Port

Dense ruby black core surrounded by a purple red rim.  The nose is true to the Roêda style, a luscious fruitiness combined with the resiny, musky redolence of wild herbs and gum cistus.  However the year, with its typical purity and finesse, has placed this finely constituted wine at the elegant and subtle end of the Roêda spectrum.  Blended with the typically jammy fruit are fresher notes of raspberry and apricot and the palate is lifted by a crisp acidity and supported by a dense warp of firm sinewy tannins. Slightly more restrained and clearly delineated than some recent Roêda vintages, the wine nevertheless displays the seductive ripe fruitiness which is the hallmark of this great historic estate.

“The nose is true to the Roêda style, a luscious fruitiness combined with the resiny, musky redolence of wild herbs and gum cistus.  However, the year, with its typical purity and finesse, has placed this finely constituted wine at the elegant and subtle end of the Roêda spectrum.  Blended with the typically jammy fruit are fresher notes of raspberry and apricot and the palate is lifted by a crisp acidity and supported by dense firm, sinewy tannins.  Slightly more restrained and clearly delineated than some recent Roêda vintages, the wine displays the seductive ripe fruitiness that is the hallmark of this great historic estate.”

“Croft’s 2012 Quinta da Roeda has a warm, figgy, dark chocolate-scented bouquet that is a bit like getting a big hug from your favourite aunt. It just seems to “envelop” the senses. The palate is smooth on the entry, quite velvety in the mouth with great depth, perhaps more complexity than I was anticipating, especially towards the structured blackberry and Chinese 5-spice finish that lingers long in the mouth. This is one of Taylor Fladgate’ best 2012 releases and comes highly recommended.”

92-93 Points

James Suckling, September 2014