Vintage 2018

The 2018 Vintage Port is a field blend, which is mostly represented as Touriga Franca (30%), Touriga Nacional (20%) and Tinta Roriz (15%), with dollops of others for the rest. It is unoaked and comes in with 86 grams of residual sugar. This is sourced from Quinta Vale d’Agodinho in the Ferradosa Valley, planted in 1983. Dry, stern and very serious, this projects a lot of power, with the fruit well in second place just now. Tight and needing to unravel, this is built to age, which is generally a good thing for Port. This is going to be one that will require a little extra patience, even if it is true that people are diving into Vintage Ports younger than ever these days. It should age and develop well. In fact, three days later, it showed off its good fruit more, while still finishing with firmness. As noted, it’s a very dry and serious style, so don’t expect a fruit bomb. If that style is your style, this is superb, with plenty of room to improve in the cellar. Its purity is a plus. June 2021.