Huge Scores For Wonderful 2017 Vintage Ports
We have already extolled the virtues of the wonderful 2017 vintage ports. They are deeply profound, moving wines and some of the most undervalued, long-lived fine wines of any in the world.
These have just been re-tasted by The Wine Advocate and have been awarded top top scores by Mark Squires.
The 2017 Vintage Port is a field blend aged for approximately 20 months in wood. It comes in with 100 grams of residual sugar.
- Rich, concentrated and often sensational, this is well structured, even better in its fruit profile
- While the fruit is terrific, it is also wonderfully fresh
This is arguably a great Taylor's port, but it still needs to prove its final case in the cellar. I don't think that will be a problem. As I said when I first saw it, it effortlessly combines brilliant fruit and structure. It does everything right, and it is a formidable competitor to its Vinha Velha sibling. And at half the price.
Wine Advocate - 99pts 2017
The 2017 Fonseca Vintage Port, not quite bottled when originally seen, has now been in bottle for a couple of years. It is a field blend (with typical grapes like Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca) aged for approximately 20 months in used French oak. It comes in with 98 grams of residual sugar.
- This is a great Fonseca port, distinctive, with a touch of eucalyptus and plums, but also loaded with delicious fruit
- Like its Taylor's siblings, there is also a fine backbone
- I'd say it is a step behind the Taylor's duo this year, but not by much
- It will age well, to say the least
Wine Advocate - 98pts
2017 Croft Quinta Da Roeda Serikos Vintage Port
The 2017 Serikos Quinta da Roeda Vintage Port is a field blend of typical grapes, like Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca, among others. It was aged for approximately 20 months in used French oak and comes in with 96 grams of residual sugar.
This has only been seen as tank sample in the past. The fruit for this is sourced from vineyards planted in the late 19th century to the 1930s. Much tighter than the regular Croft port, even after decanting, this is precise and focused with superb finesse.
- The expressive fruit, though, is even better than the fine structure
- This is a winner on all fronts, but be a bit patient
- It has plenty of upside potential in the cellar
Wine Advocate - 97pts
The 2017 Croft Vintage Port is a field blend aged for approximately 20 months in French oak. It comes in with 97 grams of residual sugar. This was only seen before bottling previously. Now, with some bottle aging, it looks super, superior to the 2016, also reviewed, and a fine 2017.
- It is, of course, extremely young
- It's tight but not astringent (at least with decanting); the fruit is as if just crushed, and it is beautifully balanced
- This is not even close to showing all it has. Throw it in the cellar
- You can drink it now, but you'll just be wasting it
- Right now, this and the 2016 are close, but I predict this will pull ahead with every passing year
Wine Advocate - 95pts