Tasting Notes
The story
From Churchill Estates whose beautiful
red wine made from port grape, Touriga Nacional, I also stock, this port is produced from a variety of indigenous grapes grown in old vineyards on their own estates,
Quinta da Gricha and Quinta do Rio in the Cima Corgo sub-region of the Douro wine region. Many grape varieties are included - Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca and Tinta Barroca.
I decided on a Crusted Port as part of my fortified wine offering because it is a port of vintage quality. As it is made from a blend of two different vintages it cannot however call itself vintage port. The wine is aged in oak casks for 2 to 3 years before being blended; then comes 6 months i
n seasoned oak casks before being bottled unfiltered and matured in bottle for at least 3 years before being sold. The year on the label is the year of bottling, 2005 so this port already has some age, at least 13 years old.
The wine
This port should be decanted one hour before serving; the wine is matured on its lees to help the wine develop its complexity and body and as a result there will be sediment in the bottle.
Read more about decanting in my blogIn summary this port manages to combine youthful fruitiness - cherries, plums, and raspberries - with rich sweet spices. It is full-bodied and intense with a long finish.
It is ready for drinking now but it will continue to improve for a few more years gaining in complexity like a young vintage port.
This is a lovely
smooth port wine with a velvety mouthfeel and rich fruit, spicy flavours. Delicious!
Food Pairing
Recommended on its own after dinner, with rich desserts or with cheese
Producer's Notes
"Port for port lovers. This Port Wine has a full, dark ruby colour, a concentrated berry aroma and on the palate a broad structure with rich complexity and beginning to show the benefits of bottle age"
Awards
92 points Stephen Spurrier, Decanter Aug 2016
"A field blend of all the classic Port varieties. Bottled unfiltered after about three years in wood, it throws a "crust" in bottle so needs decanting. Violets on the nose, fine depth of warm, earthy single-quinta fruit. Very good indeed."
