2017 Croft - Porto Vintage Port

Founded in 1588, Croft is one of the oldest Port houses in continuous existence, with a history stretching back to the very beginnings of the Anglo-Portuguese wine trade. Over the centuries the house helped establish the Douro Valley as one of the world's premier wine regions and built a reputation for consistently fine Vintage Ports. Central to Croft's identity is Quinta da Roêda, its historic riverside estate in the heart of the Douro, whose fruit forms the backbone of the house's classic Vintage Port releases.

The 2017 growing season was unusually hot and dry, pushing harvest to begin on August 31, the earliest date at Croft since 1945. Grapes, primarily Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz, were hand harvested from old vines on Quinta da Roêda's schist terraces, then fermented and aged in traditional lagares before the wine was fortified with grape spirit to preserve its natural sweetness and structure. Following two years in wood, the finished blend was bottled unfiltered, a practice typical of declared Vintage Ports intended for long cellaring. Total production for the vintage was limited to roughly 3,900 cases.

This Vintage Port pours a deep, almost inky purple and opens with a heady mix of black plum, blackcurrant, and crushed violet, layered with orange blossom and a whisper of marmalade. The palate is broad and velvety, carrying ripe black cherry and raspberry fruit over firm, well-integrated tannins that build toward a long, spiced finish. Built for the cellar, it will also reward patience alongside blue cheese, roasted walnuts, or a slice of spiced fruitcake.