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