The consensus in Douro seems to be becoming that the vintage and its resulting wine should inform a declaration - not the market - and so we have our third declaration in a row following 2016 and 2017 for many Houses, despite the previously held convention of only declaring two or three vintages per decade.
As Adrian Bridge of Taylor Fladgate explains: “Although a classic declaration normally only happens about three times a decade, the exceptional run of years has meant that Taylor’s is able to make a third in a row. This is very unusual but our principle is that we only declare a classic vintage when the quality is there and this is dictated by the year, not by any other consideration.”
Taylor Fladgate has declared the vintage for Taylor, though Fonseca and Croft have only declared the single quintas: Fonseca’s Guimaraens and Croft’s Quinta da Roeda. The House has made the decision, however, not to release the wines until next year given the global economic circumstances at the time of declaration in the wake of COVID-19.
Symington, too, has focused its declarations in 2018 on the single quintas. Quinta do Vesuvio and Dow’s Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira will be released this year. Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos, Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim, Warre’s Quinta da Cavadinha and Cockburn’s Quinta dos Canais 2018 Vintages will be released at later dates.
Ramos Pinto have also gone down the single quinta route with with the rare single Quinta do Bom Retiro - only the second release from the single quinta in over two decades.
Quinta do Noval has released the 2018 vintage, following consecutive releases in every vintage since 2011.
Finally, Soprage have released Sandeman, Offley and Ferreira 2018 Vintage Ports.
Whilst the 2017 vintage was marked by extreme drought, 2018 saw an uncharacteristically rainy start to the growing season, which reduced yields going into a hot and dry summer. A challenging vintage, but with excellent results.
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