PLEASE NOTE: This is a recurring auction. The seal number(s) you see on the photos might differ from the one(s) on your bottle(s). 2018 Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2 x 0.75L 2018 Croft Late Bottled Vintage Port 2 x 0.75L 2018 Fonseca Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port 2 x 0.75L 6 Bottles Fladgate Partnership LBV Port Pack DESCRIPTION The Fladgate Partnership is a holding company that has businesses in Port Wine, tourism and distribution. The original company of the group is Taylor’s Port, which was founded in 1692. However, in 2001 it acquired Croft Port, which was founded in 1588 and celebrated its 430th anniversary in 2018. With its other brand (Fonseca Port) The Fladgate Partnership is a leading player in producing special category Port, which it sells in over 105 countries. It has been a pioneer in Port and, more recently, in tourism. The creation of The Yeatman Hotel, which opened in 2010, was arguably the catalyst that started the tourist boom in the city of Porto. It also owns the Vintage House Hotel in Pinhão. Pinhão is the heart of the quality vineyard area of Port production and the hotel is close to the 500 hectares of vineyards that the group owns. In Portugal, it also has distribution companies that supply its products and those of others to hotels, restaurants, retailers and consumers. In the historic heart of Vila Nova de Gaia, WOW was born from the renovation of old Port wine warehouses and has given rise to a cultural quarter with seven museums, twelve restaurants and bars, shops, a wine school and a gallery for temporary exhibitions. in September 2023, Fladgate Still & Sparkling Wines was created, after the purchase of IdealDrinks by The Fladgate Partnership. The Fladgate Partnership adds even further expertise, knowledge and over three centuries of heritage through this new challenge. WINEMAKER: David Guimaraens. -> 2018 Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2 x 0.75L AWARDS/RECOMMENDATIONS 93 Points, James Suckling (2019 Vintage) 92 Points, Wine Spectator (2018 Vintage) 92 Points, Decanter World Wine Awards (2018 Vintage) 16.5 Points, Vinum Magazine (2018 Vintage) 90 Points, Tom Cannavan (2018 Vintage) 92 Points, Revista Adega (2017 Vintage) 16 Points, Jancis Robinson (2017 Vintage) 17 Points, Vinho Grandes Escolhas (2017 Vintage) 91 Points, Wine Enthusiast (2016 Vintage) 90 Points, International Wine Challenge (2016 Vintage) WINE VARIETIES: Traditional from Douro Region. VINIFICATION Taylor’s were pioneers of the LBV category, developed to satisfy the demand for a high quality ready-to-drink alternative to Vintage Port for everyday consumption. Unlike Vintage Port, which is bottled after only two years in wood and ages in bottle, LBV is bottled after four to six years and is ready to drink when bottled. Taylor’s continues to lead the LBV category of Port worldwide, in spite of the fact that many other shippers now also produce an LBV. The wines used to blend Taylor’s LBV were drawn from a reserve of some of the best full bodied red Ports, produced at the 2019 harvest, from grapes grown on Taylor’s own vineyards and on other top properties in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior areas. TASTING NOTES Deep ruby core with vivid ruby rim. The nose is very fine and multi-layered, underpinned by rich strawberry jam aromas and lifted by resiny herbal notes, fresh scents of cedarwood and hints of bracken and woodland floor. There is also a discreetly sensuous dimension, a luxurious redolence of leather and mocha coffee. In contrast, and in keeping with the Taylor house style, the palate has an attractive edge of austerity with taut wiry tannins providing a firm grip to the long finish which delivers a surge of rich berry fruit flavour. A beautifully refined wine, poised and complete, displaying a complexity comparable with that of a mature classic vintage port. A beautiful expression of the 2018 vintage with its accent on elegance and finesse. SERVING Excellent with fully flavoured cheeses, especially blue cheeses such as Stilton or Roquefort. It is also delicious with desserts made with chocolate or berry fruits. The wine benefits from being served between 16ºC to 18ºC. -> 2018 Croft Late Bottled Vintage Port 2 x 0.75L AWARDS/RECOMMENDATIONS 90 Points, Robert Parker (2016 Vintage) 90 Points, International Wine Challenge (2015 Vintage) 17 Points, Vinho Grandes Escolhas (2015 Vintage) WINE VARIETIES: Traditional from the Douro Region. VINIFICATION The wines used to blend Croft LBV were selected from a reserve made up of some of the best port wines produced in this harvest. These wines were aged in wood and then blended after six years. The blending process ensures balance, as well as style continuity in relation to previous Croft LBVs. TASTING NOTES Wine with a deep ruby red center, which fades to the brick-red rim. It presents a seductive nose of rich, ripe fruit, with aromas of blackcurrant jam, plum, sultana and fig, mixed with hints of licorice and coffee and hints of wild herbs. The palate full of ripe fruit flavor, has a smooth and velvety texture supported by tense tannins and a thread of lively acidity. It is a perfectly ripe and balanced Late Bottled Vintage, with classic Croft opulence and elegance and is ready to be consumed. SERVING It goes well with intense cheeses, especially blue ones, such as Stilton or Roquefort. It can also be served with chocolate or berry desserts. Store in an upright position, in a cool, dry place, protected from light and temperature fluctuations. Serve at a temperature between 16ºC and 18ºC. Consume in moderation. -> 2018 Fonseca Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port 2 x 0.75L AWARDS/RECOMMENDATIONS 92 Points, Wine Enthusiast 90 Points, Decanter World Wine Awards 17.5 Points, Revista Vinho Grandes Escolhas 17 Points, Revista de Vinhos WINE VARIETIES: Old Vines. VINIFICATION The wines used to produce Fonseca LBV were drawn from a reserve of some of the best full-bodied red Ports produced at the 2018 harvest, from grapes grown on Fonseca’s own vineyards and on other top properties in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior areas of the Douro. LBV Unfiltered is aged in large wooden vats and then drawn off into bottle with no fining or filtration. The result is a naturally expressive wine which has sacrificed none of its depth and fullness of flavour. Late Bottled Vintage is bottled when ready to drink. A limited quantity of this outstanding blend was produced. TASTING NOTES Very deep, intense ruby colour with a very narrow brick rim. The nose is almost impenetrable, tightly packed with dense dark berry fruit aroma, back cherry, blackberry, and blackcurrant. The uncompromising berry fruit character is archetypal Fonseca, the intensity taken to an even higher degree by the fact that the wine is unfiltered, carrying all its body and extract into the bottle. The dark brooding fruit is lifted by a discrete minty, resiny aura of wild herbs. The palate is round and full bodied, with dense, beautifully integrated granular tannins providing structure and weight, the luscious flavours culminating in an intense burst of black berry fruit. SERVING Fonseca LBV is the perfect finish to any meal. Excellent with fully flavoured cheeses, especially blue cheeses such as Stilton or Roquefort. It is also delicious with desserts made with chocolate or berry fruits. The wine benefits from being served between 16ºC to 18ºC. The particular qualities of this wine allow it to be enjoyed over an extended period of time once opened, without losing its freshness and vibrancy. Optimum drinking time after opening the bottle is two months. Late Bottled Vintage is bottled when ready to drink. This Port benefits from being decanted before serving, as it is not filtered when bottled. The bottle should be kept upright, protected from light and at a cool and constant temperature.