2018 Croft Roeda

[Alex Bridgeman]

Apologies for not posting these last year, but I'm now posting my tasting notes on the three Fladgate Partnership Ports from 2018. These were all tasting notes based on tasting the wines over an extended period of a week, allowing the wines to develop and show all the components in the blends.

Deep rose red with a hint of lilac, not quite opaque at the centre. A gentle nose of lavender and blueberries. Rounded and smooth entry, some pepper from the youthful spirit; soft and sweet fruit, almost jelly-like, but with a gentle tannic core and immense acidity. Fresh aftertaste, highlighting the acidity before a long bitter cherry and dark chocolate finish. Bitter-sweet and very very long. Not what I was expecting from the Roeda, which I normally find much fatter and richer. A fine showing, with plenty of weight and power. 89-91/100.