2024 Vintage - First Thoughts

[Alex Bridgeman]

I've had chance to taste a few of the 2024 Vintage Ports, and to taste twice most of the big names.

As people think about what they'd like to buy, I thought it might be helpful for me to post a summary of my thoughts.

The vintage is superb, up there in quality with 2011 and 1994. What I found fascinating was the different interpretation that the winemaking teams offered for what is essentially the same excellent quality of fruit arising from a near perfect growing season.

The Fladgate Partnership (Taylor, Taylor Sentinel, Fonseca, Croft and Skeffington) made glorious wines that revelled in their balance and finesse. The fruit was floral, perfumed and so elegant. Symington Family Estates (Graham, Dow, Warre, Smith Woodhouse and Quinta do Vesuvio) have made big, fruit-forward fruit bombs that are jam-packed with sweet and ripe fruit. Hidden under this bounty of sweet ripe fruit are the tannins that will be needed to support the development of the wine. Quinta de Roriz is an exception in the portfolio, with more obvious acidity and a more elegant structure. Quinta do Noval's wines sat roughly between these two interpretations.

Which is the best interpretation? Both. Neither. All of them. It's stylistic difference, it's not a difference in quality. Buy the style that works best for you — and don't overlook the joy these will bring in you drink them in the next 5 years.

And if anyone is interested, I've bought 12 halves of Fonseca to take out of bond when they land and to drink over the next 2-3 years.

[Alex Bridgeman]

This post will hold a list of tasting notes In Alphabetical Order

[Alex Bridgeman]

This post will hold a list of tasting notes In Score Order