Croft Vintage Port 2017

Croft Vintage Port 2017 is a red port wine from Croft's Quinta da Roêda vineyard, near the town of Pinhão, in the heart of the Douro Valley.

This is one of Croft's best vintages in recent years. The imprint of the famous estate - the Quinta da Roêda vineyard is evident in the seductive fruit, silky texture and complex aromas of the wine.

At first we smell the seductive Croft aromas, ripe and sensual, but with the depth and density characteristic of the 2017 vintage. As usual, we find juicy blackcurrant, black cherry and raspberry fruit forming the background. Soon, however, the nose is sucked into a swirl of complex aromas in which resinous scents of eucalyptus mingle with crisp notes of sage and mint, fresh grapefruit and subtle spice.

On the palate, firm tannins are wrapped in a dense wrapper with a velvety texture. This is one of the most exotic and charming wines of the vintage. But it is also a heavy wine, dense and deeply coloured with the concentration and persistence to ensure a long life in bottle.

Despite the cool weather, the vine cycle started early, with the first buds appearing in early March. The very dry spring stood out as a hallmark of the 2017 vineyard year. The early development of the vines continued. The summer was hot but the nights were cool, balancing the ripening crop.

Harvest in Quinta da Roêda began on 31 August, the earliest start date in 70 years. The winemakers' notes point to the exceptional density of the musts, which were obtained from grapes with thick skins.