CROFT Vintage Port 2011 Bottle

Description

The 2011 Croft Vintage Port is an exceptional release, showcasing complexity and depth. It has garnered high praise, scoring 95 points from James Suckling, who highlights its beautiful aromas of violets and blueberries, complemented by a full body and chewy tannins, leading to a long, refined finish with hints of chocolate. The Wine Advocate rates it 92-95 points, noting the initially taciturn nose that develops captivating scents of blackberry, Seville orange marmalade, and dried fig, along with a velvety-smooth palate supported by fine, structured tannins. Decanter awards it 90 points, emphasizing the impressive ripe, plummy fruit and robust tannic structure, marking this as one of the best Croft vintages since 1963.

*****

THE WINE ADVOCATE (92-95) points
"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 mineralite 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." - Neal Martin

JAMES SUCKLING 95 points
"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. Try in 2021."

JANCIS ROBINSON 17 points
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. (JR)

VINOUS 90+ points
Bright medium ruby. Slightly reduced, spirity aromas of kirsch, blackberry, boysenberry, licorice pastille and mint, plus a suggestion of nutty oak. Densely packed and quite sweet, but the slightly disjointed black fruit flavors are tough going today; this struck me as more like a ruby port. Quite closed and tannic on the back end, in need of patience to display its personality. Many other critics rated this wine considerably higher than I did. - Stephen Tanzer

DECANTER 90 points
"Drinking Window: 2030 - 2050 - Based on Quinta da Rôeda – ripe, plummy fruit, suave and impressive, with the tannic structure to match. The best Croft since 1963." - Richard Mayson.