Vintage Port

People have finally begun to realize the wonderful pleasure of a fully mature Vintage Port - Vintage Wine And Port, with its mellow and sumptuous taste. For many years this wine has been seriously under-rated. The UK is the biggest market where it is enjoyed in private homes and clubs. Although, only small quantities are made and only 3-4 vintages are declared each decade, prices have remained stable during the international recession.  It is the addition of high quality and high proof brandy that leads to the richness and sweetness. The addition of the brandy arrests the fermentation process, leaving the unfermented sugars in the wine (the sweetness) and leaving about 20% alcohol content.  

 

Vintage Port is declared by the port shippers on the second spring after the harvest. Traditionally the declaration is made on St Georges Day. 2011 which is widely considered to be the best vintage in the last 50 years has been declared by all of the port shippers. Other years such as 2009 were only declared by some shippers. Taylor, Fonseca Croft declared but Graham, Warre and Dow did not. Vintage Port is a blend of grapes from the various vinyards, it is nbottles unfiltered two years after the harvest. It can improve in the bottle for decades and last 50 years or more. 1963 is a legendary vintage and the wines are still going on strong. 

 

To be a Vintage Port - Vintage Port Shop there must be exceptional ripeness, rich fruit, plenty of tannin and lots of body. The ports are blends from various vineyards rather than grapes from a single vinyard (these are called single Quintas) a Each of the top houses have a distinctive style that the head winemakers seek to preserve. 

 

There have been many great vintages over the last century including 1912. 1931, 1945, 1948, 1955, 1963, 1970, 1977, 1985, 1992, 2000 and 2011.  Here are some of the best vintages. 

 

1963 vintage ports are the benchmark against which others are compared. Critics consider the vintage to be legendary! Anyone born in 1963 has a wine for life. Nearly all the shippers produced supremely balanced well-structured wines for a great full-on declaration  The stand out wines are Cockburn Croft, Dow, Fonseca, Graham, Quinta do Noval Nacional, Taylor, Warre s. The vintage owes its success to a combination of a near-perfect growing season and temperate weather. The vintage port never fail to impress with their essential three components of fruit, tannin and elegance. 

 

2011 vintage ports. All of the major port houses have now declared the 2011 vintage as being of exceptional quality. Critics are hailing the success of the vintage which was released at the same time as a disappointing 2012 Bordeaux vintage. For many shippers this is the first declaration since 2007. The avalanche of declarations started with Sogrape, owners of Sandeman and Ferriera. This has been followed by Symington, the company that owns Dows, Graham Warre and Cockburn and Taylor Fladgate owners of the Fonseca and Taylors brands. All signs are that the 2011 vintage will be similar in style to the great 1963 vintage. There has been a rush of investment into this area that has pushed up prices of other declared years.