TN: Croft Porto 2005, Quinta da Roeda; 20 pabv. $31.50 after double discount; 7x750 ml purchased 7/26/2010. UPC 0 84692 00029 6 Bottled by Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers, Vinhos, SA. (Guimaerens, I think.) Featuring Strawberry Tree label, Arbutus inedo.
Vanilla-tinged jammy black fruit, underlain with tar, grass, and cassis. Enters with creamy milk chocolate with integrated and balanced sweetness and juciness, and onto a long finish. A little iffy which way this one will go, but too early to tell.
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Previous note; 94/100: One of the best values in Port I've come across in years. It's styled very much like a great Grahams, but with a bit more sap. Apparently there was an opportunity for DLM to purchase this at a distress sale, and it seems that every bit of it that they could buy was snapped up--probably three six-packs, of which I now have one plus.
Day three:
Still thick and very leggy but shows a little lightening to the edge; not a hue change, however.
Shows an impressive array of both fruit and spice: the spice thyme and hints of clove, edged with vanilla and some elusive, floral, violet, high-toned elements, but the fruit a very ripe plum well-integrated with red cherry, and a good dose of juicy dark currant.
On entry the wine has reigned-in sweetness, full, energetic fruit, and fine, ripe, moderately prominent tannins. It shows the somewhat glossy surfaces common with modern-style winemaking. However, it shows great harmony, integration, depth, and purity.
This is an impressive wine for a single-Quinta vintage, certainly one of the best I've ever tasted, and quite drinkable now with intelligent decanting. I'd say just a hair short of being a soweverhow-stopper, and it has a chance of reaching that plateau, and a nearly unbelievable value. 94/100. (92 pts.)
