CROFT Vintage Port 2000 Bottle

Description

Croft's 2000 Vintage Port is a stunning expression praised with 95 points by Decanter, showcasing youthful minty fruit and tight-knit spicy berry aromas, leading to firm tannins and a long, gripping finish. The palate is rich and savory, balanced by well-judged acidity, making it a keeper with significant aging potential. Vinous rates it at 91+ points, highlighting vibrant aromas of blueberry, graphite, and violets, portraying a concentrated and stylish character still developing in the bottle. The Wine Advocate scores it 90 points, noting its unique nose of spring flowers, blackberries, and blueberries, with a sweet yet tannic profile. Jancis Robinson offers 16.5 points, describing warming flavors of caramelized dark fruit alongside emerging savory notes. (This tasting note contains 120 words.)

*****

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Richard Mayson, Shane Jones, Demetri Walters MW (at Decanter Tasting Suite, London, 01 Oct 2022)
Drinking Window: 2022 - 2070
Founded in 1588, Croft claims the distinction of being the longest-established company still involved in Port production. Given the ideal ripening conditions during August and September 2000, a week of light rain in mid-September rounded off a great vintage, resulting in a wine of intense colour, attractive aromas and full body. RM Withdrawn on the nose, underlying ripe minty fruit and a touch of gum cistus; tight-knit, spicy berry fruit with firm tannins leading to a long, gripping finish. A lovely wine. SJ Spicy, minty and floral nose. Sweet and sour palate, rich and savoury. Well-judged acidity keeps the wine attractively balanced. So much potential: a keeper that will reward. DW Youthful, tensioned and taut. Plenty of nascent fruit plumpness despite the tannic gristle – needs more slumber.

VINOUS 91+ points
Bright medium ruby. Vibrant aromas of blueberry, graphite and violet. Suave, sweet and very firmly built; still a bit youthfuly clenched but concentrated, intensely fruity and stylish. This is structured to develop slowly in bottle. Seemed to grow longer as it opened in the glass. Like a mini-Taylor. - Stephen Tanzer

THE WINE ADVOCATE 90 points
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Drink Date: 2007 - 2025
A striking, individualistic nose of spring flowers, blackberries, blueberries, and lead pencil shavings emerges from this saturated purple-colored 2000. Evolved yet expansive, sweet, and generous, it admirably conceals moderately high tannins under a wealth of fruit and glycerin. The aromatic profile and attack merit a score in the mid-nineties, but the finish is short, thus lowering the overall rating. My instincts suggest there is more to this port than it revealed the days I tasted it. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025?

JANCIS ROBINSON 16.5 points
Still a deep ruby-garnet in colour. Prunes and dried figs mix with cinnamon and wood spice on the nose. The palate is warming and full, with chalky but integrating tannins coated in balancing sugar and caramelised dark fruit. Savoury notes are starting to show, particularly towards the finish, but this port still relies more on its primary elements. (TP)