1963 Croft

[Alex Bridgeman]

A bottle acquired at auction via Dreweatt Neate ten years ago less two days. UK bottled, no label and brittle black wax seal clearly stamped "Croft 1963 Vintage". Deep brick red in colour, 80% opaque. Lovely nose of stewed red cherries dosed with a pinch of cinnamon; complex and attractive and promising a delicious and mature port. On the palate this brings a slightly sweet port, full of very lively cherry fruit spiced up with a generous dose of mace. There are plenty of secondary flavours and lots of complexity. Some dusty and slightly green tannins provide vigorous life and lead the splendid aftertaste before a raw licorice root and candied cherry finish. This is a delicious and mature port at its absolute peak, but slightly too sweet and lacking just a little bit of intensity to be perfect - but not a port I would ever refuse! Wonderful. 94/100. Drunk 23-Oct-16. Decanted 2 hours.