2012 Declarations

[jdaw1]

This thread is to list 2012 declarations. This post will be edited, repeatedly, to maintain a list of known declarations.

• Barao de Vilar;
• Bulas;
• Bulas Seyra (silver medal in 2017 DWWA Awards)
• Calem;
• Dalva;
• Duorum Vinha de Castelo Melhor;
• Heritage Porto & Douro
• Quinta da Gaivosa from Alves de Sousa;
• Quinta da Gricha from Churchill - seen on the wine list of Bar Douro in Flat Iron Square in London on 3rd May 2017;
• Quinta da Pacheca;
• Quinta da Revolta;
• Quinta das Lamelas;
• Quinta de Galura (part of Sao Luiz) from Barros;
• Quinta de la Rosa (833 cases);
• Quinta de Sao Luiz from Kopke;
• Quinta do Arnozelo from Burmester;
• Quinta do Estanho;
• Quinta do Javali;
• Quinta do Noval (1,000 cases);
• Quinta do Pessegueiro;
• Quinta do Sao Jose (Joao Brito e Cunha Lda);
• Quinta do Vale do Meão;
• Quinta Maria Izabel;
• Real Companhia Velha;
• Royal Oporto Quinta das Carvalhas;
• Sequeirinha (brand name of the Sequeira family port firm);
• Symington Family Estates:
  • Cockburn Quinta dos Canais;
  • Dow Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira (450 cases of 12);
  • Graham Malvedos;
  • Quinta do Vesuvio (750 cases of 12);
  • Warre Quinta da Cavadinha
• Taylor Fladgate:
  • Croft Roeda;
  • Fonseca Guimaraens
  • Taylor Vargellas;
• Terras do GriFo from Rozes;
• Van Zellers (seen in a FaceBook picture posted by FTLOP);
• Vista Allegre.

Links to other vintages:
2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005

Green text added by AHB using moderator powers

[jdaw1]

11. Dow’s Senhora da Ribeira 2012

12. Quinta do Vesuvio 2012

The only 2012 declarations revealed by this release of the BFT’s catalogue.

[jdaw1]

Taylor’s to launch Quinta de Vargellas 2012 Vintage Port

St George’s Day, 23rd April, is when Taylor’s traditionally announces whether it will make a new Vintage Port release.

Revealing this year’s decision, Taylor’s Managing Director, Adrian Bridge, said: "I am delighted to say that we will be making a limited bottling of 2012 Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port. The 2012 is showing the wonderfully pure, vibrant fruit which often results from a cool ripening season and displays all the elegance and poise which we associate with Vargellas Vintage Ports.” He added: "The wine will be released in time for the year end and we already have strong expressions of interest from the trade.”

Taylor’s wine maker David Guimaraens noted: "The Vargellas 2012 has an attractive crisp acidity and expresses the Vargellas terroir with great precision.” Allocations will be made in the coming weeks.

…

Tasting Note

Opaque ruby black core with vivid purple rim. The nose is fine and delicate, pure woodland fruit aromas combining with notes of wild herbs and gum cistus and discreet hints of vanilla. The floral scents which are the hallmark of Vargellas are in evidence, the characteristic violet fragrances combining with delicate blossom and wild herb notes. A current of very clean, vibrant berry fruit flavour flows through the palate from start to finish. Typically lean, wiry tannins emerge on the mid-palate and provide plenty of grip and an attractive touch of austerity. A wonderfully fine and harmonious vintage port, with every element in its place.

Harvest Report for 2012

The winter preceding the 2012 harvest was much drier and colder than is customary. Budburst occurred towards the third week in March under very dry conditions, with good levels of rainfall occurring in April and early May. By the end of May, the vineyards showed low vigour, caused by the combination of an extremely dry winter and cooler than normal spring. Flowering occurred between the 14th – 30th May.

Good weather continued during June and July leading to the healthy development of the vines. The vines maintained their lower than usual vigour, resulting in smaller berries, bunches and lower yields. Véraison (colouring of the grapes) was inevitably later than usual.

In mid-August, the grapes were still very low in sugar and with high levels of acidity. The vegetation however, was remarkably healthy for the time of year. The fully performing canopies and fewer grapes resulted in a significant and continuous ripening of the crop during the duration of the harvest. As a result picking started on the 20th September at Vargellas, with a small pause on the 24th for a few hours of rain, but good weather prevailed for the rest of the harvest.

[AW77]

Croft Roeda 2012

From a Croft press release:

Croft to bottle a Quinta da Roêda 2012 Vintage Port
Announcing the firm’s decision on the 2012 vintage, Croft’s Managing Director Adrian Bridge said: "I am delighted to say that we will be releasing a Quinta da Roêda 2012 Vintage Port, a superb blend including wines from the estate’s oldest vineyards. The cool conditions of 2012 have produced a Roêda that is particularly elegant and finely-constituted, an excellent Vintage Port for early drinking.” He added: "The 2012 Roêda will be released in time for the year end and we expect strong demand.”

Croft’s Head of Viticulture, António Magalhães, remarked: "The ripening season of 2012 was relatively cool but the Roêda vineyards have exceptionally good sun exposure. This means that the 2012 wines are ripe and mature but have an attractive acidity and great purity of expression.”
http://www.croftport.com/en/news/2012-v ... ort-croft/

[jdaw1]

Also Malvedos.

[DRT]

…and Fonseca Guimaraens…

Screen Shot 2014-04-24 at 23.40.47.png (30.09 KiB) Viewed 17710 times

[Alex Bridgeman]

Also Malvedos.

But only as 60 double magnums, of which only 15 will be allocated to the UK.

[flash_uk]

Also Malvedos.

But only as 60 double magnums, of which only 15 will be allocated to the UK.

Really? I had the part about only 60 double magnums, but just assumed they were also doing 750s.

[jdaw1]

Link to tweet of Adrian Bridge.

[flash_uk]

Also Malvedos.

But only as 60 double magnums, of which only 15 will be allocated to the UK.

Really? I had the part about only 60 double magnums, but just assumed they were also doing 750s.

And you are indeed correct: a report here.

[CaliforniaBrad]

Well, they will late release the Malvedos in standard bottles after 2020, so it's not like they don't/won't exist


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[uncle tom]

I was a little unimpressed by the news at the BFT of 60 dmags of GM12 being offered, but not so much as a half bottle to sample - a bit too much blind faith being demanded, IMO..

However the Dow SdR and Vesuvio showed reasonably well, although I didn't rate either as a heavyweight. I was however, pleased to see Vesuvio's flirtation with Dow-like dourness brought to an end and the old opulent Vesuvio style restored. The Dow SdR meanwhile, which in recent years has become very un-Dow-like, is back to a style that is consistant with its pedigree.

[Alex Bridgeman]

If anyone is interested in taking part in a group purchase of either Vesuvio 2012 or Senhora da Ribiera 2012 then please let me know. Both come in bottles in the usual smart 6 pack format (Vesuvio packed as 2 x 3, Ribiera as 1 x 6). Vesuvio is also available in 150cl, 300cl and 600cl.

All subject to availability, of course.

Anyone interested, please drop me a PM or an email.

[Alex Bridgeman]

The marketing blurb that came out witht he 2012 offer said the following about the year as a whole:

2012 was the second driest year in the Douro valley since records began in 1967. An initial hot period in late June was followed by more moderate temperatures during July & August which, tempered by the micro-climates of both Quintas, led to a gradual ripening of the fruit. But the prevailing drought conditions meant yields were around 30% lower than normal. The resulting wines, however, show excellent concentration and balanced pure fruit.

Posted previously, there is also

The Douro vines and its vineyards have an extraordinary way of surprising even the oldtimers in the mountain villages of Sabrosa, Alijo and Provesende. In 2011, the region had a huge 40% drop in rainfall and this year 54% less has fallen than average to the end of September. When a vineyard receives just 217 mm in 9 months, which was the case of the Quintas around Pinhão, the consequences are to be feared. Many predictions of disaster were to be heard from farmers in the village squares on Saturday mornings before the harvest. But yet again the Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Barroca, Roriz and others, showed that they are the real masters of our geography. These Douro varieties can turn the little green berries of May and June into lovely dark red and ripe fruit, even when it has rained so little for the last 21 months.

The first three months of 2012 were really concerning with just 16.4 mm falling over 90 days; there was no effective winter rain from 1st January this year till April (we should have had over 200 mm). It seemed that the gods were against us, because we then had 128 mm in April and May, just when the crucial flowering and fruit set takes place. But the low budburst, in part due to conditions in the spring of 2011, was what we needed; relatively low quantities of fruit so that the vines would have fewer bunches and berries to ripen. A burst of intense heat hit the Douro over the weekend of 23rd and 24th June. Exactly the same had occurred over the same São João weekend in 2011. Maybe the Port producers and farmers have to stop going to the traditional all-night festa on the 23rd June, with consequential hangovers, and stay in their vineyards during São João and shade their vines. This sudden heat caused sunburn and raisining to some of the more exposed grapes. July and August were relatively mild with average temperatures of exactly 23.7ºC in both months. The 21 year average for July is 25.0ºC and for August 25.3ºC. So these moderate temperatures had a profound and positive impact on the quality of the fruit and the wines. Charles Symington, responsible for winemaking at our Quintas, commented that this year showed beyond doubt that excess heat before the harvest is more worrying for our vineyards than drought. The Douro grape varieties will somehow find any humidity that there is deep down in the soil. What they cannot cope with is extreme heat that will raisin their berries. In general there was very substantially less raisined fruit this year than we have had in the last two harvests.

Devastating hail, the result of a thunderstorm, hit the Pinhão valley on the afternoon of Wednesday 25th July and swept over towards São João de Pesqueira. This was one of the worst hailstorms of recent times and totally destroyed some vineyards (this storm knocked over the 83 year old mother of the writer of this report, breaking her rib). As usual neighbouring vineyards simply got a welcome drenching. A little rain fell again on the 15th August.

Picking started some 10 days later than normal this year on the 13th September at Quinta do Vesuvio and Quinta dos Canais, on the 17th at Quinta dos Malvedos and on the 20th at Quinta do Bomfim and the Rio Torto Quintas. The lead-up to picking had been complex, as Charles and his viticultural team analysed the relative ripeness of the different vineyards and grape varieties. The drought caused the ripening to follow a somewhat erratic pattern, with cooler days causing sudden increases in sugar readings, it was important to have a very clear picture of what each variety and each vineyard was doing. Heavy rain came from the Atlantic and over the Marão on the 23rd September with 20mm and again on the 25th with a further 23mm. This rain brought far cooler night and daytime temperatures. Previous to this it had been rather hot, requiring extensive cooling of the musts in the lagares. Inevitably the water was swiftly taken up by the vines and some dilution occurred in the following days, not the harbinger of great wines. Charles decided to suspend picking at the top vineyards on the 29th and 30th in order to allow the vines to recover their equilibrium and to concentrate the sugars. This was a risky thing to do as the September equinox normally brings unsettled weather and we could have had a disaster on our hands if the rainy weather had persisted. In fact the gamble paid off wonderfully and the Touriga Franca picked last week, and up until the 10th October, was harvested in perfect condition under clear skies and moderate temperatures.

Yields were remarkably low with many vineyards in the Douro Superior recording drops of up to 40%. Malvedos gave an average of just 0.65 kgs per vine, 50% less than average. This is an incredibly low yield of about 14 hectolitres per hectare (final figures need to be calculated over the coming weeks). Other great vineyards elsewhere in the world will give 40 to 50 hectos or more per hectare on a regular basis. The accountants will not be happy with 2012, but the winemakers and tasters certainly will be.

The Douro grapes this year were in lovely condition, with small berries giving excellent colour and flavours and the musts looked really first-rate. Early tastings confirm considerable acidity and freshness in the samples. Not all vineyards produced great wines as the drought caused some stress to the more exposed vines and to the drier parcels, but overall this year was a remarkable example of how our Douro vines can cope with drought, as long as it is not too hot.

This year three young members of the 5th generation of the Symington family worked with the winery teams during the harvest, getting their first experience of hands-on winemaking.

Paul Symington,
Portugal, 16th October 2012

[idj123]

Alex, I've sent you a PM.

I may have got my numbers the wrong way around but at the BFT I believe they said that 650 cases of the Vesuvio were being produced and 450 of the Dow. Regarding the Malvedos, of the 15 DMs heading for the UK, the majority were going to BBR but at a pricing point of about £220 it would seem to be targeted at collectors only!

[uncle tom]

Regarding the Malvedos, of the 15 DMs heading for the UK, the majority were going to BBR but at a pricing point of about £220 it would seem to be targeted at collectors only!

Collectors, or people with more money than sense?

Ten years down the line, GM12 will probably be in Sainsbury's at around £22-£25 btl (+ whatever inflation we see in the meantime) - so four bottles will cost you £88 - £100 all-in.

However, ten years of cellaring has a value, so the release price today for four bottles should be somewhere in the region of £65 incl.

As Berry's prices are almost always quoted ex. VAT, I assume £220 equates to £264 incl.

So for the privilege of having four bottles in one big bottle, you will be paying four times over the odds..

However, the chances are that many of the people who do buy these will never find an occasion to drink them, so there's a good chance a few will pop up at auction in due course.

Although the auction prices of all large formats fluctuate more widely than for regular bottles, the average per cL is only marginally higher, so I expect in ten years time I'll be able to pick up one of these for around £100.

- I can wait!

[jdaw1]

There are fifteen for the whole UK. There are plenty of people with finances to spare and a 2012 child. They will go to the correct homes.

And if they do so at a premium, good for the Symingtons. Let them be rewarded for going to the trouble of a small run of large bottles.

[LGTrotter]

I am sure Julian is right about there being sufficient people (fifteen) who will for personal reasons spend the money and good luck to the Symingtons with that. It is a worry though when winemakers get the belief that their wine is worth a good deal more than consumers do. I know the systems are not comparable but I doubt that there will be many consumers rushing to buy claret 2013 this year. And when these things get out of balance it can take quite a few years to right itself. Port is heading in that direction, I would point to the super cuvees as an example of this. Thankfully port has never really attracted much in the way of speculators despite the efforts of the industry to present the 2011s in this light.

[jdaw1]

The Symingtons have regular negotiations with UK supermarkets, as doubtless do the others. Presumably these take the form of the supermarkets telling the producers to kneel, and then kicking them. Such customers surely keep the Port producers quite humble.

[djewesbury]

The Symingtons have regular negotiations with UK supermarkets, as doubtless do the others. Presumably these take the form of the supermarkets telling the producers to kneel, and then kicking them. Such customers surely keep the Port producers quite humble.

Do you really think these negotiations are as open-ended and constructive as you make out?

[uncle tom]

Such customers surely keep the Port producers quite humble

Not convinced. The UK supermarkets buy almost all their port from just three companies - SFE, TFP & Noval, and when it comes to SQVP sales, Noval doesn't play, so there are just two players, who are normally on very cordial terms.

Yes, the supermarkets will play games when they can, but the port industry looks much better defended against their antics than other wine regions.

[DRT]

VP and very old Colheita are not commodities, they are luxury products that under certain circumstances attract premium pricing. Age and rarity are two of those circumstances.

In a world that has constant downward pressure on the pricing of commodity products that represent 90%+ of the annual turnover of a producer I for one don't grudge them a few quid for the very small quantities of high-end or extremely rare stuff they can lay their hands on or produce.

That doesn't mean I will be selling the house to buy all these rare gems, but if others can afford them and therefore generate a quick cash injection to companies operating in a country with a failing economy then good luck to them and well done for seizing the opportunity.

Yes, the supermarkets will play games when they can, but the port industry looks much better defended against their antics than other wine regions.

Every time I have mentioned the word "supermarket" in front of a Port producer the response has included a number of uncomplimentary expletives. Good quality VP with 10 years of age flying off the shelf by the case load at the equivalent of £10-£15 a bottle at Christmas every year doesn't say to me that that particular fight is being won by the Port industry.

[LGTrotter]

In a world that has constant downward pressure on the pricing of commodity products that represent 90%+ of the annual turnover of a producer I for one don't grudge them a few quid for the very small quantities of high-end or extremely rare stuff they can lay their hands on or produce.

Bang on! I'm down with the farmers (Oh-ar, oh-ar). And I can't disagree with the point about supermarkets not being the panacea of the port industry.

But Tom has a point about 4 bottles of Malvedos for £220.

Anyhoo, I might be buying a few 2012's as a woman I know that lives there says it was a fantastic year. So there.

[DRT]

But Tom has a point about 4 bottles of Malvedos for £220.

Agreed, but those of us who don't want to pay that price won't buy it, won't miss it and probably would be best not complaining about it because this very small release was not aimed at this audience. Our chance to buy GM2012 is in eight and a half years from now at £15 + inflation. I'm happy to wait and equally happy for the 15 double mags to be bought by those who think they represent good value or just want them because they want them too much not to pay up.

[Alex Bridgeman]

If anyone is interested in taking part in a group purchase of either Vesuvio 2012 or Senhora da Ribiera 2012 then please let me know. Both come in bottles in the usual smart 6 pack format (Vesuvio packed as 2 x 3, Ribiera as 1 x 6). Vesuvio is also available in 150cl, 300cl and 600cl.

All subject to availability, of course.

Anyone interested, please drop me a PM or an email.

Just checking no-one else would like to buy any of the Symington 2012 ports. I plan to put my order in over the weekend.

[Axel P]

Joao Nicolau was very happy with his 2012 harvest. I believe we can expect a Ramos Pinto VP 2012. I will research on this.

Axel

[jdaw1]

Joao Nicolau was very happy with his 2012 harvest. I believe we can expect a Ramos Pinto VP 2012. I will research on this.

RamosPinto.pt shows 2011 and 2009.

[RPA]

2012 Quinta do Noval can be added to this...

[AW77]

Noval declared the 2012 last week. 1000 cases were made. More:
http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2014/07/ ... 12-vintage

[uncle tom]

Noval declared the 2012 last week. 1000 cases were made

But are they actually marketing them?

I've yet to see the 2008 Noval offered at anything approaching a reasonable price..

[Alex Bridgeman]

If anyone would like any of the 2012 Noval, please let me know by PM.

I received a copy of the press release recently:

QUINTA DO NOVAL DECLARES THE 2012 VINTAGE


This week, the distinguished and iconic Port producer Quinta do Noval has announced the declaration of its classic 2012 Vintage – one of the very few Port houses to do so.

Managing Director Christian Seely explains: “Quinta do Noval has always marched to the beat of its own drum. Our approach is very clear: when we are convinced that we have a wine of sufficient quality to merit a declaration as Quinta do Noval, we do so. 2012 is an outstanding example of this”.

“We are a small port producer that always concentrates on quality rather than quantity”, Christian Seely continues. “With vines and terroir like this we do not always have to run with the crowd. We have an independence, and reputation that allows us to be somewhat idiosyncratic - if the wine is right”.

“In 2012, thanks to plenty of essential rain through the spring, and then an extremely dry summer we were able to produce a very small quantity of truly exceptional Port that we considered worthy of a Vintage declaration. Following strict selection of lots in the tasting room, we made just 1000 cases of our Quinta do Noval 2012 Vintage Port”.

Throughout the upper Douro, a wet spring and summer drought conditions that year reduced grape production overall. However, the mild temperatures through the year enabled the vines to reach excellent maturity. At Noval - where harvesting started one week later than normal - the grapes that were picked, and then trodden by foot, were small but perfectly formed with outstanding flavour and freshness in the musts.

The result is a Vintage Port which, according to wine-making director Antonio Agrellos: “is a classic example of the Quinta do Noval style and a worthy addition to the recent Quinta do Noval declarations such as 2011, 2008 and 2007”.

Quinta do Noval 2012 Vintage Port is now being bottled and shipped to customers around the world. Gonzalez Byass, Quinta do Noval’s UK agents, will have a small quantity on allocation, and are currently offering it for sale. Phone number: 01707 274790.

For more information, please contact Marie-Louise Schÿler, Director of Communication, AXA Millésimes +33 618674541, mlschyler@axamillesimes.com or Fiona Campbell, PR for UK, on 01225782095 or fionaccampbell@btopenworld.com


http://www.quintadonoval.com

A UNIQUE VINEYARD TERROIR
Quinta do Noval Vintage Port is characterised by its purity of fruit and a fine and delicate quality that is typical of the wines of the property in general but which finds its most remarkable and enduring expression in the Vintage Ports.
Equilibrium, harmony, finesse and elegance characterise our great Vintage Ports, which are declared only in great years (3 or 4 years in a decade) and only when the wines come up to Noval’s exacting standards. Even then, the wines selected for the Quinta do Noval Vintage Port blend represent only a small proportion of our total production.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 2012 VINTAGE
The year 2012 was characterized by an extremely dry and cold winter, followed by a very wet spring and a dry summer. These spring rains were crucial because they supplied the water necessary for the development of the vines. Yields were naturally low, but this fact coupled with the mild temperatures of spring and summer, allowed the vines to achieve an excellent maturation of the grapes.
The harvest started a week later than normal. Although 2012 was a drought year, the grapes were in very good condition, with small but perfect berries that produced flavourful musts, full of freshness and good acidity.
António Agrellos, Technical Director - June 2014
DECLARATION
Quinta do Noval has always had a slightly eccentric approach to Vintage Declarations, and indeed the house to a great extent made its name with its declaration of the great 31 Vintage.
When we are convinced that we have a wine that merits declaration as a Quinta do Noval Vintage Port we do so. 2012 is an outstanding example.
WHERE THE GRAPES COME FROM
All the grapes come from the Quinta do Noval vineyard.
GRAPE VARIETIES
Touriga Nacional 70%; Touriga Franca 25 %; Tinto Cão 5 %.
VINIFICATION
The grapes were trodden by foot and fermented in the traditional lagares of the Quinta, with temperature control at 28º, where a disciplined and intense treading is fundamental for a good final result.
MATURING
It is matured for 18 months in wooden barrels.

[djewesbury]

I really shouldn't. Are you free to publish prices or are these by PM only?

[idj123]

The Noval is likely to be £270 for a case of 6 IB (so more than the 2011). They are also releasing a NN 2004 at around £330 per bottle IB.

[uncle tom]

The Noval is likely to be £270 for a case of 6 IB (so more than the 2011)

It could be worse, but what reason do we have to believe that it's better than the 2011?

[DRT]

Screen Shot 2014-07-31 at 00.42.34.png (38.87 KiB) Viewed 9306 times

The price differential between the Symington and TFP wines is staggering.

I ordered some of each of the TPF offerings, all of which scored 90+ in AHB's vintage review.

[uncle tom]

The price differential between the Symington and TFP wines is staggering

+1

[djewesbury]

The price differential between the Symington and TFP wines is staggering

+1

And not the way round that you might have expected. Funny old game isn't it.
I have already foresworn any more 'new' port. Is this expected to be drinkable any time soon?

[djewesbury]

Actually by the time someone answers that post I'll have clicked the buttons that say 'buy one of each'. I like the idea of 24 halves.

[DRT]

It's SQVP so not a long term proposition. In 10 years time these will be lovely. Buy.

[djewesbury]

I'm buying, and I'm putting an order in for one of our brethren also.

[PopulusTremula]

It's SQVP so not a long term proposition. In 10 years time these will be lovely. Buy.

This from a man who appears to have an endless supply of GM65 and, more importantly, who is also very gratiously sharing this most excellent juice with other forumites?

Perhaps Derek has only one bottle of GM65 and, like the pig Särimner in Nordic mythology, magically this is refilled after each draining, provided the bottle, cork and capsule are saved?

[DRT]

a man who appears to have an endless supply of GM65

If only that was true

[djewesbury]

It's SQVP so not a long term proposition. In 10 years time these will be lovely. Buy.

This from a man who appears to have an endless supply of GM65 and, more importantly, who is also very gratiously sharing this most excellent juice with other forumites?

Perhaps Derek has only one bottle of GM65 and, like the pig Särimner in Nordic mythology, magically this is refilled after each draining, provided the bottle, cork and capsule are saved?

GM65 is not, though, an SQVP, if I remember rightly. In fact, it's more of a 'second port', like Guimaraens. So I suppose the original terminological inexactitude was Derek's, in including FG as an SQVP, this solecism then being compounded and perpetuated by Magnus in his post quoted above.
Do 'second ports' last the same amount of time as SQVPs, or are they shorter or longer lived?

[DRT]

And Daniel follows with another error.

Fonseca Guimaraens is not a "second port", it is the same blend as the classic Fonseca from declared years. The second brand is used in years when the primary brand is not.

[djewesbury]

And Daniel follows with another error.

Fonseca Guimaraens is not a "second port", it is the same blend as the classic Fonseca from declared years. The second brand is used in years when the primary brand is not.

Of course. I knew this and was testing you. So, as the same blend as classic Fonseca from declared years, this is even more definitely not an SQVP; so you're even wronger. Anyway, given that the press guff says that the wines were all excellent but the quantities very small, would you not expect this FG12 to go on and on, and then go on a bit more? Rather than be drinking in 10 years?

EDIT:

When Guimaraens Vintage Ports were first released in the 1930's they were made in the same years as the classic Fonseca Vintage Ports but blended from slightly less powerful components, much like the second wines of the Bordeaux châteaux.
Today Guimaraens Vintage Ports are made in years when the wines are more supple and early maturing and Fonseca in vintages producing bigger, more long lasting Ports.
Guimaraens Vintage Ports nevertheless share the origins, heritage and complex fruity style of the classic Fonseca vintages and are drawn from the produce of the same three estates. They differ only in that they are more approachable, ready to drink earlier and more accessibly priced.

So they were originally 'second ports', in the 1930s; that must be what I was remembering. I forgot a lot over the years, you know.

[DRT]

would you not expect this FG12 to go on and on, and then go on a bit more? Rather than be drinking in 10 years?

What I meant was that these Ports are from a good but not great vintage and that they are of the sort that under normal circumstances would have been kept in the cellars in VNG for around 10 years and then punted out to Tesco for immediate drinking. And they will be lovely.

Will they go on longer? Of course they will, but that doesn't means they won't be lovely at 10 years old.

[djewesbury]

What are normal circumstances? Why are these not they?

[DRT]

British shippers' traditional approach to the market for non-declared years is to age the wines in VNG and then release them when ready to drink. The Fladgate Partnership appear to have moved away from that approach, at least for this vintage. Perhaps the finances involved in tying up stock for 10 years is an influencing factor.

[DRT]

By way of example, where are 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012?

Screen Shot 2014-07-31 at 12.21.00.png (47.64 KiB) Viewed 9257 times

[djewesbury]

By way of example, where are 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012?

Screen Shot 2014-07-31 at 12.21.00.png

Yes yes, in VNG. I know.
Anyway, any thoughts on the price differential between TFP and SFE?
Is this, overall, good news for us, or are we just paying extra by having to store the stuff for a decade (about the price of the port by the time it's ready)?