Douro Valley
Croft 2011 Vintage Port
Deep purple black colour. The complex seductive nose has the archetypal Croft opulence but displays impressive depth, background and reserves of aroma. A rich, powerful fruitiness provides the backdrop for heady scents of blossom and rock rose. Luscious ripe berry fruit flavour surges though the palate. The wine’s velvety texture is underpinned by taut, muscular, perfectly integrated tannins which provide stamina with an attractive firmness and vigour to the finish. More virile and structured than some recent Vintages from this classic house, the 2011 nevertheless displays all the rich ripe fruitiness and exotic scented character associated with the Croft house style.
Taylor Fladgate 1994 Vintage Port
Deep crimson just beginning to display some maturity on the rim. The explosive fruitiness of early youth is now more restrained as the wine begins to settle into maturity but the nose is still driven by impressive focused blackberry and blackcurrant aromas set off by the classic Taylor scent of violets. Full bodied and well structured palate delivering rich blackberry and cassis flavours with spicy, figgy, liquorice flavours evolving on the long and sumptuous finish.
Taylor Fladgate 1970 Vintage Port
A deep garnet core with a faded brick rim. The nose is still tight, youthful with notes of liquorice, raisin, boot-polish and a little lemongrass. Very well defined. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, very cohesive with superb ripeness: wild strawberry, lemongrass, smoke and dates with an incredibly long, persistent finish. There is an effortless nature to this wine.