2017 Declarations

[AHB]

This thread is to hold the details of the Vintage Ports from the 2017 vintage. An asterisk next to the shipper indicates that a tasting note is on TPF for the Port (with a link to the TN).

First to declare (at least the first I have heard officially declare) is Niepoort on March 18th with their official launch event in April.

2017 declared by:
Barao de Villar

• Feuerheerd
• Maynard*

Bulas
Churchill
Fladgate Partnership

• Croft (3,900 cases)*
• Croft Serikos (200 cases)*
• Fonseca (8,100 cases)*
• Skeffington
• Taylor (11,500 cases)*
• Taylor Vargellas Vinha Velha (467 cases)*
• Wiese & Krohn (1,400 cases)*

Niepoort*
Pintas (from Wine & Soul)
Pocas*
Quevedo
Quinta da Gricha from Churchill Graham
Quinta da Romaneira (1,100 cases)*
Quinta da Sequeira
Quinta das Tecedeiras from Lima Smith (around 100 cases)
Quinta de la Rosa
Quinta do Javali
Quinta do Noval

• Quinta do Noval (3,500 cases)*
• Quinta do Noval Nacional (200 cases)*

Quinta do Popa (300 cases)
Quinta do Portal
Quinta do Vale Meao
Quinta do Vallado
Ramos Pinto

• Ramos Pinto (750 cases)
• Ramos Pinto Quinta de Ervamoira (750 cases)

Rozes

• Rozes
• Quinta do Grifo

Symington Family Estates

• Cockburn (2,500 cases)*
• Dow (5,250 cases, including 240 magnums and 200 Tappit Hens)*
• Graham (5,250 cases)*
• Graham Stone Terraces (600 cases, including 180 Magnums and 120 Tappit Hens)*
• Quinta do Vesuvio (1,200 cases)*
• Capela da Quinta do Vesuvio (472 cases)*
• Warre (3,600 cases)*

Links to other vintages:
2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005

[Axel P]

2017 is going to be great (again):


https://youtu.be/gpCDjtBivwo

[DRT]

The Symingtons have declared this morning: https://vintageportsite.com/campaign/20 ... t-declared

[CPR 1]

Interesting generally smaller volumes from the Symington Family but significantly more of the Stone Terraces and Capela but no Smith Woodhouse

[Axel P]

Noval as well with both, the regular Noval and the Nacional:

Noval Nacional.jpg (48.12 KiB) Viewed 8809 times

[DRT]

Quinta do Noval & Nacional

[AHB]

At the Big Fortified Tasting a number of producers are showing finished blends or cask samples of 2017 Vintage Ports. These are:
Quevedo
Quinta da Sequeira
Quinta do Vallado Adelaide
Ramos Pinto
Ramos Pinto Quinta de Ervamoira

[jdaw1]

Symington Family Estates, on YouTube, have declared 2017. A “general declaration”, no specific names mentioned in the video.

We have produced 2017 Vintage Ports from across our flagship Douro Quintas, and will shortly be offering limited quantities (by allocation en primeur) of Graham’s, Dow’s, Warre’s and Cockburn’s as well as Quinta do Vesuvio, Graham’s The Stone Terraces and Capela da Quinta do Vesuvio. The 2017 is just the fourth release of the latter two, which are only produced in truly exceptional years. Given the very low-yielding year, the 2017 Vintage Port is the smallest Symington declaration of the 21st century.

(No Gould Campbell; no Smith Woodhouse; no Quarles Harris; no Martinez.)

[idj123]

Cripes-iit looks like my intention not to buy any new vintages may have gone out the window although the apparent demise of SW is disappointing and removes the last tier 2 Port from the SFE portfolio.

[Glenn E.]

Interesting generally smaller volumes from the Symington Family but significantly more of the Stone Terraces and Capela but no Smith Woodhouse

Sell 1 bottle at normal price, or sell 1 bottle at 2x to 3x normal price?

Hopefully it won't adversely affect the quality of the regular Graham and Vesuvio to have such a significantly different ratio.

[DRT]

2017 The Stone terraces consist of

• 6360 individually numbered bottles
  180 Magnums
  120 Tappit Hens

...

Full specs here

The Dow 2017 data sheet is the only other to mention format quantities, being 5,250 cases, including 240 magnums and 200 Tappit Hens.

[/2alph]

Ramos Pinto declared as well

[AHB]

Just popped in a link to Ramos Pinto’s declaration announcement.

[AHB]

Those of you who were at the b.f.t. yesterday, please could you post your thoughts and impressions of the 2017 Ports that were at the show. The producers who exhibited them are keen for knowledgeable Port afficiandos to create some internet presence for their wines.

[akzy]

Taylor's have declared (and Vargellas Vinha Velha) .
https://taylor.pt/en/news/taylors-annou ... velha-2017

[Tadhg555]

Have the frequency of vintage declarations increased over the recent decades? If so, what is the cause? Better technology and more efficient methods? Or am I suffering from recency bias?

[Glenn E.]

General declarations in reverse order:

2017, 2016, 2011, 2007, 2003, 2000, 1997, 1994, (1991/1992), 1985, 1983, 1980, 1977, 1975, 1970, 1966, 1963, 1960...

As you can see, there have been roughly 3 general declarations per decade for at least the last 50 years. (1991/1992 was what is known as a split declaration, where roughly half of the producers declared in 1991 and the other half declared in 1992.) Prior to that general declarations were only slightly less common with the 1950s being the oddball during which only 1955 was generally declared.

That said, what has changed relatively recently is the number of producers. Producers are no longer required to maintain a lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia, so many more companies now declare and release Vintage Port on their own schedules without regard for the concept of a "general declaration." So even in a year like 2015 that wasn't officially a general declaration, there were a large number of smaller producers who declared their Vintage Port anyway.

[Andy Velebil]

General declarations in reverse order:

2017, 2016, 2011, 2007, 2003, 2000, 1997, 1994, (1991/1992), 1985, 1983, 1980, 1977, 1975, 1970, 1966, 1963, 1960...

As you can see, there have been roughly 3 general declarations per decade for at least the last 50 years. (1991/1992 was what is known as a split declaration, where roughly half of the producers declared in 1991 and the other half declared in 1992.) Prior to that general declarations were only slightly less common with the 1950s being the oddball during which only 1955 was generally declared.

That said, what has changed relatively recently is the number of producers. Producers are no longer required to maintain a lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia, so many more companies now declare and release Vintage Port on their own schedules without regard for the concept of a "general declaration." So even in a year like 2015 that wasn't officially a general declaration, there were a large number of smaller producers who declared their Vintage Port anyway.

+1
Plus the addition of lots of SQVP's in the between years from the larger companies does make it appear there are far more declarations. In reality it has been pretty consistent of about 3 times a decade with those larger companies.

[DRT]

Have the frequency of vintage declarations increased over the recent decades? If so, what is the cause? Better technology and more efficient methods? Or am I suffering from recency bias?

What Glenn and Andy said, and don't expect a 2018 or 2019 declaration

[Tadhg555]

Sounds good. I just hope my sons grow to love port!

[AHB]

I was advised a few days ago that Casa Santa Eufemia will not be offering a 2017 Vintage Port.

[AHB]

La Rosa added to the declaration list after receiving an offer from BB&R

[Axel P]

Sogrape only with 2 Single Quintas...
For the first time ever in a general declared year. (?).

[AHB]

Added Bulas after a chat with them yesterday, although it will probably be a late release.

Added Feuerheerd after a mailshot from Farr Vintners

[RonnieRoots]

Sogrape only with 2 Single Quintas...
For the first time ever in a general declared year. (?).

Do you know the reason for this? Did they not get the quality they wanted or a commercial reason?