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PREMIUM

Vintage Port 2000 and 2003: panel tasting results

Both highly rated on release, these two vintages are at an ideal stage to start enjoying now, and our judges’ scores reflected the quality on show.

Richard Mayson, Shane Jones and Demetri Walters MW tasted 24 wines, with 7 Outstanding and 10 Highly recommended.


Vintage Port 2000 and 2003 panel tasting scores

24 wines tasted

Exceptional 0

Outstanding 7

Highly recommended 10

Recommended 4

Commended 1

Fair 1

Poor 1

Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their single vintage Ports from 2000 and 2003, including single quinta bottlings but not colheita


As a rule of thumb, 21 years marks the coming of age for both an adult and for a vintage Port. So it was with great interest that we revisited two millennial vintages potentially on the cusp of adulthood and maturity.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores from the vintage Port 2000 and 2003 panel tasting


At the outset, 2000 and 2003 were very different years in the Douro. Cool and wet weather early in the 2000 growing season led to a low-yielding vintage, especially in the leading A-grade vineyards that are the basis for vintage Port.


Vintage Port 2000 and 2003 panel tasting scores


The judges

Richard Mayson is the DWWA Regional Chair for Port & Madeira and series editor of the Infinite Ideas Classic Wine Library. The 4th edition of his book Port and the Douro was published in 2018 (£35) and the 5th edition is due out in 2023. Find his work at richardmayson.com.

Shane Jones is an independent wine and sake educator, certified by the WSET and Sake Sommelier Association. A DWWA judge for Port & Madeira, he is based in London but teaches around the UK, as well as in France and Germany.

Demetri Walters MW is an independent wine consultant, educator, online and TV presenter and judge. He formerly worked over 18 years in varying roles for merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, and became a Master of Wine in 2013. He publishes his own website demetriwalterswine.com.


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