NV Croft - Ruby Reserve

Croft's roots trace to English merchants who recognized the potential of Douro grapes for fortified wine, and the firm has traded from Vila Nova de Gaia since 1588, making it the oldest Port house still in business today. That deep history sits alongside a continued commitment to traditional methods, including foot treading grapes in granite lagares, a practice the house still relies on to extract color and character from its fruit. Croft is now part of The Fladgate Partnership, alongside Taylor Fladgate and Fonseca, and its style is closely tied to Quinta da Roêda, the estate that anchors the house's reputation for full, richly fruited Port.

Reserve Ruby is blended from red wines sourced across the Douro Valley, selected specifically for their depth of color, concentrated fruit, and full, firm structure. The component wines are matured for several years in oak vats, where they soften and gain complexity without losing the fresh, intense fruitiness and deep ruby hue that define the style, before being blended together for consistency.

The wine offers a powerful, rich bouquet of blackcurrant and blackberry, with subtle notes of cedar and spice. On the palate, dark woodland fruit and chocolate dominate, backed by good weight and a fine, lingering finish. Pair it with dark chocolate desserts, roasted walnuts, or a firm aged cheese.