Great Vintage Port Tasting
Vintage 1963
This vintage is a classic Vintage, intense and perfect balanced, deep-purple, fruity and with a large aging capacity. Almost all shippers declare. According to Broadbent 25 shippers declared and according to Port Wine Institute 29. Broadbent gave this vintage ***** out of 5*, Suckling 98 points out of 100.
The Wine Society 18% with 18 participants had a Great Tasting 19 May 2005 of the vintage 1963 of 39 Houses. We were 18 tasters. The tasting was semi-blind i.e. we know which houses participate but not what we had in the glass.
We had in fact 40 glasses because we had Quinta de Noval Nacionale 1962 as a joker and this vintage was split best in show!!
Tasting notes. Note that the points are for the actual bottle tasted. Read about how we set point on the page "How to understand our points valuations"
Sort on: Name Sten's rank Jörgen's rank Stefan's rank Group's rank
| House | Barros | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Beautiful mature tawny colour. |
| Bouquet | Complex bouquet of old grocery shop, crème caramel and burned sugar in the nose |
| Taste | Almost full-body. Complex and mature with flavour of old grocery and crème caramel. Wonderful port with a lovely, long complex finish. Quite extraordinary Barros! |
| SAI point | 17.75 | JB point | 18.00 | SS point | 18.00 | Group point | 17.42 |
| SAI rank | 8 | JB rank | 3 | SS rank | 6 | Group rank | 5 |
| Comment | One of the best Barros tasted! JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Borges | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Beautiful tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Ether and old pharmacy in the nose |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature. Elegant and complex port. Attractive and quite long finish. |
| SAI point | 16.50 | JB point | 17.00 | SS point | 16.00 | Group point | 15.44 |
| SAI rank | 22 | JB rank | 9 | SS rank | 28 | Group rank | 32 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Quite dark tawny in colour. |
| Bouquet | Crème caramel and toffee in the nose |
| Taste | Medium body and mature. Elegant. Very tasty and toffee in flavour. At its peak with a long, attractive and lovely finish |
| SAI point | 17.00 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 17.50 | Group point | 16.56 |
| SAI rank | 15 | JB rank | 20 | SS rank | 10 | Group rank | 14 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Beautiful tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Toffee, crème caramel and old grocery shop in the nose |
| Taste | Full-boded. Quite mature but still some soft tannin. Coconuts in flavour. Elegant, complex attractive and long finish. Very good indeed. |
| SAI point | 16.75 | JB point | 17.50 | SS point | 16.50 | Group point | 15.94 |
| SAI rank | 20 | JB rank | 6 | SS rank | 26 | Group rank | 26 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Cockburn | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Light tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Attractive bouquet of pharmacy ands old hospital |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Mature and a little more but quite knit together and peaking. Attractive and complex with a nice and attractive finish |
| SAI point | 16.50 | JB point | 17.00 | SS point | 16.50 | Group point | 16.19 |
| SAI rank | 22 | JB rank | 9 | SS rank | 26 | Group rank | 21 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Croft | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Beautiful tawny in colour. |
| Bouquet | Enormous bouquet of crème caramel, toffee, chocolate and much more. Quite attractive in the nose |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and on top. Lovely flavour of toffee and much more. Attractive, balanced and complex with a very long finish. Wonderful port!! |
| SAI point | 17.40 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 17.50 | Group point | 16.19 |
| SAI rank | 11 | JB rank | 26 | SS rank | 10 | Group rank | 21 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Delaforce | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Light tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Very sky nose mostly of pharmacy |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and over the top. Old pharmacy in flavour and a bit alcoholic. Nice finish but have been much better |
| SAI point | 14.00 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 14.50 | Group point | 14.64 |
| SAI rank | 38 | JB rank | 26 | SS rank | 37 | Group rank | 38 |
| Comment | JB had a split ranking |
| House | Diez Hermanos | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Rather complex but shy bouquet of old grocery shop and herbs. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Elegant with flavour of herbs. Complex, good and attractive finish. |
| SAI point | 15.90 | JB point | 16.50 | SS point | 15.50 | Group point | 15.92 |
| SAI rank | 31 | JB rank | 14 | SS rank | 30 | Group rank | 27 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Dow | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour |
| Bouquet | Old hospital and pharmacy in the nose |
| Taste | Light in body. Mature and past its peak. Pharmacy in flavour. Easy to drink and like. |
| SAI point | 15.40 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 16.00 | Group point | 16.75 |
| SAI rank | 32 | JB rank | 26 | SS rank | 28 | Group rank | 13 |
| Comment | This bottle was not at all up to Dow standard. A disappointment! SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Feist | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Old grocery shop, hospital and pharmacy in the nose. Quite interesting |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Old grocery shop and pharmacy in flavour. Complex interesting port with a lovely finish. Very attractive indeed |
| SAI point | 17.00 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 17.00 | Group point | 15.89 |
| SAI rank | 15 | JB rank | 26 | SS rank | 18 | Group rank | 28 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Ferreira | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Beautiful tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Rather complex bouquet of old hospital and old grocery shop in the nose |
| Taste | Rather full-bodies. Mature and at its peak. Complex with old grocery shop in flavour. Elegant and balanced. Lovely finish. |
| SAI point | 16.50 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 17.50 | Group point | 16.89 |
| SAI rank | 22 | JB rank | 20 | SS rank | 10 | Group rank | 12 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Feuerheerd | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature yellow colour. |
| Bouquet | Some orange and pharmacy nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Elegant and balanced. Complex port with a wonderful, long and attractive finish. |
| SAI point | 16.90 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 17.50 | Group point | 15.28 |
| SAI rank | 19 | JB rank | 26 | SS rank | 10 | Group rank | 33 |
| Comment | JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Fonseca | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature yellow colour. |
| Bouquet | Crème caramel, toffee, eucalyptus and much, much more in the nose |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and at its peak but with still soft tannins and will probably be better!?! Balanced and complex port with a long, wonderful end which seem never to end. What a finish! What a Port! |
| SAI point | 18.75 | JB point | 18.00 | SS point | 18.00 | Group point | 16.39 |
| SAI rank | 5 | JB rank | 3 | SS rank | 6 | Group rank | 17 |
| Comment | JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Gilberts | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature tawny in colour. |
| Bouquet | Generous pharmacy, ether and old hospital in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Fully mature. Elegant but quite old and a rather short finish. However, quite good. |
| SAI point | 15.25 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 15.50 | Group point | 16.19 |
| SAI rank | 35 | JB rank | 20 | SS rank | 30 | Group rank | 21 |
| Comment | JB and SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Gonzalez-Byass | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature tawny colour. |
| Bouquet | Ginger bread and complexity in bouquet. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature. Complex port but a short finish. Quite good. |
| SAI point | 15.40 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 15.50 | Group point | 15.00 |
| SAI rank | 32 | JB rank | 26 | SS rank | 30 | Group rank | 35 |
| Comment | SAI, JB, and SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Gould Campbell | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Still dark with a yellow rim in colour. |
| Bouquet | Toffee, crème caramel in the nose. Complex bouquet indeed. |
| Taste | Full-bodied port. Mature and at its peak. Complex and balanced with liquorice flavour. Long and wonderful finish. |
| SAI point | 17.50 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 18.00 | Group point | 16.92 |
| SAI rank | 9 | JB rank | 26 | SS rank | 6 | Group rank | 11 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Graham | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Still very dark with a yellow rim in colour. |
| Bouquet | Wonderful complex bouquet of toffee, crème caramel, cacao and much, much more |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and on top but will develop more due to some soft tannin. Toffee and crème caramel in flavour. Complex and balanced port with a long, never ending wonderful finish. Marvellous port! |
| SAI point | 19.75 | JB point | 19.00 | SS point | 19.50 | Group point | 18.03 |
| SAI rank | 2 | JB rank | 1 | SS rank | 1 | Group rank | 2 |
| Comment | |
| House | Hooper | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Nice mature tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Crème caramel nose. Quite elegant. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Sweet. A complex and lovely finish. Very good |
| SAI point | 16.50 | JB point | 17.50 | SS point | 17.50 | Group point | 17.22 |
| SAI rank | 22 | JB rank | 6 | SS rank | 10 | Group rank | 7 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Hunt | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Nice mature tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | A bit old in bouquet, mostly old hospital, pharmacy but also dark chocolate. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and maybe a little more with dark chocolate in flavour and some burned sugar also. Balanced and quite nice finish |
| SAI point | 15.40 | JB point | 15.00 | SS point | 15.00 | Group point | 15.19 |
| SAI rank | 32 | JB rank | 37 | SS rank | 34 | Group rank | 34 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Kopke | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature yellow colour almost tawny. |
| Bouquet | Pharmacy and ether nose which develops fantastic in the glass. |
| Taste | Rather big body. Mature and peaking. Complex and balanced with a lovely finish. Quite good. |
| SAI point | 16.00 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 15.00 | Group point | 14.78 |
| SAI rank | 30 | JB rank | 26 | SS rank | 34 | Group rank | 37 |
| Comment | JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Mackenzie | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Wonderful tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Toffee and crème caramel in the nose. |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Mature and on its peak. Complex and balanced Burned sugar in flavour.. Long and attractive finish. Very nice indeed. |
| SAI point | 17.40 | JB point | 15.00 | SS point | 17.00 | Group point | 15.52 |
| SAI rank | 11 | JB rank | 37 | SS rank | 18 | Group rank | 31 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Martinez | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Wonderful tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Crème caramel, toffee, hospital and other things in the nose |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Mature and on top. Toffee in flavour. Balanced and attractive with a complex and long finish. Lovely port |
| SAI point | 17.00 | JB point | 17.50 | SS point | 17.00 | Group point | 15.89 |
| SAI rank | 15 | JB rank | 6 | SS rank | 18 | Group rank | 28 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Niepoort | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature yellow colour. |
| Bouquet | Crème caramel and burned sugar. Complex and elegant nose. |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and at its peak. Taste of crème caramel and violet. Elegant and balanced with a complex long and wonderful finish. Marvellous port! |
| SAI point | 17.40 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 17.00 | Group point | 16.53 |
| SAI rank | 11 | JB rank | 26 | SS rank | 18 | Group rank | 15 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Offley Boa Vista | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Wonderful tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | This was corked and not so attractive bouquet |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Not difficult to swallow but hard to appreciate with that nose |
| SAI point | 0.00 | JB point | 0.00 | SS point | 0.00 |
| SAI rank | 39 | JB rank | 39 | SS rank | 39 |
| Comment | Defect bottle |
| House | Pocas Jr | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Beautiful tawny in colour. |
| Bouquet | Ginger, liquorice and cinnamon in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak and elegant with a wonderful and generous finish. Very good indeed. |
| SAI point | 16.50 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 17.00 | Group point | 15.86 |
| SAI rank | 22 | JB rank | 20 | SS rank | 18 | Group rank | 30 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Still quite dark with yellow mature colour. |
| Bouquet | Coffee, tea, alcoholic and old grocery shop in the nose. |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Mature and peaking but will keep. Balanced and complex with a long, long finish. |
| SAI point | 17.00 | JB point | 16.50 | SS point | 17.00 | Group point | 16.22 |
| SAI rank | 15 | JB rank | 14 | SS rank | 18 | Group rank | 20 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Quinta do Corval, Real Comp. Velha | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature tawny in colour. |
| Bouquet | Ether and pharmacy in the nose. Not quite attractive. |
| Taste | Medium body. Very mature indeed but with a rather short finish. Has been much better we hope. |
| SAI point | 14.25 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 14.00 | Group point | 15.00 |
| SAI rank | 37 | JB rank | 26 | SS rank | 38 | Group rank | 35 |
| Comment | JB had a split ranking |
| House | Quinta do Crasto, Constantinos | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Beautiful mature tawny colour. |
| Bouquet | Complex caramel and burned sugar in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Full mature and on the way down but elegant and complex. Easy to drink. Wonderful port. |
| SAI point | 16.75 | JB point | 16.50 | SS point | 17.00 | Group point | 16.94 |
| SAI rank | 20 | JB rank | 14 | SS rank | 18 | Group rank | 10 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Quinta do Noval | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Beautiful mature yellow colour. |
| Bouquet | Cacao, toffee and old grocery shop in the nose. |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and at its peak. Elegant and balanced port with a complex, attractive and nice finish. Lovely port. |
| SAI point | 18.00 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 17.50 | Group point | 17.00 |
| SAI rank | 7 | JB rank | 20 | SS rank | 10 | Group rank | 9 |
| Comment | JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Quinta do Noval Nacional | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Dark blue with a yellow rim |
| Bouquet | Marvellous nose. Complexity of crème caramel, toffee, coffee, cacao and much more. |
| Taste | Full bodied. Still fruit and tannins but wonderfully balanced. Will be better but have a finish which is unbelievable. It never ended. What a port!!! |
| SAI point | 19.50 | JB point | 18.50 | SS point | 19.00 | Group point | 17.83 |
| SAI rank | 3 | JB rank | 2 | SS rank | 2 | Group rank | 3 |
| Comment | SS had a split ranking |
| House | Quinta do Vesuvio, Ferreira | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature tawny in colour. |
| Bouquet | Complex pharmacy and hospital in the nose. |
| Taste | Mature and at its peak. Medium body Elegant and tasty with a lovely finish. Quite attractive. |
| SAI point | 16.50 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 15.50 | Group point | 16.11 |
| SAI rank | 22 | JB rank | 26 | SS rank | 30 | Group rank | 25 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Ramos Pinto | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature tawny in colour. |
| Bouquet | Old grocery shop and burned sugar in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Sweet. Complex port with a lovely but quite short finish. |
| SAI point | 16.50 | JB point | 17.00 | SS point | 18.50 | Group point | 17.19 |
| SAI rank | 22 | JB rank | 9 | SS rank | 4 | Group rank | 8 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Real Vinicola, Real Comp. Velha | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature tawny in colour. |
| Bouquet | Pepper, cacao and some pharmacy in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and maybe a little more. Alcohol in flavour. Elegant anyhow and a nice finish. |
| SAI point | 14.75 | JB point | 17.00 | SS point | 15.00 | Group point | 16.19 |
| SAI rank | 36 | JB rank | 9 | SS rank | 30 | Group rank | 21 |
| Comment | JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Rebello Valente, Robertson | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Beautiful tawny in colour. |
| Bouquet | Dried fruit and herbs in the nose |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Dried fruit in flavour. Elegant and balanced with a nice finish. |
| SAI point | 16.50 | JB point | 16.50 | SS point | 17.50 | Group point | 16.39 |
| SAI rank | 22 | JB rank | 14 | SS rank | 10 | Group rank | 17 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Sandeman | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature yellow in colour. |
| Bouquet | Very complex nose of coffee, cacao, tea, ginger and cinnamon and much more. |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and on top but will live for long. A very long runner. Complex port with a marvellous, generous and never ending finish. How wonderful!! |
| SAI point | 19.00 | JB point | 17.00 | SS point | 18.50 | Group point | 17.28 |
| SAI rank | 4 | JB rank | 9 | SS rank | 4 | Group rank | 6 |
| Comment | JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature quite tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Lovely old hospital, coffee and cacao in the nose |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and on top. Sweet. Complex and wonderful port with a lovely and very, very long finish. |
| SAI point | 17.25 | JB point | 16.50 | SS point | 17.00 | Group point | 16.42 |
| SAI rank | 14 | JB rank | 14 | SS rank | 18 | Group rank | 16 |
| Comment | JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Taylor | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Yellow , mature in colour |
| Bouquet | Old grocery, coffee, tea, crème caramel and liquorice in the nose. You get it all!! |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and on its top bur still some soft tannins and will probably develop more. Elegant and balanced port with an enormous wonderful and never ending finish. Marvellous. Can Port be better? |
| SAI point | 20.00 | JB point | 18.00 | SS point | 19.00 | Group point | 19.08 |
| SAI rank | 1 | JB rank | 3 | SS rank | 2 | Group rank | 1 |
| Comment | |
| House | Warre | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Yellow , mature in colour |
| Bouquet | Toffee, liquorice and old grocery shop in the nose. |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and at its peak. Liquorice in flavour. Elegant and balanced port with a long, attractive and long finish. Delicious. |
| SAI point | 18.25 | JB point | 16.50 | SS point | 18.00 | Group point | 17.61 |
| SAI rank | 6 | JB rank | 14 | SS rank | 6 | Group rank | 4 |
| Comment | JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Wiese & Krohn | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Beautiful tawny in colour |
| Bouquet | Toffee, crème caramel and cacao in the nose |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Toffee in flavour. Elegant, complex and balanced port with a long, attractive and wonderful finish. |
| SAI point | 17.50 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 17.50 | Group point | 16.25 |
| SAI rank | 9 | JB rank | 20 | SS rank | 10 | Group rank | 19 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |