2003 Croft Vintage Port

Product Description

One of the original founding Port houses, Croft traces its origins to 1588 when the company was established in England.

The reputation of Croft as a Vintage Port producer derives to a large extent from its ownership of Quinta da Roêda, one of the finest estates in the Douro Valley, and from such legendary wines as the Croft 1945, recognised as one of the finest of that landmark year.

The character of Croft Vintage Ports is one of the most individual of all. Scented, exotic and crammed with luscious opulent fruit flavour, they develop great richness and complexity with age.

The Winter preceding the 2003 harvest was very wet. Flowering took place in bright warm weather at the end of May in some of the best conditions seen for several years. The first two weeks of August provided the intense Summer heat which often precedes a great port vintage. The second half of August was cooler and two days of rain occurred with perfect timing, ripening off the grapes at the end of the month.

The picking season in September was warm and dry and the yields were even across all grape varieties, ensuring balance and complexity in the wines. Winemakers’ notes highlight the very intense colour and large amount of tannin released by the skins during fermentation, as well as the powerful fruitiness of the young wines.

Tasting Notes: An opaque core with bright ruby rim. The nose just explodes from the glass: blackberry, bilberry, violets, morning dew and cassis all with superb delineation. The palate is full-bodied, magnificent and regal, with better definition and focus than the millennial port. Blackberry, blueberry, that sense of minerality coming through towards the finish, seamless with unnoticeable alcohol. Great finesse on the finish. this is Croft returning to past glories. Outstanding.