CROFT, QUINTA DO NOVAL & RAMOS PINTO VINTAGE PORTS

DOURO, PORTUGAL 2017

Port producers have compared 2017 to the legendary 1945 vintage, and we are thrilled to present another lineup of these elegant and age-worthy vintage Ports from three top producers: Croft, Ramos Pinto, and Quinta do Noval. The 2017 grape yields were down as much as 20% for many producers, so while quality and expert scores are impressively high, quantity will be limited.

Founded in 1588, Croft is one of the oldest Port producers (if not the oldest) and remains one of the most distinguished. Their famous Quinta da Roêda estate, often described as "the jewel of Port wine estates," contains some of the oldest vineyards in the Douro Valley. Croft's new release, Serikos, is the first vintage Port to be made from the fruit of this historic estate. The name Serikos is in reference to Croft's involvement in silk production after phylloxera destroyed its vineyards in the late 1800s, as well as to the velvety, silken texture of its wines. We're also pleased to present multiple size formats of the flagship 2017 Croft Vintage - the different sizes will evolve and express differently with time, not to mention offer many price points. Ramos Pinto is composed of four quintas, or estates: Quinta do Bom Retiro, Quinta de Ervamoira, Quinta de Urtiga and Quinta do Bons Ares.

Ramos Pinto continually champions the belief that crafting quality wine begins in the vineyard and has implemented new viticultural techniques and strict production policies that improve quality without sacrificing tradition or terroir, such as a recent move to organic farming. The 2017 Ramos Pinto Vintage is a balanced and approachable blend from their different estates, whereas the 2017 Quinta de Ervamoira is a single-estate offering from their most historical and well-preserved estate in Douro Superior. Interestingly, the vines from this estate are planted vertically to encourage more concentrated fruit flavor and intensity.

Quinta do Noval originally made their mark with their legendary 1931 Vintage Nacional bottling, and continues to build their legacy with stellar 2017 marques. The house has a true pioneering spirit and continues to push boundaries and set the bar higher and higher. Crafted from completely ungrafted vines from a small plot within the Noval vineyard, the lauded 2017 Vintage Nacional received 100 points from Wine Advocate and is "one of the shortlist candidates for 'Wine of the Vintage.'" (Mark Squires, Wine Advocate). The flagship 2017 Vintage absolutely holds its own, garnering high scores at a fraction of the price of the Nacional. For true fans of Noval, we've also included the 2004 Vintage Nacional, a powerful and elegant vintage that is still very much in its youth, despite being 15 years old. We're offering these cellar-worthy gems at a special Concierge price for one week, or until sold out!