Port vintage guide: 1960-2017

Want to find out how your birth-year fared? Or want to know which vintages are drinking well now? Our Port vintage guide has you covered.

---

2017

The fact that this was the first time that two vintages were consecutively widely declared is testament to the superlative quality of the 2017 crop. The growing season was extremely dry as well as, from the end of winter until harvest, very hot with various heat waves through spring and early summer. Intense, short summer storms caused further challenges. However, while yields were significantly reduced by these extreme weather conditions, quality was superb, with harvest bringing in a small but fantastic crop.
The resulting wines have vivid, deep fruit and a paired-down intensity, combining power with elegance and restraint. Sophisticated wines that will age well for decades to come.

---

2016

The rather unusual growing season started with a mild and wet winter, followed by an equally wet but oddly cold spring. A scorching, extremely dry summer ensued, with a rainy coda in September. These fluctuations challenged the vines, affecting yields. Quality, on the other hand, was superb: the grapes had concentration, complexity and aromatic nuance. The structure and robustness of the tannins, paired with their elegance and details was particularly noteworthy.
A vintage of concentrated, balanced wines, that will age beautifully.

---

2015

A dry spring and early summer promised a healthy crop. However, one of the hottest Junes on record, followed by enduring scorching temperatures, placed vineyards under extreme stress and reduced yields, in some cases significantly. While Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca vines were able to cope and produce very good quality grapes, the other Douro varieties suffered and the grapes were mostly overripe and lacking balance.
While many leading houses declared the vintage, it is largely perceived as a harvest that never quite reached its full potential.

---

2014

---

2013

The growing season was uneventful but a very rainy September disrupted harvest and had an impact on both yields and quality.
The vintage went largely undeclared. However, producers that harvested early were able to produce excellent single quintas with very good concentration and structure. A handful of houses released very small allocations of vintage expressions.

---

2012

Although extremely dry, the growing season was steady and cool. Yields were low – mostly due to water stress – but produced wines of great finesse, chiselled tannins, aromatic detail and defined fruit. A couple of top producers released vintage wines but most did not declare, releasing single quintas instead – a decision no doubt influenced by the 2011 declaration, rather than by lack of potential in 2012.

---

2011

A rainy winter, waa followed by a warm and dry spring, with patched mildew and hail. The mild and dry summer was disrupted by heat spikes leading to drought, which was mitigated by slime precipitation in late August and early September.
The plants that were able to respond to these many challenges yielded fruit of great quality, ultimately producing wines with elegant structure, nuanced aromas and vibrant acid. A year with a distinct personality and extraordinary balance, more rustic than 2007 and elegant than 2003.

---

2010

---

2009

Very dry growing season, which kicked off early following a warm early spring. An extremely hot summer catalysed early phenolic ripeness but water stress impacted negatively on yields.
The small crops predictably had outstanding concentration with deep, intense black fruit, silky but assertive tannins and enough acid to balance it all out. Both vintage and single-quinta releases have great cellaring potential.

---

2008

A cold spring delayed budburst and flowering and cool temperatures continued throughout the growing season causing some worry among producers that grapes wouldn’t fully ripen. A timely heat spell allowed them to successfully achieve phenolic maturity while cool nights ensured an optimal retainment of acid.
The wines therefore showcase freshness, balance, vivid acid and vibrant, lifted fruit. Drink beautifully and, although some examples will be long-aged, the fine quality of this vintage suggests they will not hold as long as the 2007s.

---

2007

The growing season started with significant disease pressure as a result of steady rains from November to February. This was somewhat mitigated by dry conditions in August and September. Mild temperatures throughout allowed grapes to ripen slowly and steadily, with the development of aromatic complexity and beautiful phenolic balance.
The wines stand out for their transparency, finesse, silky tannins and rick fruit offset by fragrant aromas. Although with great cellaring potential, many examples are already surprisingly approachable.

---

2006

Tinta Barroca suffered particularly, affecting the overall balance of the blends and the character of many wines. The few noteworthy wines had deep black fruit and interesting balsamic nuances.

---

2005

More resilient vineyards were able to deliver small yields of very concentrated fruit, producing deep, intense, robustly structured wines that will cellar beautifully.

---

2004

4/5 – Drink

The threat of rain into harvest season forced producers to make hard decisions on whether to harvest potentially underripe fruit early or lose the crop. The most fortunate decision-makers were able to work with vibrant fruit, subtly aromatic, with lovely acid and a fine tannic framework.

---

2003

Unusually high temperatures peaked in the end of July and beginning of August (45℃ during the day and 30℃ at night) and continued into harvest season. Some plants shutdown in late August but a spell of rain in early September provided relief and paved the way for an excellent harvest, with little but very concentrated grapes. These produced muscular, complex, tannic wines with great ageing potential.
Some exceptions, lacking acid and with overly ripe fruit, were unfortunate outliers.

---

2002

The vintage was evolving positively, with a dry winter, spring and summer, the latter with moderate heat. Early September rains provided relief and promised a good vintage. However, heavy rains followed, erasing hopes of a good crop for many producers.
Those who harvested earlier – most in Douro Superior – produced good to excellent wines.

---

2001

The wet winter created some disease pressure but was followed by a warm, dry, uneventful summer, supporting the slow and healthy development of the grapes. A long and late harvest – well into October – was disturbed by some rain towards the end.
The year therefore rewarded those who picked slightly earlier, and were able to produce the deep-coloured, structured wines this vintage is known for.

---

2000

A dry and cold winter delayed budburst. It was followed by a warm February and March; April and May brought much-needed rains that created, however, the conditions for unwelcome coulure. The summer was warm and dry, allowing for the slow maturation of the grapes. Harvest started in late September, yielding small but excellent quality crops.
Overall, the wines of this vintage are superb, combining early-drinking appeal and incredible ageing potential. They stand out for the vibrancy and definition of the fruit.

---

The vintage summaries and ratings below were last reviewed by Richard Mayson in 2022. 

---

1999

---

1998

Vintage summary

A cool, wet spring and early summer slashed yields and induced mildew and oidium in many vineyards. After a period of unrelenting heat in high summer, a minute but potentially outstanding vintage appeared to be on the cards. Picking began in the Douro Superior on 14 September and by 24 September the harvest was underway. Unfortunately, the heavens opened at the same time, diluting sugar levels and turning a potentially great vintage into a curate’s egg: merely good in parts.

No major declaration, but some good, concentrated wines were produced by quintas in the Douro Superior, which picked before the rain.

---

1997

Vintage summary

An uneven year in that an abnormally warm, dry spring led to an early burst of growth and then gave way to cool, wet weather in June and July. The heat returned in August and by mid-September grapes were showing good sugar levels and the harvest began in earnest. Apart from a localised downpour, picking continued without incident and it was clear that a good, possibly great, vintage was in prospect.

Apart from Croft and Delaforce, who opted for single-quinta Ports, all the major shippers declared in the spring of 1999. The most promising wines (combining elegance and structure) are those from well-situated quintas at lower altitudes in the Cima Corgo and these wines form the basis of the finest declared wines. A few wines are rather lean and one-dimensional but the best have solid, sinewy tannins and will age well for the long term. There is a strong similarity in style with 1983. Prices were up by around 30% on the highly acclaimed 1994s.

Best wines

• Dow’s
• Fonseca
• Graham’s
• Niepoort
• Quinta da Corte (Delaforce)
• Quinta da Roeda (Croft)
• Quinta do Noval
• Quinta do Noval Nacional

---

1996

Vintage summary

The prolonged drought that had become quite desperate in parts of southern Portugal broke spectacularly in the winter of 1995/96. The winter deluge gave way to a mild spring and, with so much ground water, vines sprouted in all directions. Development was slow and as a result the harvest began late at the end of September and early October. Yields were vast but sugar levels remained on the low side and many of the wines tasted dilute.

The best Ports came from old, low yielding vines and a handful of quintas declared promising wines for drinking over the medium-term. Quinta do Noval Nacional (the first declaration of Nacional by the new owners) stands out as the only wine for the long term.

Best wines

• Quinta da Agua Alta (Churchill)
• Quinta Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Burmester)
• Quinta do Noval Nacional
• Quinta de la Rosa
• Quinta do Vesuvio

---

1995

Vintage summary

After a generally cool spring and early summer, August provided four weeks of unrelenting heat. In the Douro Superior, which is always the hottest and driest of the Douro’s three sub-regions, some growers began picking as early as mid-August. By 7 September the harvest was underway throughout much of the Douro region as grapes began to shrivel on the vine.

The extreme heat made for some rather coarse, burnt wines with roasted coffee notes, but the sheer jammy concentration of flavour justified a fully-fledged declaration for some. Barros, Burmester Krohn, Osborne, Noval Roses and Pocas declared outright, with the remainder opting for second label or single-quinta Ports. Drink over the medium-term.

Best wines

• Fonseca Guimaraens
• Quinta do Crasto
• Quinta do Noval
• Quinta de la Rosa
• Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha (Taylor’s)
• Quinta do Vesuvio

---

1994

Vintage summary

A wet winter brought an end to three years of drought, and when the sun began to shine in March and April the vines began to sprout in all directions. There was some concern when heavy rain fell in May but fortunately it was not unduly warm, and the unsettled conditions merely served to check the overall size of the crop.

From then on it was plain sailing all the way through to the harvest. The threat of rain in mid-September rekindled memories of 1993 (a quagmire) and a few growers panicked and harvested too early. The majority kept their nerve and by 20 September the grapes were fully ripe and picking was well underway. Winemakers were helped by cool, clear nights which served to slow down fermentations and the lagares took plenty of work.

It was clear as soon as the wines were run from the lagares that a fine vintage was in the bag, and the shippers could hardly conceal their glee at the prospect of a major vintage declaration. By the time the wines were offered in the spring/summer of 1996, the market had recovered fully from the recession of the early 1990s with the US having become particularly receptive to vintage Port. Opening prices rose considerably and in some cases have continued to soar, perversely overtaking mature vintages like 1970. The wines were appealing from the start, with ripe fleshy fruit concealing the underlying tannic grip that will enable these wines to stand the test of time.

Best wines

• Burmester
• Croft
• Dow’s
• Fonseca
• Gould Campbell
• Graham’s
• Quarles Harris
• Quinta do Vesuvio
• Quinta da Eira Velha (Martinez)
• Taylor’s
• Warre’s

Revisiting vintage Port 1994

---

1992

Vintage summary

The winter was unseasonably dry throughout Portugal and the drought continued until June, when a few days of rain proved to be very beneficial. Fortunately, the flowering was early and therefore not affected. The remainder of the summer was generally dry but not unduly hot, and a few short sharp showers in August helped to swell the grapes. Most growers began picking on 21 September but those who held off another week probably made better wines.

A split declaration (with 1991); Taylor’s/Fonseca famously declared 1992 whereas the Symington-owned houses all opted for 1991. Niepoort declared both. It now seems that 1992 produced the better wines for drinking over the medium- to long-term: big, rich and complete.

Best wines

• Delaforce
• Fonseca
• Malvedos (Graham’s)
• Niepoort
• Quinta do Infantado
• Quinta do Passadouro (Niepoort)
• Quinta do Vesuvio
• Quinta da Agua Alta (Churchill)
• Taylor’s

---

1991

Vintage summary

Growing conditions were good: a wet winter was followed by a dry, settled spring and early summer when flowering took place under ideal conditions. High summer was hot and very dry, relieved only by some timely rain on 11 and 12 September and again just before the harvest. When picking began, ambient temperatures were still high, presenting real problems for those producers without means of controlling fermentations.

The grapes tended to be small with little juice resulting in deep, dense powerful wines for the medium-to-long-term. It was declared by the Symington-owned houses Dow’s, Graham’s, Warre’s, Smith Woodhouse, Gould Campbell and Quarles Harris in preference to 1992. Taylor’s and Fonseca declared single-quinta wines. 1991 was a watershed vintage in that, for the first time, more vintage Port was shipped to the US than the UK.

Best wines

• Croft
• Ferreira
• Graham’s
• Niepoort
• Rozès
• Taylor’s

1987

Vintage summary

After a successful flowering, the prospects were for a large crop, but exceptionally hot, dry weather from mid-June intervened. By early September, the grapes were looking distinctly small and somewhat raisined. The weather broke during the vintage but those who picked early made intense, concentrated wines, marred in some cases only by a slightly roasted character.

A handful of shippers declared (Ferreira, Martinez, Niepoort) but the majority held off and bottled single-quinta wines. More may have taken the plunge but for the fact that the market for vintage Port was looking distinctly shaky by the time of the would-be declaration in the spring/summer of 1989.

Best Producers

• Quinta da Eira Velha (Martinez)
• Quinta da Terra Feita (Taylor’s)
• Quinta do Bomfim (Dow’s)
• Quinta do Panascal (Fonseca)

---

1985

Vintage summary

A textbook growing season: a wet winter was followed by a cool spring and from June onwards the weather was magnificent. The grapes were gathered under perfect conditions with unbroken summer-like weather from early September until the end of the harvest. The only serious problem for the winemakers was the midday heat (up to 32C) and this may account for the variability in some of the 1985s.

A unanimous declaration, but some of the wines have not lived up to their early promise having subsequently turned volatile in bottle. However, the power and concentration that is the hallmark of the 1985 vintage continues to live on in many of the wines. These will remain impressive to drink over the medium-to-long-term.

Best wines

• Dow’s
• Fonseca
• Graham’s
• Warre’s

---

1983

Vintage summary

The year began badly with a long, cold winter extending into spring. Snow fell on the Serra do Marão to the west of the Douro as late as 20 May! The vines were three weeks behind. From June to mid-August the weather was hot but unsettled and, despite a successful flowering, the vines remained backward. Picking consequently began late (end of September) but fortunately the weather remained fine into October and some outstanding wines were made despite the uneven spring and summer.

The majority of shippers chose (rightly in retrospect) to declare 1983 instead of 1982, making this something of a ‘split vintage’. Initially the 1983s were quite difficult to taste, the fruit being wrapped up in powerful, muscular tannins. With age however, the wines gained flesh and appeal but the cast iron backbone remains. The best will last forever.

Best wines

• Dow’s
• Gould Campbell
• Graham’s
• Niepoort
• Quarles Harris
• Smith Woodhouse
• Taylor’s
• Warre’s

---

1982

Vintage summary

After a dry winter and warm spring, June and July were abnormally cool with high cloud and hazy conditions with some showers. Consequently, the vines were well-able to cope with the extreme heat in August and early September, with beneficial heavy rain over the last weekend in August. The grapes were uniformly healthy with high sugar readings throughout the Douro.

1982/1983 is a classic example of a so-called ‘split vintage’ (see also 1991/1992), where there was a lack of consensus among the Port shippers as to which of the two is the better year. In the end, 1983 won hands down. Although the ripe, healthy fruit is reflected in the soft, sweet raisiny character of the 1982s, they are relatively forward and early maturing. Those who decided not to opt for a fully fledged declaration bottled some successful single-quinta wines.

Best wines

• Churchill
• Niepoort
• Quinta do Noval
• Sandeman

---

1980

Vintage summary

An unusually early spring was followed by an extremely dry growing season and sugar readings were on the low side when picking began a week or so later than normal, at the end of September. Ambient temperatures were high during the harvest and the lagares fermented furiously fast and therefore took little work before being run off.

Perhaps deterred by a steep hike in opening prices, the 1980s were largely overlooked by the trade. The wines however are very attractive; open, fresh and fruit-driven, which has stood them in good stead for drinking over the medium-to-long-term. As a result, 1980 is something of a Cinderella vintage, delicious for drinking now and over the next ten or more years.

Best wines

• Dow’s
• Graham’s
• Niepoort
• Offley
• Smith Woodhouse
• Taylor’s
• Warre’s

---

1977

Vintage summary

A wet winter was followed by a somewhat disappointing summer with only one period of real heat. August was cool and often overcast. Sugar levels were still alarmingly low at the beginning of September but this was compensated for by very hot weather later in the month, which continued into early October. Sugar levels were still on the low side when picking began but it was clear from the colour and flavour of the musts that some fine wines were likely to emerge.

The 1977 Port vintage was hailed as a classic when it was declared in 1979 and was well received by the trade. Every shipper except Cockburn, Martinez and Noval chose to declare. Although 1977 produced some outstanding wines, overall the vintage has not quite lived up to early expectations and, 20 years on, the wines were fully mature with one or two beginning to show their age. This is a very good vintage but not up to the standards of 1963 or 1945.

Best wines

• Dow’s
• Fonseca
• Graham’s
• Smith Woodhouse
• Taylor’s
• Warre’s

---

1970

Vintage summary

Cool weather during the flowering reduced yields and, following a dry summer, prospects at the start of picking looked good. The harvest began around 20 September in extreme heat. Due to the dry summer, sugar readings were on the low side but the heat served to raisin a portion of the crop, thereby concentrating the musts. Cooler night-time temperatures as the vintage progressed helped to slow down fermentations and produced wines with exceptional colour and body.

Early tastings tended to play down the overall quality of the 1970s and it is only several decades on that these tight-knit, beautifully balanced wines have come to be judged in their true light. Although not as fine overall as the undeniably impressive 1963s, there are wines from 1970 that deserve to be ranked among the great vintage Ports of the 20th century. This being the last vintage to be bottled both in Portugal and in the UK, there is inevitably a certain amount of variation from bottle to bottle. All subsequent vintages were bottled in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Best wines

• Cálem
• Delaforce
• Dow’s
• Fonseca
• Graham’s
• Kopke
• Niepoort
• Quinta do Noval Nacional
• Taylor’s

---

1967

Vintage summary

After a cool summer (without any real heat in July or August), the grapes were still green and backward when picking began around 20 September. Both yields and sugar levels were low. Many picked too early (fearing a repeat of the rains which had marred the latter part of the previous three vintages), however warm weather continued into October and, unusually, the best grapes with higher sugar readings were picked last.

Two leading shippers (Cockburn and Martinez) declared 1967 in preference to 1966, whereas a handful – including Noval and Sandeman – declared both. At best 1967 produced gentle, middle-distance wines, but even the finest are starting to fade.

Best wines

• Cockburn
• Quinta do Noval Nacional

---

1966

Vintage summary

An exceptionally wet winter prepared the vines for a hot, dry summer. In August, temperatures of 45C were recorded twice at Pinhao in the heart of the Cima Corgo but with so much ground water, the grapes did not dry up or raisin-ise. Rain finally arrived during the harvest, but with yields well-down on average the crop came to no harm. The fermentations were helped by cool weather and musts registered higher-than-average readings with excellent colour. It was clear at the end of the harvest that a fine vintage was in prospect.

History has been rather unfair to the 1966s which, until relatively recently, were completely overshadowed by the 1963s. Although quality is not as uniformly high as 1963, 1966 hits many of the same high spots with wines combining concentration, structure and intensity. Although bottlings vary (a consequence of bottling in both Vila Nova de Gaia and in the UK) Dow and Fonseca are stupendous.

Best wines

• Cálem
• Dow’s
• Fonseca
• Graham’s
• Quinta do Noval Nacional
• Taylor’s

---

1963

Vintage summary

A textbook growing season: warm weather throughout the summer with no rain from June onwards. A little rain fell in mid-September, helping to swell the grapes just before the harvest. Yields were high. Fine weather continued through the vintage, which took place in perfect conditions with cool night-time temperatures serving to control fermentations.

The combination of a near-perfect growing season and temperate weather during the harvest (at a time when temperature control was unheard of) made for a benchmark vintage. With very few exceptions, nearly all the shippers produced supremely balanced, well-structured wines for a full-on declaration. No vintage since can claim quite so many classic wines (with the only caveat being the variation between different bottlings). Anyone born in 1963 has a wine for life.

Best wines

• Cockburn
• Croft
• Delaforce
• Dow’s
• Fonseca
• Graham’s
• Quinta do Noval Nacional
• Taylor’s
• Warre’s

---

1960

Vintage summary

A hot, dry summer was relieved at the last minute by refreshing rain just before picking began on 19 September. The rain brought the intense heat to an end so that the lagares took more work and produced musts with good structure and depth of colour.

This beguiling vintage seemed to peak in the early 1980s but the better wines now appear to be sitting on a long plateau and are still drinking well. The wines are mostly middle-weight and lacking a little in backbone but are soft, sweet and attractive for drinking now.

Best wines

• Cockburn
• Dow’s
• Graham’s
• Quinta do Noval Nacional

---

Related articles

Vintage Port 2000 and 2003: panel tasting results

Port 2017: Vintage guide and what to buy