1970 Croft Vintage Port

[Glenn E.]

I snagged 8 bottles of this at auction from winebid.com. Got them for $85 each. Factor in buyer's premium and shipping and the total was a little over $105/bottle, which I still consider a great deal for a 1970 VP. I've been wanting to try one to verify their quality, so I opened one to share with Lindsay after we tasted some bourbons. 4.5 hour decant by the time we got to it, which is what I was aiming for. Seems like 6-8 would have been fine based on how well it has held up on day 2 and day 3. It has been in a covered decanter on the kitchen counter since first tasted.

1970 Croft VP
4.5 hour decant

Color: Medium red and garnet, still a few hints of purple left. Slight yellowing at the rim, but mostly pink/clear.

Nose: Black cherry, plum, prune, some milk chocolate. Possibly some very faint blueberry as well.

Palate: Full entry, smooth and rich. Tannins are pretty faint which leaves the texture almost too supple. Acidity is just adequate and only comes on late. Sweet, honey-like note. No alcohol is evident, but that may be a side effect of the bourbons tasted earlier. (Day 2 and Day 3 the alcohol is there, but well integrated.) Very round and rich fruits, mostly cherry and plum with a hint of something red - possibly very ripe strawberry or very ripe raspberry.

Finish: Good length. Not especially notable, just mellow, clean, and fairly sweet. (Day 2 and Day 3 some small amount of warmth is present on the finish.)

Score: 92 points. It isn't up to the level of a Taylor or Fonseca, but this is an excellent Port that is likely at its plateau and will drink nicely over the next 5+ years, possibly 10.

[Moses Botbol]

We were buying those at a restaurant for $50 last summer...

[Glenn E.]

That's a great restaurant! You'd never see a price like that out here. You get all kinds of crazy deals in MA. Too bad the rest of us can't buy there and have it shipped!

[Moses Botbol]

That's a great restaurant! You'd never see a price like that out here. You get all kinds of crazy deals in MA. Too bad the rest of us can't buy there and have it shipped!

I expect to have some this summer there again! You'll have to come to Boston for dinner... I have four 70 Croft magnums and maybe 7-8 750's...

[John Trombley]

Thaks for this TN, especially for the price information. I bought my old Partners (sandeman) Ruby from the same auction. There is lots of port from an inherited passive cellar that is in pretty good shape--go for 'em if you like the prices. One I'd like to see someone buy and post on is the '78-bottled Taylor Crusted Porto.