Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has offered a ringing endorsement of the 2007 Port vintage, with 40 out of 59 wines tasted awarded 90 or more points.
The tasting, conducted by Parker lieutenant Jay Miller, was topped by Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha with 98 points, closely followed by Graham’s with 97.
The core Taylor’s vintage was given 95 points, with the trio of Fonseca, Dow and Quinta do Noval all tying on a score of 94.
‘There is little doubt that 2007 is a high-class vintage,’ wrote Miller. ‘Unlike 2003, the year of the heatwave, the 2007s are friendlier, which is not to say that they will not evolve.’
He added: ‘Even the least of these wines has 6-8 years of aging potential, and nearly all of them will be drinking well at age 20. Whether they will rival the wines of 1994, 1985, 1977, 1970 and 1963 remains to be seen, but the chances seem excellent.’
The 59 finished wines tasted by Miller in Oporto in January achieved a median score of 90.5.
The first widely declared Port vintage since 2003, the 2007s have won almost universal praise for their high quality and uncharacteristically approachable style.
Writing in Decanter’s August 2009 issue, Richard Mayson said he could not recall a year like it. ‘The 2007s already have a vivacity, vibrancy and purity of fruit I’ve not seen at this stage before,’ he said.
Mayson’s personal picks were the Symington trio of Dow, Graham and Warre, along with single quintas Vargellas Vinha Velha and Vesuvio.
Written by Richard Woodard
