The fruit for Croft Fine Tawny Porto is sourced in the traditional way, from the highest-quality individual growers in the Douro Valley, where the varying altitude and aspect of the vineyards creates the potential for a complex wine of great character. In the winery, the newly developed, robotic “Port Toes” technology for treading allows the winery to maximize the quality of the fruit by mimicking the gentle action of human feet during traditional foot treading, which does not pulverize the skins or break the pips, avoiding the release of bitter tannins into the juice. Fermentation is halted by the addition of grape spirits before all the residual sugar has been fermented, creating a sweet, fortified wine. The 10 Year Old is a blend of wines, selected from Croft’s considerable stocks, that have been aged for an average of 10 years in neutral oak casks.

Tasting notes

With an attractive, tawny color and amber rim, thiswine shows full, complex aromas of mellow spices along with walnut, butterscotch and fine oak notes against a background of rich, jammy fruit. On the palate, the wine is silky and round, full of ripe fig flavors.

Rating

Wine Spectator 93 points (May 2 2012) A powerful aroma filled with dried mango and ginger leads into a pure-tasting mix of dried berries, peach and apricot. The heady finish is loaded with caramel, cream and sage honey. Distinctive. Drink now. From Portugal.—K.M.

Food pairing

An excellent choice for the end of a meal or at the end of an evening, this wine can be served slightly chilled on its own or with walnuts or roasted almonds, or nut-based desserts. Made to be enjoyed immediately.