Page 101 - Wine Spectator (January 2020)

TASTING REPORT | PORT

2017 Vintage Ports

This chart includes the 36 2017 Vintage Ports tasted for this report, for which nearly 100 wines were reviewed overall.
A free alphabetical list of scores and prices for all wines tasted is available at WineSpectator.com/PortAlpha022920.
WineSpectator.com members can access complete reviews using the online Wine Ratings search.

WINE SCORE PRICE WINE SCORE PRICE
QUINTA DO NOVAL Vintage Port Nacional 2017 99 $1,125 QUINTA DO CRASTO Vintage Port 2017 95 $55
Massive yet clearly defined, with dense black currant, fig and plum An extrovert, with bright floral and anise aromas followed by racy
paste flavors that flow slowly but steadily. A stunning wine. boysenberry, açaí, plum and black currant preserves. Very distinctive.

CROFT Vintage Port Quinta da Roeda Serikos 2017 98 $225 QUINTA DO PORTAL Vintage Port 2017 95 $110
This is intense, with a rather dark persona, showing flavors of bitter Richly packed, with dark fig, boysenberry reduction and blackberry
plum and fig reduction. A backward, grippy Port. compote flavors. The muscular finish shows depth and drive.

GRAHAM Vintage Port The Stone Terraces 2017 98 $245 QUINTA DO PORTAL Vintage Port Quinta dos Muros 2017 95 $110
Packed with juicy, bramble-laced black currant, açaí berry and fig A lively, energetic Port, with bramble and spice notes leading to a core
notes, this features the vivid fruit and energy of the vintage. of blackberry, plum and açaí berry reduction flavors. Rock-solid.

QUINTA DO NOVAL Vintage Port 2017 98 $125 QUINTA DE LA ROSA Vintage Port 2017 95 $90
This is well-packed, offering the vivid plum, boysenberry, cassis and Very floral, with violet and lilac accents leading to raspberry, cherry
açaí berry fruit profile of the vintage. Smolderingly seductive. and red currant coulis flavors. More reliant on acidity than grip.

TAYLOR FLADGATE Vintage Port Vargellas Vinha Velha 2017 98 $275 SANDEMAN Vintage Port Quinta do Seixo 2017 95 $60
Zesty and wild in feel, this distinctive Port offers a broad range of Warm and lush in style, featuring blueberry and açaí berry reduction
steeped loganberry, plum, red currant, açaí berry and fig flavors. flavors that glide through. A showy, fruit-bomb style.

CROFT Vintage Port 2017 97 $100 QUINTA DO VALE MEÃO Vintage Port 2017 95 $80
A beauty in the making, offering waves of dark currant preserves, Vivid and energetic, with a mix of raspberry, plum, fig and blueberry
warmed fig and steeped blackberry fruit. Ends long and smoldering. fruit that gives this a kaleidoscopic feel. Grippy but fresh.

FONSECA Vintage Port 2017 97 $120 WIESE & KROHN Vintage Port 2017 95 $90
Dark and dense, with flavors of plum, black currant and blackberry A strapping young Port, with a wall of grip holding a massive core
paste at the core. A big, old-school, throwback Port. of black Mission fig, plum, açaí berry and blackberry paste flavors at bay.

GRAHAM Vintage Port 2017 97 $125 WINE & SOUL Vintage Port Pintas 2017 95 $90
Lush and inviting, this shows waves of cassis, melted red licorice, plum Shows ample depth and grip, but remains remarkably polished, with
preserves and boysenberry reduction, carried by a velvety structure. a lush beam of steeped raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry fruit.

TAYLOR FLADGATE Vintage Port 2017 97 $120 QUINTA DAS CARVALHAS Vintage Port 2017 94 $95
Should be among the more long-lived wines of the vintage, offering Steeped plum, fig and boysenberry fruit is solid and defined, with
up a dense rumble of dark currant, fig and blackberry paste flavors. tobacco, anise and singed alder accents. Well-built, with a juicy edge.

QUINTA DO VESUVIO Vintage Port Capela 2017 97 $185 DELAFORCE Vintage Port 2017 94 $95
Intense, with a terrific beam of blueberry, açaí berry and blackberry This is bursting with gutsy currant, fig and boysenberry compote
puree flavors, flanked by graphite and baker’s chocolate notes. flavors, followed by a brambly finish that shows latent energy.

WARRE Vintage Port 2017 97 $140 KOPKE Vintage Port 2017 94 $90
Lush and inviting, showing plum sauce, blueberry reduction and Intense, offering vivid cassis, plum reduction and blackberry compote
raspberry pâte de fruit flavors, with a beautifully creamy texture. notes, with brambly and tarry grip strutting on the dense finish.

CHURCHILL Vintage Port 2017 96 $125 NOBLE & MURAT Vintage Port 2017 94 $120
Ripe, juicy and focused, with a core of steeped fig, boysenberry and Delivers a beam of crushed plum, boysenberry, açaí berry and fig fruit,
blueberry fruit, well-harnessed by a sleek, graphite-edged structure. woven seamlessly with graphite, anise and dark pudding flavors.

CHURCHILL Vintage Port Quinta da Gricha 2017 96 $95 QUINTA DA ROMANEIRA Vintage Port 2017 94 $70
A dark, chunky, muscular style, with notes of steeped fig, black currant Juicy and energetic, this brims with cherry, blackberry and plum
preserves and blueberry reduction. Very backward yet well-built. compote flavors, backed by red licorice, briar and chocolate notes.

COCKBURN Vintage Port 2017 96 $95 BURMESTER Vintage Port 2017 93 $85
Packed with creamed blueberry, açaí berry and boysenberry fruit Vivid, with plum, açaí berry, blueberry and blackberry fruit flavors set
and carried by waves of velvety structure, this is showy in style. against a backdrop of alder, tobacco, black licorice and bramble notes.

DOW Vintage Port 2017 96 $125 VINHOS OSCAR QUEVEDO Vintage Port 2017 93 $80
A dense, thickly textured version, dripping with warm salted licorice, Sleek and focused, on the drier side of the spectrum, with an alder
tar and açaí paste notes, with lots of brambly grip underneath. note framing steeped blackberry, boysenberry and plum fruit flavors.

FERREIRA Vintage Port 2017 96 $90 QUINTA DO VALLADO Vintage Port 2017 93 $110
Features a range of steeped currant, kirsch, raspberry and blackberry A ripe, pure style, with a focused beam of cassis, plum reduction and
fruit paste notes, with riveting acidity imparting focus and drive. blueberry puree, flanked by alder, cinnamon and cocoa powder.

QUINTA DO VALE DONA MARIA Vintage Port 2017 96 $75 REAL COMPANHIA VELHA Vintage Port 2017 92 $95
Intense, showing an energetic core of black Mission fig, açaí berry and This version offers a block of plum, blackberry and black cherry
blackberry fruit, with the grip supported as much by acidity as tannins. compote flavors, backed by a brambly spine on the juicy finish.

QUINTA DO VESUVIO Vintage Port 2017 96 $95 POÇAS JUNIOR Vintage Port 2017 91 $75
This offers a lovely mix of raspberry, black currant, plum and fig pâte A dark, chunky, full-bodied Port, with baker’s chocolate, espresso,
de fruit notes, which stretch out slowly over a graphite spine. steeped plum, fig and melted black licorice notes rolled together.

JAN. 31 - FEB. 29, 2020 • WINE SPECTATOR 95