At the end of last week’s Symington family single quinta port seminar in London on Thursday, Johnny and Paul Symington brought out three tank samples of the 2011 harvest. They call it ‘a most sensational harvest’.
The crop was small and very concentrated, but on the 21 August 18mm of rain softened the skins. The sample from the Qunita do Bomfim had staggering depth of fruit – intense ripe black cherry; Cavadinha was more perfumed and a little fresher – a huge wine, whereas Malvedos, more closed was intensely spicy.
Such notes are only the roughest of indications – the wines are too young to assess properly, but they are surely hugely promising and as Paul said, ‘You’d have to be a damn idiot not to make a great wine this year.’
I’ll report on the tasting proper in The Journal on 4 November.
We promised our daughter a case of port to lay down when they were married in 2011. When will the wine be available for sale and at what price?
Although the quality of the 2011 wines is very exciting, the final decision to ‘declare’ a vintage can’t be taken until 2013. I would be very surprised if most houses fail to do so. As to opening prices, I think you would be wise to set aside around £400 for a case of twelve. All should be much clearer by this time next year!
Thanks for finally writing about 2011 Port – yet another vintage of the century?
Helen’s blog
Loved it!