The Douro Valley extending from Spain through Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean is famous for its port wines. In Spain, Ribera del Duero and Toro are two regions that produce fine red table wines.
In Portugal the valley consists of three sub-appellations – Baixa Corgo, Cima Corgo, and Alto Douro. The rugged Alto Douro and tranquil Cima Corgo produce the best port wines, while Baixa Corgo close to the Ocean produces white ports, and now, more and more dry table wines.
Fladgate Partnership is an umbrella organization consisting of three venerable port-shipping houses – Taylor, Fladgate, and Yeates, Fonseca, and Croft.
This organization is one of the largest in the industry, famous for its research and consistent quality.
The Douro Valley produces an average of 120 million bottles of ports of which vintage port represents 1.5 per cent, and LBV (Late Bottled Vintage) 4.5 per cent.
The remainder consists of ruby, and tawny ports of different ages.
Vintage ports are made and declared only in exceptional years. Vintage ports are long-lived and cellar worthy wines. In the past 20 – 50 year old ports were still in very good drinkable condition, while today winemakers make very refined and fruit-driven ports that are accessible much sooner.
Unlike other ports, vintage ports must be consumed once the bottle is opened, but first decanted appropriately to get rid of sediments.
Red port wines should be served at 15 C (68 F) and white ports, cool 45 F (9C).
There are well over 3500 growers, but only 870 of them tend vineyards larger than three hectares. There are 110 port shippers, who buy grapes and/or own their own vineyards and make the wine, including blends that are proprietary. Every port-shipping house has its own style.

Port wines come in the following categories:
Ruby port
Colheita (a ruby port that has been cellared for seven years)
Tawny port (10, 20, 30, and 40 year old)
L B V (Late Bottled Vintage)
Crusted
Vintage
Many well established port houses own estates here called Quinta. Most are located in prime locations, and practically every one contains a guesthouse to entertain dignitaries, famous persons, importers, and wine writers.
Each of the Fladgate partnership’s quintas has guesthouses.
Taylor – Quinta de Vargellas
Fonseca – Quinta do Panascal
Croft – Quinta da Roeda
Recently the CEO of Fladgate Partnership Adrian Bridge conducted a tasting of company’s ports.
The tasting started with Fonseca’s fragrant and delightful; white port ($13.95).
Then we proceeded with a suit down tasting of the following ports:

Quinta do Panascal 2001 Vintage Port
Blackberry and plum aromas waft out of the glass. Well-defined, structured with chocolate flavours and firm tannins. Lingering finish. Enjoy with walnuts, old cheeses, dried fruits or simply sip and contemplate.
Vintages 585893 $ 64.95

Quinta do Roeda 2005 Vintage Port
Inky black with purple highlights. Floral and fruity at the same time. The palate is full of plums, cherries, and blackcurrant jam. Integrated tannins with a long and luscious finish.
Vintages 650556 $ 58.95

Quinta de Vargellas 2005 Vintage Port
Blackcurrant, cherry and blackberry aromas interlaced with notes of apricot and plums rush to the nose. Violet smells, a hallmark of the estate, make this port memorable and delicious on its own, or with dried fruits. An outstanding wine from a well tended estate.
Vintages 403873 $ 65.00

Fonseca 2003 Vintage Port
Fruity, harmonious, full bodied, integrated tannins, powerful, and with a long finish.
Vintages 673095 $ 127.95

Croft 2003 Vintage Port
Blackberry, blackcurrant, and cherry aromas dominate. Full bodied and delicious in the mouth with a good amount of tannin. An excellent wine to cellar for up to 20 years, but can be enjoyed now.
Vintages 673103 $ 123.00

Taylor 2003 Vintage Port
Taylor Fladgate is one of the best port houses, and enjoys an excellent reputation for meticulous wine making and blending.
This vintage yielded wines exuding violets and dark berries. Very powerful and evolves in the mouth, changing from elegance to refinement, to intense, to exuberant.
Cellar worthy for up to 25 – 30 years, but enjoyable now.
Vintages 951962 $ 129.00

Guest Writer – Hrayr Berberoglu E-mail or interested in his books?.

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Tags: Douro, Port, Portugal

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