“…anyone with an interest in superbly made top-quality red wine worth ageing for decades should arguably turn their backs on Bordeaux 2012 and look instead at Port 2011…""
Jancis Robinson, 2013.
Croft Vintage Port 2011
One of the original founding Port houses, Croft traces its origins to 1588 when the company was established in England by Henry Thompson, a member of the Merchants Company of York. The Croft family, who joined the partnership in 1736 and gave the firm its present name, served the Port trade with great distinction.
Croft is one of the most famous Vintage Port producers. Its reputation derives from its ownership of Quinta da Roêda, one of the finest estates in the Douro Valley, and from such legendary wines as the Croft 1945, recognised as one of the best of that landmark year. In 2001 this distinguished and historic firm was acquired by the owners of the Taylor and Fonseca Port houses and since this return to family ownership has consolidated its position as a ‘first growth’ Vintage Port producer.
Croft is one of the most famous Vintage Port producers. Its reputation derives from its ownership of Quinta da Roêda, one of the finest estates in the Douro Valley, and from such legendary wines as the Croft 1945, recognised as one of the best of that landmark year. In 2001 this distinguished and historic firm was acquired by the owners of the Taylor and Fonseca Port houses and since this return to family ownership has consolidated its position as a ‘first growth’ Vintage Port producer.
Croft’s Managing Director, Adrian Bridge, commented: “The 2011 harvest in the Douro Valley followed a near-perfect ripening season which produced wonderfully balanced, classic Ports. The quality was apparent from the outset and has been confirmed by the development of the wines since harvest time. The Croft 2011 Vintage Port has the richness and aromatic complexity which are the hallmarks of the house style but also impressive structure and depth of flavour. This is one of the most muscular and powerful of recent Croft Vintages.”
It is the distinctive wines of Quinta da Roêda, with their characteristic scented quality, rich, round supple texture, opulent fruitiness and heady aroma, which are the cornerstone of the Croft Vintage Port style. These characteristics are clearly expressed in the wonderfully scented Croft 2011.
Head Winemaker David Guimaraens commented: “The old historic vineyard plots at Quinta da Roêda performed particularly well in 2011 and this has given the Croft Vintage Port an additional layer of density and depth of flavour. The quality of the tannins is also outstanding, silky and well-integrated but with a powerful grip on the finish.”
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 from 1st November and 31st March compared to a 30-year average of 358 mm. 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.
Head Winemaker David Guimaraens commented: “The old historic vineyard plots at Quinta da Roêda performed particularly well in 2011 and this has given the Croft Vintage Port an additional layer of density and depth of flavour. The quality of the tannins is also outstanding, silky and well-integrated but with a powerful grip on the finish.”
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 from 1st November and 31st March compared to a 30-year average of 358 mm. 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.
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TASTING NOTES
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.
Neal Martin, Erobertparker.com – May 2013
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...
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.
Jancis Robinson – May 2013
Not one of the deepest colours. Rather smudgy, indistinct nose. Something a bit vegy/herby about this wine...
Not one of the deepest colours. Rather smudgy, indistinct nose. Something a bit vegy/herby about this wine. More open than most. Almost as though it is made to sit under the Fonseca and Taylor from this stable. Agreeable but not the most ambitious. Slightly sudden dry finish. Just a tad spindly.
17 Points
James Suckling, May 2013
Beautiful aromas of violets and blueberries with hints of blue slate...
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. 5,000 cases produced of this foot-trodden wine.
95 Points
Derek Smedley MW, May 2013
The nose has the freshness and leanness of red fruits quite aromatic with hints of violets...
The nose has the freshness and leanness of red fruits quite aromatic with hints of violets. The palate has the same freshness at the start but fills out with more of a black fruit mix backed by aromatic spices and pine needles. The black fruits that show on the finish give it depth and richness of flavour.
90 Points
Wine Spectator
Effusively juicy, rich and concentrated, showing plenty of snap to the crisp and well-spiced flavors of wild berry...
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.
97 Points