CROFT Vintage Port 2003 Bottle

Description

The 2003 Vintage Port from Croft is a remarkable release, awarded 93 points by The Wine Advocate. Mark Squires praises its gorgeous complexity, noting that while it still boasts bold fruit, the wine has matured with nuance and depth, offering decades of life ahead. James Suckling rates it 96 points, highlighting aromas of chocolate, walnuts, and ripe berries, with a luscious, sweet palate showcasing dried fruits and hints of figs and plums. Decanter gives it 95 points, emphasizing its purity of fruit and powerful tannins that reflect the vintage's heat. Vinous follows with 90 points, describing rich flavors of kirsch and dark chocolate, while Jancis Robinson scores it 16 points, noting its sweet entry and slightly overripe fruit.

*****

THE WINE ADVOCATE 93 points
Drink Date 2022 - 2055
The 2003 Vintage Port is a field blend bottled in 2005 after 21 months in wood. It comes in with 85 grams of residual sugar. Although an oldie, this is about to be rereleased. Gorgeous, this obviously once had bold and upfront fruit. It still does to some extent, but now you get more nuance and maturity and a big hit of complexity. That's not to say this is too old. In fact, it is rather youthful in many respects, with a couple of decades of life left. There sure is no rush to consume it, and it may do even better than indicated. In the meanwhile, you get something with some maturity and complexity at a very nice price. This is a great deal. - Mark Squires,

JAMES SUCKLING 96 Points
16 Jan, 2023 – Chocolate, walnut and ripe berry aromas, with some figs and plums showing the heat of the vintage. Full-bodied and very sweet with dried fruits and a softness and lusciousness. Shows the unique character of base of the blend, Quinta do Roeda. Drinking beautifully now but can improve with age. Just starting to open.

DECANTER 95 points
Drinking Window: 2019 - 2050 - Still tight-knit but with underlying definition, fruit and intensity, a touch of tar and spice reflecting the heat of the vintage. Wonderful purity of fruit on the palate initially, backed by powerful spicy tannins with great definition on the finish. Just about ready to drink, huge promise. - Richard Mayson

VINOUS 90 points
Bright, saturated ruby. Brooding aromas of bitter cherry, violet and licorice, lifted by a resiny nuance. Then densely packed, concentrated and fresh, with rich, fleshy flavors of kirsch and dark chocolate. Finishes with big, broad, thoroughly ripe tannins and very good lingering black cherry fruit. This is surprisingly easy to taste today but should age well on its ripe tannins and sheer balance. - Stephen Tanzer

JANCIS ROBINSON 16 points
Dark ruby. A little muddy on the (not very intense) nose. Very sweet palate entry and a bit of pruney, slightly overripe fruit on the palate. Fairly loose structure but you wouldn’t turn it away! Brûlée and a bit hot on the end. (JR)