10 of the Best Port Wines to Try: Vintage, Colheita & Classic Producers

Taylor’s is quite an exemplary Port producer – their vintage releases are routinely considered amongst the finest of the Douro Valley, adored by critics and connoisseurs alike. Vargellas is a key component of Taylor’s classic Vintage blend, alongside Quinta de Terra Feita. Taylor’s structure, incredible depth, and complexity set it apart from other Vintage Ports in the region. The 1985 is very much in the Taylor’s vintage mold: deeply colored, it offers a rich, expressive nose full of black fruits, spices, and cigar-box. The palate is rich, complex, and utterly beguiling – one for that special occasion.

One of the finest producers in the Symington Portfolio of Port houses, Warre consistently makes some of the most concentrated and fruit-rich Vintage Ports in the Douro. It is always full-bodied and perfumed, boasting a rich, black-fruit intensity that lingers long after the final sip. This structure and distinctive character ensure that top vintages will cellar for decades – the 1955 is still going strong! The 2000 is now mature, with a rich palate of dark fruits and a lush, velvety-smooth texture. This will keep, although, being honest, who could bear to cellar such an irresistible Port?

Nacional comes from a tiny parcel of ungrafted vines at the heart of Quinta do Noval; the first Nacional Vintage was produced in 1931. Now run by the amiable Christian Seely of the AXA-Millesimes group, Nacional is an outstanding Port and one of the finest wines on earth. Only produced in the best vintages, the 1985 Nacional is a Port of astonishing depth, power, and elegance, with a distinctive earthy, spicy dark plum character. However, to see Nacional’s full potential, the wine must be allowed to age; it becomes a monumental Port after 20-30 years of cellaring, with age adding flesh, richness, and even more complexity.

Another top-class producer, Graham’s reputation has long been anchored by its fantastic Vintage Port. It is reasonably priced and consistently excellent, and it has proven itself to be one of the top Ports in every declared vintage, perhaps the most consistent of all. The 2003 is now entering maturity, but remains a great Vintage Port, full of rich black fruits and a lush opulence that conceals a solid tannic backbone. Very enjoyable now, it should continue to evolve in good cellars for many years.

Fonseca’s Guimaraens Port is undoubtedly one of the Douro region’s best value buys. It is a Guimaraens Vintage, produced in selected years when Fonseca does not declare its classic Vintage Port. Yet, the quality is often outstanding, which is remarkable considering the price. The 1998 can be bought with confidence, with a gorgeous, spicy, rich nose and bags of dark fruit and leather. Or, in other words, Vintage Port quality at a more approachable price.

Dirk Niepoort, the fifth generation of this Dutch-owned shipper, is obsessed with quality to the benefit of wine lovers everywhere. His Colheita-style Port is always the finest (essentially a single-vintage tawny Port). It is utterly hedonistic, typically boasting rich toffee flavors, dried fruit, and figs. The 1995 is a case in point – a sweet, rich, and silky smooth texture, with aromas of plum, damson, toffee, and dark chocolate supporting a full-bodied palate. Utterly irresistible and affordable.

Dow has long produced one of the Douro’s finest vintage expressions, a brand belonging to the respected Symington Family Estates. They typically offer weight and dimension that set them apart from other Vintage Ports, along with remarkable elegance and poise. Much-lauded vintage releases include the 1994, 1997, and 2000, but we have fallen in love with the delectable 1975. It’s simply magnificent, offering layer upon layer of complex almond, caramel, and cigar-box aromas.

The modern Quinta de la Rosa operation was relaunched in 1988, when the family began producing Port under its own label again. They have demonstrated just how successful a more estate-centered approach can be, and Quinta de la Rosa makes a Vintage Port in most years. The 2003 is yet another great wine – powerful and dense, the 2003 shows a balance and poise that underpins that great concentration and force of flavor. Brooding dark fruits, figs, and chocolate all vie for your attention in this wonderful and very affordable addition to the Port family.

Another member of the Symington group, Smith Woodhouse is celebrated for its consistently high-quality but reasonably priced Vintage Port. Produced in the legendary Quinta da Madalena in the Rio Torto Valley, these Ports are wonderful, powerful, spicy, intense, and long-lived. The 1985 is very much a case in point, boasting heady aromas, succulent intensity, and a well-balanced palate. It is highly recommended.

Like Graham’s, Sandeman is of Scottish origin and is much-loved by Port lovers worldwide, thanks to the famous Sandeman ‘Don.’ Their Vintage Ports are always excellent, but the 2000 deserves extra plaudits for its intensity, complexity, and finesse. The nose is explosive, packed full of black-fruit aromas, underpinned by a full-bodied palate and firm tannins. Concentrated, powerful, and refined, the 2000 has developed beautifully in bottle—an exceptional Port from an outstanding producer.