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2005 Porto Croft Quinta do Roeda 2005

Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 9:25 am
by John Trombley
2005 Porto Croft Quinta do Roeda 2005

Probably, as is said, Way Too Much Informayshun, but here goes a clipped-down version The Italicized is the last (current) tasting and most enjoyable. Permission to edit by board authorities is assumed by me.

12/17/2015 rated 94 points: See previous notes for details about the purchase, the package, and the decanting, all of which were as expected.

Colors beginning to soften and fade, call it out to 10 mm. Thick-textured and teary. Nose comes on with sweet orange and sweet cherry, an interesting blend. Underneath there is anise and a hint of savory tomato and pepper broth and a still-energetic background with some high tones lurking there. Palate expresses all this very well. The previous greenness has now melted into mint julep with no hard edges at all. Still lots of fruit to concoct and more to look forward to. There's lots of sweet vanilla in the finish mixed with thyme and tobacco, and the previous sight hardness has now become the merest hint of heat, with a tannic presence coming out at last in the wash. All in all, I've hit this a little too early, treating it at $32 like a LBV, which is sort of a no-no in my books, but there are still 3 left, probably giving best results if not drunk up completely before 10 more years. After all, that's their 20th birthday, so need to save one for 2025, if I'm still here and able to enjoy. (I plan on it).

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2/22/2015 rated 93 points: 2005 Croft Vintage Porto Quinta da Roeda, 20 pabv, Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers Vinhos SA, Vila Nova de Gaia, Kobrand, New York, Arbutus inedo (Strawberry Tree) labeling.
Cork finished, clean-sided when removed with Durand double spiral-clamp. Undecanted; quick-falling tears. At 24 hours: Green-purple and opaque nearly to the edge. Lots of high-toned stuff in the nose--pine, thyme, blueberry-cassis, underlain by a tenor note of cherry and violet.
Sweet on the palate, with a nice tannic buzz and grip, with medium-long savoriness. Still a slight bit of greenness that will resolve with more aging. 93/100. Nice juicy fruitiness and grip, will go well with cheese, dried fruit, and/or other foods.
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8/22/2010 rated 94 points: 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.

I understand that this is now the backbone for the unusually fine recent series of Croft vintage Portos, having been purchased for that purpose in 2001, according to Roy Hersh. I can detect its influence, for example, in the great 2003 Croft Porto.
Cork-finished with what appears to be very high quality five-band closure, with a clear plastic overlay and black metallic capsule. Very dense purple coloration to edge; viscous and leggy. A big nose: smoke, cassis, sweet cherry, violet, anise, grassy herb, green tobacco, tea, and plummy vanilla notes on opening. Richly sweet, dense, mouth-coating, and energetic on entry, with orange sorbet and vanilla flavors, with a good dose of ripe tannins and a rather attractive and high-toned finish. Styled more like a straight 'vintage' Porto rather than a single Quinta, rich, sweet, juicy, and hitting on all cylinders. Expect this to reward considerable cellaring, but to drink well young for those who like to take their Port that way. Drink 2015-2030 and onward.

One of the best Single Quintas I've ever had, although my experience is not extremely deep in them.

Expect this to develop in bottle for three or four days after opening; and so I'll need to add to these notes and perhaps revise the score a bit.
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 Dorothy Lane Market 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 show-stopper, and it has a chance of reaching that plateau, and a nearly unbelievable value. 94/100. There are still six bottles out on the shelf, for those who are in the region.

Re: TN: l2005 Porto Croft Quinta do Roeda 2005

Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 12:08 pm
by John M.
For $32 per I'd buy them all. Thanks for the note---i have some in my cellar.

Re: TN: l2005 Porto Croft Quinta do Roeda 2005

Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:32 pm
by Andy Velebil
This is a rockin port and one that flew under the radar. Well except those of us who knew how good it really was and bought a bunch real cheap :)




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Re: TN: 2005 Porto Croft Quinta do Roeda 2005

Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 7:46 pm
by Eric Menchen
I bought a few at about that price, tasted one and went back for more, buy alas no more available.

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