1966 Croft

[Alex Bridgeman]

Available by the glass from the Yeatman Hotel, Oporto @ EUR 42 for a 90ml pour. The bottles are stored in a Coravin once opened. This is ex-Lodge stock recently rewaxed (due to seepage) and transferred to the Hotel for diners and residents to consume by the bottle (EUR 157) or glass.

Polished redwood in colour, deeply pigmented and 80% opaque. Gentley spiced redcurrants on the nose, soft and a bit indistinct. A swirl releases a smokey edge to the redcurrants and some crab apple jelly. Smooth in texture, rich and slightly oleaginous the first impression is of hard toffee flavours. The redcurrants arrive quickly with a lovely richness from the tertiary complexity that is obvious on the palate, sweet and thick yet with a perfect balancing acidity. Big finish, that delivers sweet dates and goes on for a long time. Fresh yet so concentrated this is an excellent bottle of a very good port that is rich and has excellent depth. 94/100. 28-Jun-16.