2023: May 25 - 1983s

[jdaw1]

Tom arranged a 1983 horizontal at the Boot & Flogger.

• Review of the evening as a whole
• 1983 Noval Nacional;
• 1983 Fonseca;
• 1983 Taylor;
• 1983 Graham;
• 1983 Dow;
• 1983 Gould Campbell;
• 1983 Quarles Harris;
• 1983 Smith Woodhouse;
• 1983 Warre;
• 1983 Berry Bros;
• 1983 Cockburn;
• 1983 Kopke;
• 1983 Offley;
• 1983 Cálem;
• 1983 Feuerheerd;
• 1983 Niepoort;
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

This tasting caused the thread On the posting of tasting notes.

[winesecretary]

Firstly, my most sincere thanks to Tom for originating this tasting and for supplying most of the wines from his own cellar. Secondly my thanks to Alex for his logistical assistance to Tom. Thirdly my thanks to my convivial and witty fellow guests for making some who is a bit harried at the moment forget his cares for a couple of hours.

1983 is not on this showing a classic year for vintage port. Despite the admirable storage and provenance many of the wines were either marred or simply not very good.

I thoroughly enjoyed the process of coming to this conclusion, however, which just goes to show.

[nac]

Thanks also to Tom & Alex.

My thoughts about the 83s (that we had) align with George's. Some duff bottles; too many disappointing wines; a few good, but not great, wines; won't be rushing out to buy any unless real bargains. Will post my very brief notes.

[jdaw1]

Thank you to Tom + Alex.

Initially, I didn’t join this tasting, because I don’t rate ’83s. Then I decided that thirst was important, so — late — joined. And ’83s are still poor. The best are good but not great; most are not VP grade.

[jdaw1]

[jdaw1]

[Lucas S]

Wow that's a strong result for SW and QH, will have to try some.

Shame RP83 wasn't served, iirc it has done well in the past.

[winesecretary]

In an idle moment I have just looked up Mayson’s list on Decanter.com which is basically our top six plus D, W, and T where he must have had better bottles.

[Justin K]

Thanks Tom and Alex. On looking back at the 30 year tasting back in December 2013 it’s like déja vu! No outstanding Ports so maybe we just have to write off that year. One or two might be going through a dumb phase but on balance I think many are past it. A few ranked as good but no very good rankings from me (one 8, 4 x 7’s and 4 x 6’s no 5’s a couple of 4’s, 3’s and 1 x 2 were my points out of 10). I’m not overstocked with 83’s, DG, and won’t be buying anymore.

[M.Charlton]

My thanks to Tom and to Alex for organising this one, and especially to Tom for providing so many of the Ports. It was a shame that most of the wines were less than good, particularly so in the case of the NN. However, it was good to see how well the "second label" wines stood up relative to their bigger siblings!

[Andy Velebil]

Really nice to read people’s impressions of this vintage. I would agree, it’s a vintage that didn’t turn out so great for many producers. While I have my own thoughts, I’d love to sit down with a few of the “old guard” and ask what caused the early 80’s to be such a mine field. I’m sure there is no one reason, but I’d love to get a better overall reason.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I'm not afraid to have a contrarian view - but in this case I don't. I enjoyed more of the wines than most people did (and have just finished posting my tasting notes) but agree that there are no blockbusters in the vintage, although there are several I would drink with pleasure if offered the chance to do so.

However, it is by deliberate choice that I own a relatively small number of bottles of 1983 VP. More than I do of 1972 or 1975, but less than I do of 1994.

[Glenn E.]

It has been my opinion for some time now that the bulk of 1983 VPs are better than the bulk of 1985 VPs. But also that there are no outstanding 1983 VPs to compare to the small handful of outstanding VPs from 1985. You might be able to make an argument for RP83 or Ck83, but in the latter case only if it isn't corked.

I think many people focus too much on F85, G85, D85, et al and fail to realize just how poor most of the rest of the VPs are from that vintage. Absent the top 5 from 1985 (add your 2 favorites to my 3 here), I would rather drink the same Port from 1983 in most cases.

That said, like Alex I don't own very many bottles from 1983. I don't really see the point in owning something that is "merely good" from 1983 when I can own something exceptional from 1980 or 1985 instead.