16°C to 18°C
Bottle lying down
Recommended
Douro
Quinta da Roêda is the cornerstone of Croft’s reputation as a producer of superb Vintage Ports. Its characteristically plump, full, vigorously fruity wines, with their hallmark
aroma of Gumcistus, the aromatic bush, are the quintessence of the inimitable Croft house style
Tasting Notes: Intense purple-black centre surrounded by a vivid magenta rim. A typical Quinta da Roêda Vintage Port nose made up of a rich plump dark berry compote infused with exotic notes of ripe tropical fruit and the subtle pungency of wild herbs. Warm notes of liquorice, dark chocolate and spice contribute to the wine’s opulent character. The palate is smooth, round and full of rich, jammy flavour. The wine’s silky texture conceals the firm, well-knit tannins which emerge on the finish to provide an attractive firmness and grip. Characteristically of the 2015 Vintage Ports, the wine is immediately appealing but will continue to gain in elegance and refinement over the next three decades.
The Croft wine makers will remember the 2015 harvest for the perfect condition of the grapes picked at Quinta da Roêda, from the extensive area of old vineyard to the more recent plantations. The viticultural cycle was preceded by very low rainfall during the winter months with the weather station at Quinta da Roêda recording precipitation of only 66% of the ten-year average, although rainfall in early winter was sufficient to provide some ground water and avoid drought conditions. Early spring was also relatively dry and this was an important factor in ensuring that the crop was perfectly healthy. Dry conditions and some very hot spells in late spring and early summer brought forward the start to the ripening season, setting the scene for an early harvest.
However, from mid-July right up to the harvest in September, ripening conditions were balanced and even, with no spells of extreme heat. As noted above, the bunches at harvest time were perfectly formed and healthy although, not surprisingly in view of the dry year, yields were somewhat below average. As expected, the vintage at Roêda got off to a relatively early start on 7th September and Croft wine makers at Roêda recorded excellent extraction. Apart from two days of rain, on 15th and 16th September, picking took place in excellent conditions, with warm sunny days and cool nights throughout the harvest.