Croft $57.00
Dow $63.50
Fonseca $66.50
Gould Campbell $44.50
Graham $68.50
Niepoort $63.50
Quinta do Noval $73.50
Quinta do Vesuvio $63.50
Smith Woodhouse $49.50
Taylor $69.50
Warre $58.00
For more information, please visit our website at http://www.tcwc.com or call us 630-594-2972. Our Senior Wine Consultant, Simon Lambert (simon@tcwc.com), would be pleased to help you with any special requirements you might have.
2007 Vintage Port
We are pleased to offer below a selection of the top 2007 Vintage Ports. These ports were recently tasted by James Suckling of the Wine Spectator and Neal Martin of the Wine Journal. Both were very enthusiastic about the vintage.
"What strikes me is how polished the tannins are. I have been tasting young Ports since the 1980 vintage, and I can't ever remember such fine yet dense and rich tannins. I was spellbound by the top Vintage Ports of my tasting." - James Suckling, Wine Spectator
"I rate 2007 overall better than 1977 or 1955, although not quite at the level of 1994 (which I rated 99 points). I give it 98 points, the same as 2003. It is a much more refined and racy vintage than the big, blockbuster and ripe wines made in 2003, so it's a question of style." - James Suckling, Wine Spectator
"But on the basis of these samples, the 2007 ports are distinguished by virtue of their finesse and purity. These are not powerful, impenetrable ports like the 2003s, they do not have the structure of the 2000s, both of which I tasted alongside. No, the 2007s have an unerring sensuality to them, silky and seamless, ports that I am reluctant to say will be approachable when young. If you like hedonistic young port then feel free to drink them over the next five or six years to revel in their sweet nubile fruit. Me? I would prefer to cellar them for at least twenty years and seek out the nuances and subtleties that only time can sculpt." - Neal Martin, Wine Journal
2007 Croft, Vintage Port (750ml)
Wine Spectator - 89-92 Points
Neal Martin, Wine Journal - 93 Points
$ 57.00 per Bottle (750ml)
Delivery: Fall 2009
"(89-92) out of 100...Very pretty aromas of blackberry and dark chocolate, with hints of green leaf. Excellent nose. Medium- to full-bodied, with medium chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Medium sweet. Needs a little more grip on the palate and finish. A little disappointing." - WS
"93 out of 100...There is a nice limpidity on this Croft 2007. It is not the power that strikes you but the purity with black cherries, liquorices, violets and a hint of iodine. Very tight and focused. The palate is full-bodied with chewy tannins on the entry, pure blackberry, raspberry, white pepper and Asian spice towards the finish. Very fine focus, very pure and harmonious. Sensuous finish but it just tapers away when I need more grip and assertiveness. Still, this is a lovely Croft. Tasted May 2009." - Neal Martin, Wine Journal
2007 Dow, Vintage Port (750ml)
Wine Spectator - 94-97 Points
Neal Martin, Wine Journal - 96 Points
$ 63.50 per Bottle (750ml)
Delivery: Fall 2009
"(94-97) out of 100...Intense aromas of blackberry, wet earth and grape follow through to a full body, with medium-to-light sweetness, very big tannins and a mouthfilling finish. Round and delicious already. Has the stuffing to age. Powerful." - WS
"96 out of 100...Picked at a lower Baume than the Grahams (3.4) with the backbone sourced from Touriga Nacional in Bomfim this has a more austere nose, introverted with blackberry, cigar box, raspberry leaf, a touch of cold stones and blueberry. Complex but you have to come to it – it does not come to you. The palate is masculine, aloof, beautifully balanced, spicy and earthy. Very structured on the mid-palate, almost foursquare but I find the focus and the sense of symmetry bewitching. Not a port that will please everyone, but one that Dow-lovers will adore. That includes me by the way. Aristocratic! Tasted May 2009." - Neal Martin, Wine Journal
2007 Fonseca, Vintage Port (750ml)
Wine Spectator - 92-95 Points
Neal Martin, Wine Journal - 96 Points
$ 66.50 per Bottle (750ml)
Delivery: Fall 2009
"(92-95) out of 100...Cooked raspberry, with hints of lemon peel and leaf. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a beautiful density and a sweet fruity and tannic aftertaste. Balanced yet muscular. A little disappointing, but clearly outstanding." - WS
"96 out of 100...A limpid purple garnet core. The nose is quintessential Fonseca, like a riotous party reaching its crescendo in the glass. Macerated black cherries, eau-de-vie, damson, fig and a touch of Seville orange. Then what is fascinating is that the uproar dies down with aeration, becomes more focused...as if the host has asked everyone to quieten down. The palate is powerful and spicy on the entry, sweet ripe black berried fruits, a touch of spice, fig and apricot, lovely cohesion and weight building towards a deeply joyous finish that lacquers the mouth in port-like reverie. Perhaps more approachable than the 2000 or the 2003 at this stage, this is a marvellous Fonseca. Tasted May 2009." - Neal Martin, Wine Journal
2007 Gould Campbell, Vintage Port (750ml)
Wine Spectator - 92-95 Points
$ 44.50 per Bottle (750ml)
Delivery: Fall 2009
"(92-95) out of 100...Dark in color. Very perfumed, with blackberry and flowers. Full-bodied and very dense, yet balanced and superrefined. Very sweet. Long and intense. There's wonderful harmony in this young Vintage Port." - WS
2007 Graham, Vintage Port (750ml)
Wine Spectator - 96-99 Points
Neal Martin, Wine Journal - 92 Points
$ 68.50 per Bottle (750ml)
Delivery: Fall 2009
"(96-99) out of 100...Great nose of crushed blackberry, currant and grape skin. Intense. Full-bodied, dense and beautiful, with big, polished tannins and a long, long finish. Very sweet. This is a superb young vintage Port. Could match or better the fabulous 2000 Graham." - WS
"92 out of 100...Picked at 4.1 Baume, 40% Touriga Nacional, 25% Tinta Franca, 20% old vines, 10% Tinta Barocca and 5% Tinta Roriz, The Graham’s has an intense, earthy nose with introverted blackberry, wild hedgerow, liquorices, cassis and a touch of burnt honey. The palate is very spicy on the entry, succulent black fruits, cloves, ginger, very refined on the finish, perhaps more approachable than other 2007 ports. Very focused and harmonious but perhaps I would have like more complexity that may come with age. Tasted May 2009." - Neal Martin, Wine Journal
2007 Niepoort, Vintage Port (750ml)
Wine Spectator - 93-96 Points
$ 63.50 per Bottle (750ml)
Delivery: Fall 2009
"(93-96) out of 100...Wonderful aromas of violet, blackberry and citrus fruits. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with layers of ripe, polished tannins. Very very long. Goes on and on. Very layered and well-crafted." - WS
2007 Quinta do Noval, Vintage Port (750ml)
Wine Spectator - 94-97 Points
Neal Martin, Wine Journal - 95+ Points
$ 73.50 per Bottle (750ml)
Delivery: Fall 2009
"(94-97) out of 100...Impressive aromas of crushed blackberry, mineral and dried flowers. Intense and deep. Full-bodied, very sweet and dense on the palate, with big, round tannins and a long finish." - WS
"95+ out of 100...Again, very deep in colour, deep purple. The nose is deep and broody – you have to really stick your nose in the glass. But it has so much primal intensity: blackberry, raspberry, liquorice, fruitcake, a touch of Indian ink. Wonderful definition – great clarity here. The palate has a rounded, quite approachable texture, extremely pure with luscious black fruits entwined with white pepper, crème de menthe, damson and black plum. So harmonious towards the finish. Beautiful. Tasted May 2009." - Neal Martin, Wine Journal
2007 Quinta do Vesuvio, Vintage Port (750ml)
Wine Spectator - 92-95 Points
Neal Martin, Wine Journal - 94 Points
$ 63.50 per Bottle (750ml)
Delivery: Fall 2009
"(92-95) out of 100...This is black in color. Sweet berry and plum on the nose, with wet earth, pepper and leaf notes. Minerally. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a solid core of tannins and a dense palate. Long and chewy, with a core of sweet fruit." - WS
"94 out of 100...A blend of 55% Touriga Nacional and 45% Tinta Franca, picked at 3.80 Baume (the former on 30 year old vines at just 0.7kg/vine). A deep, opaque purple colour. The nose is reticent at first, reluctantly revealing macerated black cherries, blueberry, violets and a touch of rose petals. Very feminine and refined. The palate is medium-bodied, very fine tannins with blackberry, Xmas cake, ginger and a touch of dark honey towards the finish. It has a very attractive sense of energy and tension towards the finish. Good length. A vivacious Vesuvio! Tasted May 2009." - Neal Martin, Wine Journal
2007 Smith Woodhouse, Vintage Port (750ml)
Wine Spectator - 89-92 Points
Neal Martin, Wine Journal - 92 Points
$ 49.50 per Bottle (750ml)
Delivery: Fall 2009
"(89-92) out of 100...There's plenty of blueberry and raspberry in this young Vintage Port. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. Chunky and a little awkward now. But the structure is very good to excellent." - WS
"92 out of 100...Brambly black fruit on the nose with touches of cigar box, fireside hearth, just a faint touch of wild mint. Good definition although it does not have the same level of vigour as other 2007 ports. The palate is medium-bodied with great purity on the entry. A port defined by its elegance – almost understated but it builds beautifully. Fine tannins on the finish, touches of cloves and ginger lingering on the aftertaste. Perhaps earlier drinking but very refined. Tasted May 2009." - Neal Martin, Wine Journal
2007 Taylor, Vintage Port (750ml)
Wine Spectator - 94-97 Points
Neal Martin, Wine Journal - 97 Points
$ 69.50 per Bottle (750ml)
Delivery: Fall 2009
"(94-97) out of 100...A classic baby Vintage Port nose of blackberry, currant and a little bit of green lemon leaf. Full-bodied and medium sweet. There's a solid core of ripe fruit and powerful tannins, with grip. The real deal." - WS
"97 out of 100...Remarkably deep in colour, almost to the verge of being opaque. The nose is very well defined but much more introverted than Fonseca – aloof, stentorian, correct. The palate is full-bodied, beautifully defined, great weight that is channelled in one direction. Brilliant focus here, less extrovert than Fonseca of course but more refined and sophisticated. Certainly this is a Taylors for long-term ageing, one can feel it reserving its energy for 20-years down the line. Great backbone here. Very harmonious towards the finish that really caresses the palate, with a hint of white pepper lingering in the mouth. Wonderful. Tasted May 2009." - Neal Martin, Wine Journal
2007 Warre, Vintage Port (750ml)
Wine Spectator - 95-98 Points
Neal Martin, Wine Journal - 90 Points
$ 58.00 per Bottle (750ml)
Delivery: Fall 2009
"(95-98) out of 100...I love the nose on this, with blackberry, black licorice, and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, medium sweet and very, very dense. What seductive mouthfeel, with polished, round tannins that caress the palate. This may be better than the fantastic 1994." - WS
"90 out of 100...This has an expressive nose with blackberry, raspberry liqueur, crème de menthe and a touch of honey. Less complex than the Dow but more approachable. The palate is very well balanced with quite a fleshy, succulent entry, nice grip, quite gentle but building nicely to a more structured finish. Just the right amount of backbone without detracting from its more approachable personality. It just lacks a bit of chutzpah. Tasted May 2009." - Neal Martin, Wine Journal