Port houses differ on 2009 declaration

Two of the Douro’s leading Port companies have taken different views of the 2009 vintage, with The Fladgate Partnership describing the vintage as “outstanding” and declaring a classic vintage Port from all three of its houses, while Symington Family Estates will release a vintage from just one of its houses, Warre’s, as a commemorative bottling.

Speaking of the decision to make a fourth declaration in a decade (2000, 2003, 2007, 2009) for Taylor’s, Croft and Fonseca, Adrian Bridge, CEO of The Fladgate Partnership, said: “Like the great landmark vintages of the early twentieth century, the 2009s are built for longevity.”

He also said: “In over three centuries of making great Ports, we have seldom seen four outstanding vintages come along in a decade.”

Meanwhile, Symington Family Estates described 2009 as a “very dry and warm year”, and pointed out that the location of Warre’s quintas at higher altitudes made it possible to create a “vintage with the balance and elegance that characterises all Warre’s ports.”

However, the Warre’s classic vintage was also released to commemorate 200 years since the liberation of Oporto by the Anglo-Portuguese army, which was led by the Duke of Wellington.

And it was for actions during this battle that Major William Warre was awarded Portugal’s highest military honour, the Order of São Bento d’Aviz.

To celebrate this, the Port house has bottled 500 cases containing 6,000 numbered bottles of the 2009 vintage, and for every case sold in the UK, Warre’s will donate £48.00 to the British charity Help for Heroes, while for every case sold in Portugal, €55.00 will be donated to the Liga dos Combatentes, the organisation that helps old soldiers in Portugal.

The decision by Symington Family Estates not to release a classic vintage for its other houses, including Graham’s, Dow’s and Cockburn’s, may be connected by its high hopes for the 2010 vintage, as previously reported by the drinks business.

Patrick Schmitt, 28.04.2011