Three years since last bottle of this. Ca 3 hour decant which seemed to be one or two hours less than ideal.
nose and palate are quite similar with licorice, sweet dark fruits like plums and cherries. Still quite tannic so no hurry to drink these, but it seems to be coming out of its closed phase.
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Advanced colour; rather innocuous nose, subdued; more heft on palate, quiet mid-palate but good attack on finish. (From a half). 48 hours on, fleshed out , plummy.
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Pop 'n pour which was not a good idea, but hey it's a cellar defender in half bottle. I thought this would show more ready to drink but I would recomend something like an 8 hour decant and still expect it to improve. App: Very dark red 80% opaque. Nose: Cherries with a hint of tobacco. Taste: Cherries with a good amount of blueberries mixed in; aftertaste is showing some tobacco anise on top of this. this is a wine that should improve over the next decade and then drink well for another 15 years. Amazing qpr and an easy 93+
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2005 Croft Vintage Porto Quinta da Roeda, 20 pabv, Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers Vinhos SA, Vila Nova de Gaia, Kobrand, New York, Arbutus inedo (Strawberry Tree) labeling. Cork finished, ciean sided when removed with Durand double spiral-clamp. Undecanted; quick-falling tears.
Colors beginning to soften and fade, call it out to 10 mm. Thick-textured and teary. Nose comes on with sweet orange and sweet cherry, an interesting blend. Underneath there is anise and a hint of savory tomato and pepper broth and a still-energetic background. with some high tones still lurking there. Palate expresses all this very well. The previous greenness has now melted into mint julep with no hard edges at all. Still lots of fruit to concoct and more to look forward to. There's lots of sweet vanilla in the finish mixed with thyme and tobacco, and the previous sight hardness has now become the merest hint of heat, with a tannic presence coming out at last in the wash. All in all, I've hit this a little too early, treating it at$32 like a LBV, which is sort of a no-no in my books, but there are still 3 left, probably giving best results if not drunk up before 10 more years. After aill, that's their 20th birthday, so need to save one for 2025, if I'm still here and able to enjoy. 94/100.
After about 14 days in a decanter, the appearance is the same. There is a tarry cherry juice and mint nose, very lovely, with tobacco smoke and with a note of vanillin oak underlying. It has come together with a more harmonious texture and savory finish, and a mouthful of ripe tannins needing some resolution yet. This wine has a definite upside, and it's being drunk way too early. Needs a minimum of 10 more years to peak, and plenty of time from then on. 95/100
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2005 Croft Vintage Porto Quinta da Roeda, 20 pabv, Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers Vinhos SA, Vila Nova de Gaia, Kobrand, New York, Arbutus inedo (Strawberry Tree) labeling.
Cork finished, ciean sided when removed with Durand double spiral-clamp. Undecanted; quick-falling tears. At 24 hours: Green-purple and opaque nearly to the edge. Lots of high-toned stuff in the nose--pine, thyme, blueberry-cassis, underlain by a tenor note of cherry and violet.
Sweet on the palate, with a nice tannic buzz and grip, with medium-long savoriness. Still a slight bit of greenness, that will resolve with more aging. 93/100. Nice juicy fruitiness and grip, will go well with cheese, dried fruit, and/or other foods.
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Christmas Eve, Tuesday, 2013. This is the first Christmas the Rev. Smoke is celebrating with Trinity Episcopal, Troy, OH; thus, the exploratory grab in the cellar. Something old, new, borrowed, purple.
Cork-finished after 8 years in bottle; used my new Durand tirer-bouchon; shows considerable sediment during the double-decant; wine not completely particle-free.
Stodgy, with all the edges folded under so that, try as you might, you can't tease one up; a little vanillin and some 'violet' the only scents that I can unravel. Otherwise somewhat muddy, with overall rubbery, bloody, and plastic notes. (Wine will have another 6 hours plus before this will be poured for Eucharist and food.) Considerable sweetness and energetic grip; now somewhat hot for a few seconds; even though this doesn't sound appetizing, it's actually a very cleanly-made wine, with a solid finish and clean, ripe, balanced tannin. Worth waiting for the denouement.
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TN: Croft Porto 2005, Quinta da Roeda; 20 pabv. $31.50 after double discount; 7x750 ml purchased 7/26/2010. UPC 0 84692 00029 6 Bottled by Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers, Vinhos, SA. (Guimaerens, I think.) Featuring Strawberry Tree label, Arbutus inedo.
Vanilla-tinged jammy black fruit, underlain with tar, grass, and cassis. Enters with creamy milk chocolate with integrated and balanced sweetness and juciness, and onto a long finish. A little iffy which way this one will go, but too early to tell.
Previous note; 94/100: One of the best values in Port I've come across in years. It's styled very much like a great Grahams, but with a bit more sap. Apparently there was an opportunity for DLM to purchase this at a distress sale, and it seems that every bit of it that they could buy was snapped up--probably three six-packs, of which I now have one plus.
Day three:
Still thick and very leggy but shows a little lightening to the edge; not a hue change, however.
Shows an impressive array of both fruit and spice: the spice thyme and hints of clove, edged with vanilla and some elusive, floral, violet, high-toned elements, but the fruit a very ripe plum well-integrated with red cherry, and a good dose of juicy dark currant.
On entry the wine has reigned-in sweetness, full, energetic fruit, and fine, ripe, moderately prominent tannins. It shows the somewhat glossy surfaces common with modern-style winemaking. However, it shows great harmony, integration, depth, and purity.
This is an impressive wine for a single-Quinta vintage, certainly one of the best I've ever tasted, and quite drinkable now with intelligent decanting. I'd say just a hair short of being a soweverhow-stopper, and it has a chance of reaching that plateau, and a nearly unbelievable value. 94/100.
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Dark and luscious. Black cherry, plum, stewed fruit and loads of chocolate. Some spicy notes as well. Wonderful balance between fruit, chocolate, spice, sweetness, and acidity.
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I would buy again at the price I got it at, otherwise I would try others, but this was very good. Not massive, but no baby either. Rich but not in the same league as the best.
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Not as friendly as my last sample about a year and a half ago. Storage was suspect. This showed lovely violets, tea and plums on the nose, but the palate was quite spirity and the tannins were heavy and chalky. I suspect this is in an awkward phase (or a bad bottle?). The strong structure suggests a long future; I'll rate this one more on potential rather than on current enjoyment.
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TN: Croft Porto 2005, Quinta da Roeda; 20 pabv. $31.50 after double discount; 7x750 ml purchased 7/26/2010. UPC 0 84692 00029 6 Bottled by Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers, Vinhos, SA. (Guimaerens, I think.) Featuring Strawberry Tree label, Arbutus inedo.
I understand that this is now the backbone for the unusually fine recent series of Croft vintage Portos, having been purchased for that purpose in 2001, according to Roy Hersh. I can detect its influence, for example, in the great 2003 Croft Porto.
Cork-finished with what appears to be very high quality five-band closure, with a clear plastic overlay and black metallic capsule. Very dense purple coloration to edge; viscous and leggy.
A big nose: smoke, cassis, sweet cherry, violet, anise, grassy herb, green tobacco, tea, and plummy vanilla notes on opening.
Richly sweet, dense, mouth-coating, and energetic on entry, with orange sorbet and vanilla flavors, with a good dose of ripe tannins and a rather attractive and high-toned finish. Styled more like a straight 'vintage' Porto rather than a single Quinta, rich, sweet, juicy, and hitting on all cylinders. Expect this to reward considerable cellaring, but to drink well young for those who like to take their Port that way. Drink 2015-2030 and onward.
One of the best Single Quintas I've ever had, although my experience is not extremely deep in them.
Expect this to develop in bottle for three or four days after opening; and so I'll need to add to these notes and perhaps revise the score a bit.
One of the best values in Port I've come across in years. It's styled very much like a great Grahams, but with a bit more sap. Apparently there was an opportunity for DLM to purchase this at a distress sale, and it seems that every bit of it that they could buy was snapped up--probably three six-packs, of which I now have one plus.
Day three:
Still thick and very leggy but shows a little lightening to the edge; not a hue change, however.
Shows an impressive array of both fruit and spice: the spice thyme and hints of clove, edged with vanilla and some elusive, floral, violet, high-toned elements, but the fruit a very ripe plum well-integrated with red cherry, and a good dose of juicy dark currant.
On entry the wine has reigned-in sweetness, full, energetic fruit, and fine, ripe, moderately prominent tannins. It shows the somewhat glossy surfaces common with modern-style winemaking. However, it shows great harmony, integration, depth, and purity.
This is an impressive wine for a single-Quinta vintage, certainly one of the best I've ever tasted, and quite drinkable now with intelligent decanting. I'd say just a hair short of being a soweverhow-stopper, and it has a chance of reaching that plateau, and a nearly unbelievable value. 94/100. There are still six bottles out on the shelf, for those who are in the region.
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I tasted this at varying times over the past three days. This started out dark purple and by day 3 was solid opaque. Initially lots of tobacco leaf, boysenberry, and some chocolate on the nose that gave way to a large amount of seductive lavender and blackberries by day 3. The one thing that remained consistent was the massive chalky tannins that completely dried out the palate and a solid dose of acidity. I will say this wasn't pleasant to drink on day one, but not in a bad way. It was just so youthful, primary, and raw that it was a chore to taste...always a good sign for a VP! The one other thing that was consistent throughout was the full, complex, and long finish. It just hung on the palate and throat and seemed to never end. However, the fruit did get a little tight at the end of day 2 / beginning of day 3, not bad mind you, just a sign of a solid bottle going through some youthful fazes. I'm glad to see Croft getting back in the game after a long dry spell (1991 and 2003 excluded). I look forward to tasting more from this house in years to come as I think The Fladgate Partnership, and winemaker David Guimaraens, is finally getting this house back on track. 95 points
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Full bodied, rich and succulent. Somewhat like falling into an bottomless pit of freshly mashed ripe plums. A bit of unintegrated spirit, but this performed much better with some extended decanting. Lengthy finish.
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Dark purple in the glass. A fruit forward nose with beautiful black and red fruit aromas, including cherries, raspberries and blackberries. Still more fruit in the mouth with flavors of raspberries, blackberry preserves and a light dark chocolate finish.
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4/10/2022 - ClausP wrote: 93 Points
Three years since last bottle of this.
Ca 3 hour decant which seemed to be one or two hours less than ideal.
nose and palate are quite similar with licorice, sweet dark fruits like plums and cherries.
Still quite tannic so no hurry to drink these, but it seems to be coming out of its closed phase.
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10/31/2021 - chbeaumont wrote: 88 Points
Drinking well, lots of plummy fruit, straightforward.
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4/30/2021 - Al-Vino Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good Vintage Port. Sorry, that’s all I got ...should have probably started the note before I finished the bottle :)
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12/25/2019 - chbeaumont wrote: 88 Points
Advanced colour; rather innocuous nose, subdued; more heft on palate, quiet mid-palate but good attack on finish.
(From a half).
48 hours on, fleshed out , plummy.
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4/9/2019 - ClausP wrote: 93 Points
Pop 'n pour which was not a good idea, but hey it's a cellar defender in half bottle.
I thought this would show more ready to drink but I would recomend something like an 8 hour decant and still expect it to improve.
App: Very dark red 80% opaque.
Nose: Cherries with a hint of tobacco.
Taste: Cherries with a good amount of blueberries mixed in; aftertaste is showing some tobacco anise on top of this.
this is a wine that should improve over the next decade and then drink well for another 15 years.
Amazing qpr and an easy 93+
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9/12/2017 - H. Eugene wrote: 93 Points
Excellent
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5/1/2017 - H. Eugene Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent, especially for an everyday Port
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1/3/2017 - admid wrote:
dissapointing, might be too early
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12/17/2015 - sweetstuff wrote: 95 Points
2005 Croft Vintage Porto Quinta da Roeda, 20 pabv, Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers Vinhos SA, Vila Nova de Gaia, Kobrand, New York, Arbutus inedo (Strawberry Tree) labeling. Cork finished, ciean sided when removed with Durand double spiral-clamp. Undecanted; quick-falling tears.
Colors beginning to soften and fade, call it out to 10 mm. Thick-textured and teary. Nose comes on with sweet orange and sweet cherry, an interesting blend. Underneath there is anise and a hint of savory tomato and pepper broth and a still-energetic background. with some high tones still lurking there. Palate expresses all this very well. The previous greenness has now melted into mint julep with no hard edges at all. Still lots of fruit to concoct and more to look forward to. There's lots of sweet vanilla in the finish mixed with thyme and tobacco, and the previous sight hardness has now become the merest hint of heat, with a tannic presence coming out at last in the wash. All in all, I've hit this a little too early, treating it at$32 like a LBV, which is sort of a no-no in my books, but there are still 3 left, probably giving best results if not drunk up before 10 more years. After aill, that's their 20th birthday, so need to save one for 2025, if I'm still here and able to enjoy. 94/100.
After about 14 days in a decanter, the appearance is the same. There is a tarry cherry juice and mint nose, very lovely, with tobacco smoke and with a note of vanillin oak underlying. It has come together with a more harmonious texture and savory finish, and a mouthful of ripe tannins needing some resolution yet. This wine has a definite upside, and it's being drunk way too early. Needs a minimum of 10 more years to peak, and plenty of time from then on. 95/100
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10/31/2015 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Rich, sweet, energetic, drinking well now. This is deep,mfun and vibrant.
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6/12/2015 - Loekkeboe wrote: 92 Points
Good young vintage port. Should be cellared for some years.
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2/22/2015 - sweetstuff wrote: 93 Points
2005 Croft Vintage Porto Quinta da Roeda, 20 pabv, Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers Vinhos SA, Vila Nova de Gaia, Kobrand, New York, Arbutus inedo (Strawberry Tree) labeling.
Cork finished, ciean sided when removed with Durand double spiral-clamp. Undecanted; quick-falling tears. At 24 hours: Green-purple and opaque nearly to the edge. Lots of high-toned stuff in the nose--pine, thyme, blueberry-cassis, underlain by a tenor note of cherry and violet.
Sweet on the palate, with a nice tannic buzz and grip, with medium-long savoriness. Still a slight bit of greenness, that will resolve with more aging. 93/100. Nice juicy fruitiness and grip, will go well with cheese, dried fruit, and/or other foods.
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12/24/2013 - sweetstuff wrote: 93 Points
Christmas Eve, Tuesday, 2013. This is the first Christmas the Rev. Smoke is celebrating with Trinity Episcopal, Troy, OH; thus, the exploratory grab in the cellar. Something old, new, borrowed, purple.
Cork-finished after 8 years in bottle; used my new Durand tirer-bouchon; shows considerable sediment during the double-decant; wine not completely particle-free.
Stodgy, with all the edges folded under so that, try as you might, you can't tease one up; a little vanillin and some 'violet' the only scents that I can unravel. Otherwise somewhat muddy, with overall rubbery, bloody, and plastic notes. (Wine will have another 6 hours plus before this will be poured for Eucharist and food.) Considerable sweetness and energetic grip; now somewhat hot for a few seconds; even though this doesn't sound appetizing, it's actually a very cleanly-made wine, with a solid finish and clean, ripe, balanced tannin. Worth waiting for the denouement.
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3/5/2013 - sweetstuff wrote: 92 Points
TN: Croft Porto 2005, Quinta da Roeda; 20 pabv. $31.50 after double discount; 7x750 ml purchased 7/26/2010. UPC 0 84692 00029 6 Bottled by Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers, Vinhos, SA. (Guimaerens, I think.) Featuring Strawberry Tree label, Arbutus inedo.
Vanilla-tinged jammy black fruit, underlain with tar, grass, and cassis. Enters with creamy milk chocolate with integrated and balanced sweetness and juciness, and onto a long finish. A little iffy which way this one will go, but too early to tell.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Previous note; 94/100: One of the best values in Port I've come across in years. It's styled very much like a great Grahams, but with a bit more sap. Apparently there was an opportunity for DLM to purchase this at a distress sale, and it seems that every bit of it that they could buy was snapped up--probably three six-packs, of which I now have one plus.
Day three:
Still thick and very leggy but shows a little lightening to the edge; not a hue change, however.
Shows an impressive array of both fruit and spice: the spice thyme and hints of clove, edged with vanilla and some elusive, floral, violet, high-toned elements, but the fruit a very ripe plum well-integrated with red cherry, and a good dose of juicy dark currant.
On entry the wine has reigned-in sweetness, full, energetic fruit, and fine, ripe, moderately prominent tannins. It shows the somewhat glossy surfaces common with modern-style winemaking. However, it shows great harmony, integration, depth, and purity.
This is an impressive wine for a single-Quinta vintage, certainly one of the best I've ever tasted, and quite drinkable now with intelligent decanting. I'd say just a hair short of being a soweverhow-stopper, and it has a chance of reaching that plateau, and a nearly unbelievable value. 94/100.
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12/26/2012 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 91 Points
interesting with great depth and flavor;worth seeking out more
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11/16/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote: 92 Points
Dark and luscious. Black cherry, plum, stewed fruit and loads of chocolate. Some spicy notes as well. Wonderful balance between fruit, chocolate, spice, sweetness, and acidity.
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11/14/2010 - pinotwinelover wrote: 92 Points
I would buy again at the price I got it at, otherwise I would try others, but this was very good. Not massive, but no baby either. Rich but not in the same league as the best.
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9/25/2010 - mdefreitas wrote: 90 Points
Not as friendly as my last sample about a year and a half ago. Storage was suspect. This showed lovely violets, tea and plums on the nose, but the palate was quite spirity and the tannins were heavy and chalky. I suspect this is in an awkward phase (or a bad bottle?). The strong structure suggests a long future; I'll rate this one more on potential rather than on current enjoyment.
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8/22/2010 - sweetstuff wrote: 94 Points
TN: Croft Porto 2005, Quinta da Roeda; 20 pabv. $31.50 after double discount; 7x750 ml purchased 7/26/2010. UPC 0 84692 00029 6 Bottled by Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers, Vinhos, SA. (Guimaerens, I think.) Featuring Strawberry Tree label, Arbutus inedo.
I understand that this is now the backbone for the unusually fine recent series of Croft vintage Portos, having been purchased for that purpose in 2001, according to Roy Hersh. I can detect its influence, for example, in the great 2003 Croft Porto.
Cork-finished with what appears to be very high quality five-band closure, with a clear plastic overlay and black metallic capsule. Very dense purple coloration to edge; viscous and leggy.
A big nose: smoke, cassis, sweet cherry, violet, anise, grassy herb, green tobacco, tea, and plummy vanilla notes on opening.
Richly sweet, dense, mouth-coating, and energetic on entry, with orange sorbet and vanilla flavors, with a good dose of ripe tannins and a rather attractive and high-toned finish. Styled more like a straight 'vintage' Porto rather than a single Quinta, rich, sweet, juicy, and hitting on all cylinders. Expect this to reward considerable cellaring, but to drink well young for those who like to take their Port that way. Drink 2015-2030 and onward.
One of the best Single Quintas I've ever had, although my experience is not extremely deep in them.
Expect this to develop in bottle for three or four days after opening; and so I'll need to add to these notes and perhaps revise the score a bit.
One of the best values in Port I've come across in years. It's styled very much like a great Grahams, but with a bit more sap. Apparently there was an opportunity for DLM to purchase this at a distress sale, and it seems that every bit of it that they could buy was snapped up--probably three six-packs, of which I now have one plus.
Day three:
Still thick and very leggy but shows a little lightening to the edge; not a hue change, however.
Shows an impressive array of both fruit and spice: the spice thyme and hints of clove, edged with vanilla and some elusive, floral, violet, high-toned elements, but the fruit a very ripe plum well-integrated with red cherry, and a good dose of juicy dark currant.
On entry the wine has reigned-in sweetness, full, energetic fruit, and fine, ripe, moderately prominent tannins. It shows the somewhat glossy surfaces common with modern-style winemaking. However, it shows great harmony, integration, depth, and purity.
This is an impressive wine for a single-Quinta vintage, certainly one of the best I've ever tasted, and quite drinkable now with intelligent decanting. I'd say just a hair short of being a soweverhow-stopper, and it has a chance of reaching that plateau, and a nearly unbelievable value. 94/100. There are still six bottles out on the shelf, for those who are in the region.
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7/5/2010 - cofidis2 wrote: 95 Points
I tasted this at varying times over the past three days. This started out dark purple and by day 3 was solid opaque. Initially lots of tobacco leaf, boysenberry, and some chocolate on the nose that gave way to a large amount of seductive lavender and blackberries by day 3. The one thing that remained consistent was the massive chalky tannins that completely dried out the palate and a solid dose of acidity. I will say this wasn't pleasant to drink on day one, but not in a bad way. It was just so youthful, primary, and raw that it was a chore to taste...always a good sign for a VP! The one other thing that was consistent throughout was the full, complex, and long finish. It just hung on the palate and throat and seemed to never end. However, the fruit did get a little tight at the end of day 2 / beginning of day 3, not bad mind you, just a sign of a solid bottle going through some youthful fazes. I'm glad to see Croft getting back in the game after a long dry spell (1991 and 2003 excluded). I look forward to tasting more from this house in years to come as I think The Fladgate Partnership, and winemaker David Guimaraens, is finally getting this house back on track.
95 points
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9/24/2009 - michaelrork wrote: 75 Points
Mild dirty licorice smell. Dry mouth feel. Cherry flavor, but not intense. Would not buy, but would drink at a party.
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6/9/2009 - kris.h wrote: 93 Points
2007 Vintage Port Cask Samples (Seattle, WA): Very dark. Plum and smoke on the nose. Very well balanced with a big structure. Long warm finish.
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3/28/2009 - mdefreitas wrote: 93 Points
Full bodied, rich and succulent. Somewhat like falling into an bottomless pit of freshly mashed ripe plums. A bit of unintegrated spirit, but this performed much better with some extended decanting. Lengthy finish.
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3/10/2009 - thegrandcrew Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark purple in the glass. A fruit forward nose with beautiful black and red fruit aromas, including cherries, raspberries and blackberries. Still more fruit in the mouth with flavors of raspberries, blackberry preserves and a light dark chocolate finish.
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