Great Vintage Port Tasting
Vintage 1975
This vintage was the first Vintage to be declared after the April 1974 Revolution. First Vintage totally bottled in Portugal, under legal resolution. This was a good year but probably declared of most shippers due to show the possibilities after the revolution. The Vintage was not for long keeping but quite delicious to drink. According to Broadbent 17 shippers declared and according to Port Wine Institute 25. Broadbent gave this vintage ** out of 5*, Suckling 80 points out of 100.
The Wine Society 18% had a Great Tasting 16 March 2006 of the vintage 1975 of 26 Houses. We were 16 participants. The tasting was semi-blind i.e. we know which houses participate but not what we had in the glass.
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 | Andresen | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature yellow in colour |
| Bouquet | Liquorice, ginger and cinnamon in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Quite good and easy to drink but maybe a rather short but delicious finish. |
| SAI point | 14.50 | JB point | 13.00 | SS point | 13.50 | Group point | 14.63 |
| SAI rank | 21 | JB rank | 24 | SS rank | 22 | Group rank | 19 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Butler Nephew | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature yellow colour. |
| Bouquet | Ether and pharmacy in the nose. However, develops quite decent in the glass with herbs and cinnamon. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and even a little old. Delicious, elegant and very tasty with a balanced and still attractive finish. |
| SAI point | 16.00 | JB point | 16.50 | SS point | 17.00 | Group point | 15.69 |
| SAI rank | 9 | JB rank | 3 | SS rank | 2 | Group rank | 10 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Cockburn | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Rather thin but mature yellow in colour. |
| Bouquet | A bit shy in the nose. Mostly old grocery shop |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and easy to drink and like. Old grocery shop in flavour. Nice but not so long finish. |
| SAI point | 14.50 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 14.50 | Group point | 15.38 |
| SAI rank | 21 | JB rank | 5 | SS rank | 17 | Group rank | 13 |
| Comment | |
| House | Croft | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature yellow in colour. |
| Bouquet | Rather complex old grocery shop in the nose. Quite generous. |
| Taste | Medium to light bodied. Sweet. Fully mature and at its peak. Anise in flavour. Quite agreeable and attractive finish. |
| SAI point | 16.25 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 15.50 | Group point | 16.50 |
| SAI rank | 8 | JB rank | 5 | SS rank | 9 | Group rank | 1 |
| Comment | JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Delaforce | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Light yellow mature in colour |
| Bouquet | Shy nose but mostly old pharmacy |
| Taste | Hardly medium body. Mature and peaking. Rather complex and balanced. Easy to drink and like and a nice finish. |
| SAI point | 15.00 | JB point | 15.00 | SS point | 14.50 | Group point | 14.72 |
| SAI rank | 19 | JB rank | 15 | SS rank | 17 | Group rank | 17 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Dow | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour |
| Bouquet | Pharmacy, ether and old hospital in the nose |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and even a bit old I taste. Pharmacy in flavour. Quite complex and attractive finish. |
| SAI point | 15.00 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 12.50 | Group point | 14.28 |
| SAI rank | 19 | JB rank | 5 | SS rank | 26 | Group rank | 24 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Feist | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Thin mature tawny in colour. |
| Bouquet | Roses and pharmacy on the nose. |
| Taste | Acidic and not balanced in mouth. A quite tired, old and not attractive finish. |
| SAI point | 13.50 | JB point | 12.00 | SS point | 13.00 | Group point | 14.06 |
| SAI rank | 25 | JB rank | 25 | SS rank | 24 | Group rank | 25 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Ferreira | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Dark with mature yellow rim. |
| Bouquet | Lovely nose of cinnamon and ginger bread. |
| Taste | Sweet. Medium bodied. Mature. Elegant with a perfect balance and complex lovely finish. Excellent for 1975 vintage. |
| SAI point | 16.50 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 16.50 | Group point | 15.88 |
| SAI rank | 5 | JB rank | 12 | SS rank | 5 | Group rank | 8 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Fonseca | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Quite dark in colour with a yellow rim. |
| Bouquet | Lovely bouquet of coffee, tea, old grocery shop and fudge |
| Taste | Full bodied. Mature and on top. Old grocery shop and fudge in flavour. Complex and elegant port with a wonderful and attractive finish. Quite delicious. |
| SAI point | 17.00 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 17.00 | Group point | 16.00 |
| SAI rank | 1 | JB rank | 5 | SS rank | 2 | Group rank | 6 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Gould Campbell | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Dark blue in colour with a yellow rim. |
| Bouquet | Fruit and oranges in the nose |
| Taste | Medium body. Fruit in flavour. Still some tannin but very mature. A nice finish. |
| SAI point | 12.50 | JB point | 12.00 | SS point | 13.00 | Group point | 13.75 |
| SAI rank | 26 | JB rank | 25 | SS rank | 24 | Group rank | 26 |
| Comment | JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Graham | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature yellow in colour. Very beautiful |
| Bouquet | Complex bouquet of spring flower and fudge |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and peaking. Elegant and complex. Easy to drink and like. Nice and attractive finish |
| SAI point | 16.00 | JB point | 15.00 | SS point | 17.00 | Group point | 16.31 |
| SAI rank | 9 | JB rank | 15 | SS rank | 2 | Group rank | 2 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Martinez | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature tawny colour. |
| Bouquet | Pharmacy and ether in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Simple. Easy to drink. Sweet and a nice finish |
| SAI point | 15.50 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 15.50 | Group point | 14.66 |
| SAI rank | 13 | JB rank | 5 | SS rank | 9 | Group rank | 18 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Niepoort | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Yellow mature colour. |
| Bouquet | Quite shy in nose. Ether and pharmacy bouquet. |
| Taste | Medium body. Elegant. Dry and with a short finish |
| SAI point | 14.00 | JB point | 14.50 | SS point | 13.50 | Group point | 14.53 |
| SAI rank | 24 | JB rank | 22 | SS rank | 22 | Group rank | 21 |
| Comment | SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Offley Boa Vista | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature nearly tawny colour |
| Bouquet | Toffee and burned sugar in the nose |
| Taste | Medium body. Fully mature and perhaps a little more. Elegant and easy to drink. Have been better we hope. |
| SAI point | 15.40 | JB point | 15.00 | SS point | 14.50 | Group point | 14.53 |
| SAI rank | 16 | JB rank | 15 | SS rank | 17 | Group rank | 21 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Pocas Jr | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Yellow tawny colour. |
| Bouquet | Ether and pharmacy in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Very mature. Quite old and thin and a short finish. Not so good. |
| SAI point | 14.25 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 16.00 | Group point | 14.47 |
| SAI rank | 23 | JB rank | 5 | SS rank | 8 | Group rank | 23 |
| Comment | JB had a split ranking |
| House | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature yellow colour. |
| Bouquet | Fudge, burned sugar, grocery in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Light and elegant. Easy to drink and like. Quite attractive finish. |
| SAI point | 15.50 | JB point | 15.00 | SS point | 15.00 | Group point | 15.97 |
| SAI rank | 13 | JB rank | 15 | SS rank | 16 | Group rank | 7 |
| Comment | SAI and JB had a split ranking |
| House | Quinta do Bomfim, Dow | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. |
| Bouquet | Pharmacy, ether and old grocery shop in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and a bit alcoholic. Quite elegant finish. |
| SAI point | 15.40 | JB point | 15.00 | SS point | 15.50 | Group point | 14.63 |
| SAI rank | 16 | JB rank | 15 | SS rank | 9 | Group rank | 19 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Quinta do Cachao, Messias | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature yellow colour. |
| Bouquet | Roses and berries in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Elegant and balanced with a lovely finish. Quite good. |
| SAI point | 16.00 | JB point | 16.00 | SS point | 15.50 | Group point | 15.50 |
| SAI rank | 9 | JB rank | 5 | SS rank | 9 | Group rank | 11 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Quinta da Foz, Calem | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature, yellow beautiful in colour. |
| Bouquet | Toffee, pharmacy and old grocery shop in the nose. Very complex. |
| Taste | Lovely, tasty fully mature and at its peak with an excellent finish. One of the very best in the vintage 1975. |
| SAI point | 16.50 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 14.50 | Group point | 14.97 |
| SAI rank | 5 | JB rank | 12 | SS rank | 17 | Group rank | 15 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Quinta do Noval | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Dark beautiful, yellow and mature in colour |
| Bouquet | Herbs, crème caramel and old hospital in the nose |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and on top. Herbs in flavour. Complex and elegant port with a wonderful an attractive finish |
| SAI point | 16.00 | JB point | 17.00 | SS point | 15.50 | Group point | 16.25 |
| SAI rank | 9 | JB rank | 2 | SS rank | 9 | Group rank | 4 |
| Comment | SAI and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Quinta do Noval Nacional | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature yellow in colour. |
| Bouquet | Coffee, tea, cacao and old grocery shop in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite mature and elegant. At its peak. Complex and balanced. A long lovely finish. Quite astonishing. |
| SAI point | 17.00 | JB point | 16.50 | SS point | 15.50 | Group point | 16.06 |
| SAI rank | 1 | JB rank | 3 | SS rank | 9 | Group rank | 5 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Ramos Pinto | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Rather dark blue in colour with yellow rim. |
| Bouquet | Cinnamon, pepper and ginger in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Balanced and elegant port with complex and lovely finish. |
| SAI point | 16.75 | JB point | 15.00 | SS point | 16.50 | Group point | 14.73 |
| SAI rank | 3 | JB rank | 15 | SS rank | 5 | Group rank | 16 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Sandeman | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. |
| Bouquet | Burned sugar, ginger and some crème caramel in the nose. |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Will not be better. Burned sugar in flavour. Complex and elegant finish |
| SAI point | 16.40 | JB point | 14.00 | SS point | 14.00 | Group point | 15.44 |
| SAI rank | 7 | JB rank | 23 | SS rank | 21 | Group rank | 12 |
| Comment | JB had a split ranking |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature yellow in colour |
| Bouquet | Nice bouquet of coffee, tea and old hospital |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and on top. Easy to like. Rather complex with a nice finish |
| SAI point | 15.50 | JB point | 15.50 | SS point | 15.50 | Group point | 15.06 |
| SAI rank | 13 | JB rank | 12 | SS rank | 9 | Group rank | 14 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |
| House | Taylor | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature yellow in colour |
| Bouquet | Violet, fudge and old grocery shop in the nose. |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and peaking with violet in flavour. Elegant and complex with an attractive finish. |
| SAI point | 16.75 | JB point | 17.50 | SS point | 17.50 | Group point | 16.31 |
| SAI rank | 3 | JB rank | 1 | SS rank | 1 | Group rank | 2 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking Group ranking was also split |
| House | Warre | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature yellow in colour |
| Bouquet | Nice bouquet of ginger, cinnamon and herbs. |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and peaking. Ginger in flavour. Quite elegant and attractive with a nice finish. Very easy to like this port |
| SAI point | 15.40 | JB point | 15.00 | SS point | 16.50 | Group point | 15.84 |
| SAI rank | 16 | JB rank | 15 | SS rank | 5 | Group rank | 9 |
| Comment | SAI, JB and SS had a split ranking |