For The Love Of Port

Roughly 3 of 10 vintages are good enough for the major Port producers to make a vintage declaration. They only do it when they feel the vintage is excellent... a means of preserving the reputation of their vintage-dated releases. 2011 has been declared a vintage by many of the big names, and we have a handful available for sale on a pre-arrival basis. These are due to arrive around Christmas time, and at this time, quite limited in terms of availability.

"The 2011s justify the hype that has fomented around their release. Collectively they form a delightful, occasionally profound set of young Ports with glistening futures ahead." - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Neal Martin)

"The newest vintage Port on the market, 2011, is the best since the legendary 1994, and perhaps even better. The top young Ports from this vintage show a purity of fruit and superb structure of tannins and acidity. It's this sensational balance that makes them extraordinary." - James Suckling

2011 Croft Vintage Port (Pre-Arrival) ($69.99)

2011 Croft Vintage Port (375ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($36.99)

95 points James Suckling: "Beautiful aromas of violets and blueberries with hints of blue slate. Full body, medium sweet with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. A leafy, stemmy, nutty undertone to this with hints of shaved milk chocolate. Very refined and beautiful. 5,000 cases produced of this foot-trodden wine. Try in 2021. " (05/2013)

92-95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2011 Croft is initially taciturn on the nose, even after allowing it 20 minutes in my glass. A light swirling immediately awakens the aromatics to offer blackberry, Seville orange marmalade, blueberries and dried fig – complex and quite compelling. There is real mineralité within this bouquet that, returning after 30 minutes, offers alluring ocean spray scents rolling in off the ocean. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety-smooth opening that belies the fine, structured tannins underneath. It clams up a little towards the finish, shuts the lid tight and consequently there is the sensation of less persistency here compared to the Taylor’s or Fonseca. But Croft has a knack of filling out with bottle age and becomes both gentle and generous with the passing years. Tasted May 2013." (05/2013)

2011 Fonseca Vintage Port (Pre-Arrival) ($89.99)

2011 Fonseca Vintage Port (375ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($49.99)

97-99 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The Fonseca 2011 is typically more forthcoming on the nose compared to the bashful Croft: a strident bouquet with lifted scents of freshly picked blackberries, kirsch, crushed stone and a dash of Hoi Sin and oyster sauce. It is very well-defined, very focused and direct. The palate is silky smooth with not a rough edge in sight, though not a typically voluptuous Fonseca because of the keen thread of acidity and the structure that lends this mighty Port wonderful backbone. A slight viscosity on the finish lacquers the tongue and indicates a core of sweet fruit is ticking away underneath that will surely explode several years after bottling. A tincture of salted licorice on the aftertaste is very attractive. This will turn out to become an outstanding Fonseca, the growing season taming its exuberance with spectacular results. So much potential, but just 6,000 cases were produced. Tasted May 2013. " (05/2013)

95 points James Suckling: "Very grapy and leafy with hints of spices on the nose. Full body, medium sweet with fine, chewy tannins. Powerful, long finish with nuts and shaved chocolate. This young Fonseca has grip. 6,000 cases produced of this foot-trodden wine. Try in 2022. " (05/2013)

2011 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port (Pre-Arrival) ($89.99)

2011 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port (375ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($49.99)

94-96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2011 Quinta do Noval has wonderful precision on the nose with blackberry, cassis, intriguing flinty notes and a whiff of smoke. It might not possess the power of the Naçional but it has freshness to spare. That comes through on the beautifully composed palate, which is underpinned by fine tannins that lend it a silky smooth mouthfeel. There is real intensity here, but it is very controlled with superb minerality on the finish. Excellent. Tasted May 2013." (05/2013)

93 points James Suckling: "Blueberry and wet earth aromas. Full body, medium sweet and a long finish. Balanced and refined. 2,000 cases produced of this foot-trodden wine. Try in 2022. " (05/2013)

2011 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port (Pre-Arrival) ($89.99)

2011 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port (375ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($49.99)

96-98 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2011 Taylor’s Vintage 2011 has a multifaceted, Pandora’s Box of a nose that is mercurial in the glass: cassis at first before blackberry and raspberry politely ask it to move aside, followed by wilted rose petals and Dorset plum. Returning after one 45 minutes that nose has shut up shop. The palate is sweet and sensual on the entry, plush and opulent, with copious black cherries, boysenberry and cassis fruit, curiously more reminiscent of Fonseca! It just glides across the palate with a mouth-coating, glycerine-tinged finish that has a wonderful lightness of touch, demonstrating how Vintage Port is so much more accessible in its youth nowadays. But don’t let that fool you into dismissing the seriousness or magnitude of this outstanding Taylor’s." (05/2013)

96 points James Suckling: "Very pretty pure fruit on the nose: crushed berries and minerals with a licorice and graphite undertone. Full body, medium sweet with chewy tannins that are polished and firm. This shows balance and harmony, but remains powerful, muscular and toned. 11,000 cases produced of this foot-trodden wine. Try in 2021. " (05/2013)

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K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

"Best wine Web site in the US" - Wall Street Journal
"Great for rare and hard-to-find wines." - Time
"The cellar to search first." - Smart Money

Everybody is pre-selling the big names, and I'll probably buy some of those; but where is the Smith Woodhouse, the Quinta do Vesuvio, and since everyone seems to like it, the Cockburn?

Eric Menchen wrote:Everybody is pre-selling the big names, and I'll probably buy some of those; but where is the Smith Woodhouse, the Quinta do Vesuvio, and since everyone seems to like it, the Cockburn?

Those are SFE, not TFP. I've seen them being offered, though can't say for certain that I've seen them offered in the US.

Also I think I remember seeing that SFE did not declare Gould Campbell, Martinez, or Quarles Harris. They did declare Smith Woodhouse, but I don't recall seeing it offered anywhere yet.

Glenn E. wrote:
Also I think I remember seeing that SFE did not declare Gould Campbell, Martinez, or Quarles Harris. They did declare Smith Woodhouse, but I don't recall seeing it offered anywhere yet.

I was told Quarles Harris was produced but it wasn't at the tasting I went to. I will get clarification on that soon.

Gould Campbell was not produced

And yes, Smith Woodhouse was declared.

This listing has Noval (not TFP), and I've seen some offers of Warre's (SFE), but not SW, QdV, nor Cockburn yet.

Eric,

TFP is Taylor, Croft, Fonseca and Skeffington, three of which are listed in the offering above.

RWC just offered Cockburn today

Bradley Bogdan wrote:RWC just offered Cockburn today

Without a price, that's just teasing.

Eric Menchen wrote:

Bradley Bogdan wrote:RWC just offered Cockburn today

Without a price, that's just teasing.

Haha sorry, figured everyone was probably on their email list anyway. Here's the full email:



Legends of the Douro
2011 Promises to be Historic
for the Greatest Vintage Ports

“I have a feeling this one will be epic.” Roy Hersh

In this, our 24th year of selling vintage port, news of a potentially historic port vintage has gotten our attention in a way we haven’t experienced in a very long time.

And 2011 looks to be one of those years that we ignore only at our peril. It's not just that it could prove to be a year of legend, it's also a vintage of a very small production. We have a hunch that the market will heat up in a way we haven’t seen in decades.

That means not only higher prices on the horizon, but true scarcity—especially for the wines and formats that are always most desirable and hardest to find.

Our Eyes & Ears
We first learned about this remarkable year from my good friend Roy Hersh (fortheloveofport.com) who was in the Douro during the harvest in 2011. Roy wrote me: “From the moment the grapes were picked and foot treading took place in lagares, the extraction of color and concentration of flavors was unrivaled in recent years … this is not just the hype of the next ‘generally declared’ vintage, I have a feeling this one will be epic.”

And now that the reviews have started to emerge—particularly from Neal Martin on Tuesday—the picture is becoming clear: this is a potentially monumental Port vintage that could rival, if not surpass, the greats of the 20th century.

Style & Scarcity
What seems particularly noteworthy is that exceptional acidity has endowed these wines with remarkable depth, complexity and balance, and the promise to age with uncommon grace. No wonder some in the trade have been comparing the '11s to the heroic 1963s.

The producers also clearly want the wines to be scarce. The biggest houses have declared one-third to one-half less than they did in, say, 2003. And Cockburn—which seems intent on becoming the superstar it was in the early part of the 20th century—made just 3000 cases. It is already proving to be scarce in the market.

Our Strategy
Based on our past experience with important Port vintages, the first two wines we locked down were Fonseca and Taylor, which will be the cornerstone of anyone's 2011 stash. (Pay particular attention to the half bottles which are always so desirable.)

But we also quickly moved to secure a parcel of 2011 Cockburn, not only because it's one of the year's elite Ports, but because its tiny production virtually guarantees that it will be hard to find.

We will soon have other prized 2011s to offer, including several more in choice half bottles. But for now, we urge you to lay a foundation with three essentials in this vintage: Fonseca, Taylor and Cockburn.

Delivery late 2013/early 2014.



Mannie Berk
The Rare Wine Co.

2011 Fonseca* $79.95 btl $47.95 half btl
Neal Martin 97-99
"... a strident bouquet with lifted scents of freshly picked blackberries, kirsch, crushed stone and a dash of Hoi Sin and oyster sauce. It is very well-defined, very focused and direct. The palate is silky smooth with not a rough edge in sight, though not a typically voluptuous Fonseca because of the keen thread of acidity and the structure that lends this mighty Port wonderful backbone. A slight viscosity on the finish lacquers the tongue and indicates a core of sweet fruit is ticking away underneath that will surely explode several years after bottling. A tincture of salted licorice on the aftertaste is very attractive. This will turn out to become an outstanding Fonseca ...."
2011 Taylor* $84.95 btl $47.95 half btl
Neal Martin 96-98
"... has a multifaceted, Pandora’s Box of a nose that is mercurial in the glass: cassis at first before blackberry and raspberry politely ask it to move aside, followed by wilted rose petals and Dorset plum ... The palate is sweet and sensual on the entry, plush and opulent, with copious black cherries, boysenberry and cassis fruit, curiously more reminiscent of Fonseca! It just glides across the palate with a mouth-coating, glycerine-tinged finish that has a wonderful lightness of touch, demonstrating how Vintage Port is so much more accessible in its youth nowadays. But don’t let that fool you into dismissing the seriousness or magnitude of this outstanding Taylor’s. "
2011 Cockburn* $69.95 btl
Neal Martin 94-96
"… lovely tobacco and sandalwood aromas that lend the aromatic profile complexity … a spicy, black pepper-tinged opening and very good structure. There is wonderful focus here, with a refined, clove-tinged finish and a long, spicy aftertaste so you do not forget it in a hurry. The 2011 Cockburn harks back to those classics of yesteryear. Cockburn’s is back."
James Suckling 98
"Great nose here with flowers, leaves and a wet earth character. Full body, lightly sweet with a massive finish. This is muscular, toned and intense. Superb: the greatest ever vintage Port from the greatest vintage in years!