What shall I open?

[gerwin.degraaf]

Hi all,

Coming Sunday I am planning a little dinner, which will be concluded with a nice VP. I have several options to choose from, and I would very much like to read your suggestions / input on which one you all would pick and why.

Here are my options:

- Burmester 1991
- Niepoort 1991
- Quinta do Passadouro 1992
- Fonseca Guimaraens 1995
- Gould Campbell 1991
- Croft Q. da Roeda 1983
- Taylor's Q. de Vargellas 1986
- Dow's Q. do Bomfim 1992
- Dow's Q. do Bomfim 1996

I am very curious about all your opinions!! With many thanks in advance for the efforts!!

[g-man]

My votes for teh Croft

[benread]

I do not know all of those wines, but the Roeda 83 needs drinking soon in my view. Good wine now.

[WS1]

Indeed the da Roeda 1983 is good. However I would go for the 1992 Quinta do Passadouro which comes accross more matured in my eyes than the da Roeda 1983. If you want to maximise the pleasure the Vargellas 1986 will be the choice!

regards

WS1

[DRT]

If you want to maximise the pleasure the Vargellas 1986 will be the choice!

My thoughts exactly!

[gerwin.degraaf]

Thanks to all of you for the replies so far .

On the bases of this, I've narrowed the options down a bit to:

- Passadouro (btw made / bottled by Niepoort) 1992 (92+ Parker for what it's worth );
- Roeda 1983;
- Taylor's Vargellas 1986;
- Burmester 1991 (I believe this one got 86 points).

Right now I'm slighty leaning towards the Roeda 1983. This because I've never had a VP from 1983 yet, the Taylor's Vargellas 86 has been on our table a couple of months ago (and it showed enough power to last a couple more years). I've never had the Passadouro 1992, nor the Burmester 1991 yet, but I have tasted wines from these vintages (Dow's Bomfim 1992, Gould Campbell 1991) in the past year.

I'll decide tomorrow, so if anyone wants to give more or other input, please feel free! I'm enjoying this a lot!

[RonnieRoots]

I would say the Passadouro. The Parker score is as Parker scores are for port: useless. But it's an enjoyable port, albeit a fast ageing one. I've had it about 5 years ago and I guessed it to be somewhere from the 80's. So it's one to drink sooner rather than later, but will give you plenty of enjoyment.

[WinePro]

I'd vote for the Croft.....

[KillerB]

I would expect the most impressive to be the Vargellas