Which 1945 VP?

[Alex M]

I am becoming increasingly interested in VP produced during the Second World War. I would appreciate it if people could discuss their opinions on the 1945 VP; any outstanding wines or ones to shy away from?

Regards,

[DRT]

Buy as much Croft 1945 as you can afford. It is one of the best VPs I have ever had. Niepoort 1945 has an excellent reputation but, alas, I have never tasted it.

There are links to a number of 1945s here that should help answer your question.

[Alex Bridgeman]

There were some very good ports - vintage and colheita - produced during the Second World War. While 1945 has a deserved reputation as being one of, if not the, best vintages of the 20th century the other war years should not be overlooked. I have tasted extremely good colheitas produced from the 1940 vintage (Kopke is my favourite) and a modest colheita from 1944. I have a 1941 colheita to open this year from Dalva. I have had vintage ports from 1941 (Constantino - fabulous), 1942 (Niepoort and Croft are stunning), 1943 (Sandeman - very enjoyable) and 1945.

Like Derek, I've never had the Niepoort 1945 but people who have drunk it tell me that it deserves its reputation. My consistent favourite from the 1945 vintage is the Croft - this is an amazing port but comes with a hefty price tag. I also really like the '45 vintages from Morgan, Graham and Ferreira. I've also had and enjoyed Noval, Sandeman, Taylor and Warre but find that I generally enjoy these just a little less than the others I have mentioned.

But there's also a very long list of 1945 ports that I have not tried and would love to do so - Dow, Fonseca, Niepoort, Rebello Valente being just some of them!

[clawhit]

I've had the Rebello and it was immense really really lovely wine, not as good as the Cockburn's 27 though - I've got a very fine example of the Croft 45 in the cabinet which I am not drinking just yet

[jdaw1]

1945 Niepoort, 60% opaque, red. Wonderful mature VP, still with structure. Mint and cherry, though fruit fading. Fabulous. Widely acclaimed, and overwhelmingly voted, WOTN.

Dirk Niepoort quoted the pH as 4.2.

[Axel P]

The Niepoort 45 lives up to the Croft 45 and is one of the very few Ports I rated the full 20 points. So go for this as often as possible. Still very alive and with lots of decades ahead.

Axel