Fladgate Partnership declares 2009 Taylor, Fonseca, Croft & Skeffington
'We haven't seen colour intensity and tannic grip like this in over 20 years' - David Guimaraens, Head Winemaker
2009 is an unusual beast in the modern world of port: a partial declaration. It's also the fourth declaration in ten years - an extremely rare occurrence. Also unusual was Fladgate's jumping the gun and declaring on 23rd April instead of waiting for St George's day*.
What led the Fladgate Partnership to this declaration was one of the driest growing seasons on record. A small crop from the beginning was caused by shy flowering and concentrated by the cool and arid months of June and July. The heat was turned up considerably in August and this led to some water stress on more exposed vines, but the venerable plantings of the Douro with their extensive roots survived well. Our first opportunity to taste will be next week. Others who have done so already are clearly impressed.
Of the other significant producers, the Symingtons aren't declaring (save for 500 cases of an anniversary Warre) - perhaps because they were so impressed by their 2010s at harvest time. Christian Seely at Quinta do Noval is minded not to, but Dirk Niepoort definitely will: we tasted it on a recent visit to Porto and it's phenomenal. /CW
*Fellow pedants should ask Colin for the theology of this
Offered subject to confirmation for shipment early 2012
