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Here at Frazier's we have a long standing love of Vintage Port.
It's a true classic of the "Wine Merchant" offering and a tradition we're determined to continue.The supreme example of a Port House's wine, only produced in the very best vintages when conditions are perfect. If you want to guarantee stock of these fantastic wines, the way to buy them is "En Primeur".You'll be getting them at a great price and have the opportunity to store them in ideal conditions.
Only available to purchase in 6-bottle cases,
Frazier's are offering |
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On 23rd April, Taylor’s, Fonseca and Croft Ports – all members of The Fladgate Partnership - have, by tradition, announced whether they will release a Vintage Port and, if so, which wines they will bottle. The harvest of 2018 produced an unusual situation and, on St Georges Day last year, Taylor’s declared a ‘Classic Vintage’, something that neither Fonseca, nor Croft did. Bottled last year, the 2018 Ports are now available to offer. Commenting on the decision in 2020, Taylor’s managing director, Adrian Bridge said, “This is a year in which overall conditions were excellent but exceptional in the Douro Superior. As Taylor’s is the only one of our companies with extensive land holdings in this part of the Douro, it has been able to make a Classic. All our properties are always farmed so that every grape has the potential of being made into Vintage Port.” Head winemaker, David Guimaraens, added: “The Douro Superior enjoyed the combination of abundant ground water and hot summer weather which often produces great Vintage Port. It has given us the excellent phenolic maturity typical of a hot ripening season but the fine multi-layered fruit, fresh acidity we normally see in cooler years.” Adrian resumed, “Although a Classic declaration normally only happens about three times a decade, the exceptional run of years has meant that Taylor’s is able to make a third in a row. This is very unusual but our principle is that we only declare a Classic Vintage when the quality is there and this is dictated by the year, not by any other consideration”. |
En Primeur Purchase - 2018 Taylor's Vintage Port
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Adrian Bridge, Managing Director: “Although a Classic declaration normally only happens about three times a decade, the exceptional run of years has meant that Taylor’s has been able to make a third in a row. This is very unusual but our principle is that we declare a Classic Vintage when the quality is there. This is dictated by the year, not by any other consideration. All our properties are farmed so that every grape has the potential to become Vintage Port. In 2018, overall conditions were excellent but in the Douro Superior they were exceptional. In view of the current economic situation, we will bottle in July as usual but will not release the wine until early 2021”. |
Taylor's vintage ports are a blend made up of fruit drawn from three vineyards. Two (Quinta de Terra Feita & Quinta do Junco), from the central Cima Corgo region, near Pinhão and, further east, in the Douro Superior, Taylor's most famous vineyard, Quinta de Vargellas.
The still family-owned company was founded in 1692 and almost 330 years of winemaking skill and experience contribute to the reputation of some of the region's finest port wines.
The 2018 Taylor's vintage port has an impressive, purple-black core with a narrow purple rim. An intense burst of powerful woodland fruit, a dense coulis of blackberry and blackcurrant, almost overwhelms the nose. The black fruit aromas are infused with discreet notes of cherry and mocha.
As would be expected of Taylor’s, the fruit is very fine and focused, but the year seems to have given it an additional layer of density and weight. A familiar veil of violet scent hangs over the wine, together with a fragrance of rose petal and wild, minty herbal aromas.
On the palate, the wine has beautifully ripe tannins, which integrate perfectly into the mid-palate, providing both structure and volume, and then break out on the finish with a firm wiry, grip.
The palate closes with a powerful tide of fresh, complex fruit flowing endlessly through the finish.
In the 2018, the Taylor traits of fine fruit and inner power combine seamlessly with the ripeness and depth typical of the vintage. 7800 cases were produced.
| Buy Taylor's 2018 (6 x 75cl) En Primeur £325/case (under bond) |
| Buy Fonseca Guimaraens 2018 (6 x 75cl) En Primeur £115/case (under bond) |
| Buy Croft Quinta da Roeda 2018 (6 x 75cl) En Primeur £85/case (under bond) |
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