Churchill’s declares its 2011 vintage

Churchill’s Port has followed Symington Family Estates and Sogrape in declaring its 2011 vintage.

The house’s 2011 vintage Port has been blended from a variety of its old vineyards, with “the backbone” being sourced from a field blend of 50-year-old-and-over vines at Quinta da Gricha.

Owner Johnny Graham said that he was “particularly proud to present this stunning vintage”, adding that it is “what I call a classic vintage Port.”

Graham added that the 2011 vintage “may lack the instant appeal of more precocious wines at an early age; it tends to be closed on the nose, tannic on the palate and tight in structure, but, after a decade in bottle it will begin to open-up and reveal its true identity.”

He added: “The Churchill’s 2011 is a wine that has the concentration, complexity, quality and finesse, as well as the natural acidity and tannic structure to age well for at least 50 years.”

The Churchill’s declaration comes after Symington’s declared an “exceptional” 2011 vintage earlier this week. Sogrape Vinhos was the first major Port company to make an official declaration, at the end of March. The Fladgate Partnership, traditionally waits until St George’s Day on 23 April before confirming any declaration.