Additional information
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Casal Mendes – Vinho Verde, Minho, Portugal
£9.95
Classic white produced from indigenous Portuguese varities in the northern Vinho Verde region.
Delicate citrus aromas lead onto a soft, rounded and slightly off dry palate with a light spritz. It combines apple and floral characters with soft tropical notes and fresh acidity on the finish.
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Ramos Pinto – Duas Quintas Branco, Douro, 2015/18
Clear & bright, it is golden in colour with traces of green. It has a sweet bouquet of white & yellow roses, peaches and apricots followed by complex hints of minerals. On the palate it’s full & rounded with notes of citrus fruits and minerals, a structured & fleshy with elegance & finesse.
86 Points Wine Enthusiast
“Soft, earthy and gentle, this is already developing and drinkable. It has fresh lemon flavors along with bright pineapple. Finished with bright acidity, it is lightly mineral and crisp at the end. Drink now.”
Duas Quintas is a white wine from the Upper Douro, more specifically from Quinta de Ervamoira (150 metres altitude) and Quinta dos Bons Ares (600 metres altitude), and is a
blend of traditional grape varieties that expresses the potential of this most extreme region. It is a structured, unctuous white wine but also fine and elegant.
2013 was an excellent year for our production of white wines on the Upper Douro. Its climatic characteristics, namely a wet winter and dry summer, as well as the perfect conditions that occurred during harvest (between August 13th and September 18th), provided very well balanced grapes with great aromatic expression
Croft – Vintage Port, 2011
The heady scents and opulent ripe fruit which define the Croft Vintage Port style are supported by a mesh of taut, muscular tannins. These, together with impressive depth of flavour, make the 2011 one of the most structured and powerful of recent Croft vintages.
Deep purple black colour. The complex seductive nose has the archetypal Croft opulence but displays impressive depth, background and reserves of aroma. A rich, powerful fruitiness provides the backdrop for heady scents of blossom and rock rose. Luscious ripe berry fruit flavour surges though the palate. The wine’s velvety texture is underpinned by taut, muscular, perfectly integrated tannins which provide stamina with an attractive firmness and vigour to the finish. More virile and structured than some recent Vintages from this classic house, the 2011 nevertheless displays all the rich ripe fruitiness and exotic scented character associated with the Croft house style.
97 Points Wine Spectator
“Effusively juicy, rich and concentrated, showing plenty of snap to the crisp and well-spiced flavors of wild berry, dark currant and plum tart. Orange-infused chocolate notes linger on the exotic, mocha-filled finish. Best from 2020 through 2045.” Kim Marcus, September 2013
95 Points James Suckling
“Beautiful aromas of violets and blueberries with hints of blue slate. Full body, medium sweet with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. A leafy, stemmy, nutty undertone to this with hints of shaved milk chocolate. Very refined and beautiful.” May 2013.
95 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2011 Croft is initially taciturn on the nose, even after allowing it 20 minutes in my glass. A light swirling immediately awakens the aromatics to offer blackberry, Seville orange marmalade, blueberries and dried fig – complex and quite compelling. There is real mineralité within this bouquet that, returning after 30 minutes, offers alluring ocean spray scents rolling in off the ocean. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety-smooth opening that belies the fine, structured tannins underneath. It clams up a little towards the finish, shuts the lid tight and consequently there is the sensation of less persistency here compared to the Taylor’s or Fonseca. But Croft has a knack of filling out with bottle age and becomes both gentle and generous with the passing years.” Neal Martin, Eroberparker.com,
Notes on Viticultural Year and Harvest
The winter preceding the 2011 harvest was cold and wet. The weather station at Croft’s Quinta da Roêda registered 496 mm of rainfall between 1st November and 31st March compared to a 30-year average of 358mm. The rain proved very beneficial, replenishing depleted ground water reserves and allowing a balanced ripening of the grapes during the hot dry summer which followed. Budburst occurred at the normal time towards the end of the third week of March and wet and relatively warm conditions in April encouraged vigorous growth. From early May conditions turned generally dry and remained so for most of the summer.
Only 12 mm of rain fell at Roêda in the months of May, June and July compared to a 30-year average of 105 mm. In spite of the arid conditions the vines were able to draw water from the ground reserves providing ideal conditions for balanced ripening of the grapes. The hot dry weather in August was broken at the ideal moment by two spells of rainfall, on 21st August and 1st September, which rounded off the ripening season and produced a balanced and evenly mature crop.
Picking began at Quinta da Roêda on 10th September in excellent harvesting conditions. Fermentation times were long, allowing for complete and even extraction, and the musts in the quinta’s lagares showed exceptionally intense colour and aroma.
Fonseca – Vintage Port, 2007
94 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2007 Fonseca Vintage Port is opaque purple-colored with a high-class perfume of lavender, Asian spices, pencil lead, incense, and an amalgam of black fruits. On the palate it is voluminous with layered, succulent fruit, outstanding density, and excellent integration of tannin, acidity, and alcohol. The long finish and the wine’s impeccable balance suggest a lengthy evolution and a drinking window extending out to 2045.” (2/2010)
96 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“A limpid purple garnet core. The nose is quintessential Fonseca, like a riotous party reaching its crescendo in the glass. Macerated black cherries, eau-de-vie, damson, fig and a touch of Seville orange. Then what is fascinating is that the uproar dies down with aeration, becomes more focused…as if the host has asked everyone to quieten down. The palate is powerful and spicy on the entry, sweet ripe black berried fruits, a touch of spice, fig and apricot, lovely cohesion and weight building towards a deeply joyous finish that lacquers the mouth in port-like reverie. Perhaps more approachable than the 2000 or the 2003 at this stage, this is a marvellous Fonseca.” Neal Martin May 2009 – Score 96
94 Points Wine Spectator
“A subtle yet powerful young Vintage Port, with freshly sliced plum, citrus and mulberry on the nose. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a solid core of powerful tannins and a long, balanced finish. So tight and reserved. Muscularly structured. Best after 2017.” (5/2010)
Fonseca has belonged to the first rank of Vintage Port producers since the mid-nineteenth century. Fonseca Vintage Ports are noted for their luscious fruitiness which develops great opulence and complexity with age. Wines born of inspired winemaking and a thorough understanding of viticulture and terroir, they appeal, perhaps more than any other house’s Vintage Ports, to the enthusiast and connoisseur.Vintage Ports represent the finest produce of a single exceptional year. Unlike Ports which age in wood, Vintage Ports will continue to age and improve in bottle for decades, their character bearing the imprint of both vineyard and wine maker.A constant thread that runs through the history of Fonseca is the family’s close involvement with the making of the firm’s Vintage Ports. Throughout the 20th century, the making of Fonseca Vintage Ports was overseen by only four family members, Frank, Dorothy, Bruce and David Guimaraens and this has helped to make Fonseca one of the most stylistically consistent of Vintage Port producers.The firm’s Vintage Ports are drawn from its own quintas or estates: Cruzeiro and Santo António in the Pinhão Valley, which have contributed to the firm’s Vintage Port blend for 100 years, as well the Távora Valley property of Panascal. Fonseca is unique among Port houses in making three different types of Vintage Port.
Fonseca Vintage Ports are released only when a year produces outstanding wines with long term ageing potential. These classic Vintage Ports are a blend of wines from Cruzeiro, Santo António and Panascal. Cruzeiro contributes concentrated black fruit flavours and firm tannic ‘grip’. Panascal adds an opulent luscious fruitiness and a dense velvety texture. Finally, Santo António brings complexity and vibrancy with its fine scented character and fresh acidity.
Although they can be enjoyed when young, Fonseca Vintage Ports will continue to improve in bottle for many decades. They have the stamina and aromatic potential to last for over a hundred years. Attracting the highest scores and auction prices, they are favoured not only by fine wine enthusiasts but also by collectors and investors.
Herdade do Esporão – Monte Velho Tinto, Alentejo, 2017/18
Clear deep ruby colour. Berry fruit aromas with some complex subtle toasty notes. Elegant palate with good depth of fruit and a fine tannic structure.
85 Points Wine Enthusiast (2012 vintage)
“A solid, dry, gently tannic wine that has a full and fruity character. Acidity and a dry core provide structure, while black berry and dark cherry fruits offer ripe contrast. It’s a wine to drink now and until 2019.”
Ramos Pinto – Vintage Port, 2000
An exceptional dark color with blue tones. It presents a complex ensemble of aromas that combines red fruit compote, ripe plum and small-berried fruits with notes of dark chocolate and pepper. Elegant and well-structured on the palate, extremely full-bodied and full of fruit flavors, a good concentration and firm tannins that will give it great aging potential. A seductive, warm finish that is long-lasting and velvety.
91 Points Wine Enthusiast
“Herbal scents accent the nose of this Port, which otherwise shows pleasant plum and cocoa aromas. More plum on the palate, joined by black cherries and spice. It’s lush and intense, turning a little tart on the finish. Tannins are supple and not overly prominent, even at this young age.” W.E. – November 15, 2003
91 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Seductive, sexy, accessible. Dense with jammy red & black fruits, smoke, earth, licorice. Sweet, layered, full-bodied. Now-2020”
90 Points International Wine Cellar
“Moderately saturated medium ruby. Expressive aromas of black fruits, smoke, tree bark and tobacco, with a slightly green note of roasted herbs. Lush, suave and seamless, with concentrated flavors of black cherry, plum, menthol and tree bark. Not particularly powerful or structured but finishes firmly tannic and long, with a suggestion of walnut skin.” Stephen Tanzer – February 2003
Winemaking.
This wine has a lively, young, vibrant color. It is thick and dense, showing whole red fruit, typical of the Douro region. In the glass, it has thick droplets that demonstrate power and softness. On the nose, the first impression is still, yet promising. Notes of blackberry, currant, cherry, raspberry, black plum, jam, and a mixture of fruit slowly reappear, giving the wine complexity and presence. In the mouth, the attack is full, supported by whole delicate tannins and signs of a long life. The 2000 vintage is ready to consume now, or can be cellared for more complexity.
The year 1999/2000 was a dry and hot year. There was less precipitation than usual that caused premature budding to occur and persistent rain from late Apr-May delayed flowering. A dry spell from late May until harvest slowed the grape maturation, which caused high concentrated grapes and a good sanitary status.
The harvest was delayed two weeks later than usual due to the slow grape maturation, keeping small concentrated grapes with good sugar degrees but with high acidity.
The production was inferior to that in 1999, but the quality of the wine was very. The Ervamoira wine was excellent, with good structure, deep color and body. The white wine at Bons Ares were delicious and complex, and at Bom Retiro the wine was phenomenal. All signs were present that a vintage wine would be produced since the first moment of harvest.
Varietal(s) 60% Touriga Nacional, 15%Tinta Roriz, 10% Tinta Barroca, 15% traditional varietals
Aging 20 months in large oak vats, chestnut-tree wood or mahogany
Alcohol 20%
Wine Acidity 4.12%
pH Level 3.88
Residual Sugar 89.2
Ramos Pinto – Duas Quintas Tinto, Douro, 2017
Clear and bright, intense garnet colour, with crimson reflections. Lively refreshing aroma, notes of spices, cinnamon, white pepper. The deeper bouquet has notes of wild berries, black plums and citrus. Very smooth and fresh on the palate, with silky tannins, balanced and easy to drink.
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
“This densely structured, finely crafted wine is the latest vintage from one of the Douro’s iconic brands. It has great weight and, at the same time, elegant fruits and structure that offer good aging potential. It could be drunk now, but best to wait until 2016.”
Quinta da Alorna – Abafado 5 years, Tejo
100% native varietal Fernão Pires is fortified to create a delicious sweet wine perfect for desserts such as custard tart or blue cheeses. Flavours of dried fruits are delivered from a smooth, textured palate with a lingering finish. Delightfully balanced and fresh. Great Value.
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