2018 Port Vintage Report

The 2018 Vintage is aptly described by wine makers as a "rollercoaster of a vintage". A drought throughout winter gave way to exceptionally high rainfall and hail in spring. This was followed by sporadic heatwaves throughout summer. Fortunately the spring rains had replenished the water table and the grapes were healthy when it came to selection. In an unusual year such as 2018, the winemakers skills and experience are critical in producing a good wine. Those winemakers who carefully selected grapes prospered. As a result, there is no defining characteristic of the vintage as a whole, such as would be found in a long hot summer. Instead there are some very interesting ports that are more representative of the terroir.

After a run of declared vintages 2016/17 it was highly unlikely that 2018 would be universally declared. Sandeman who did not declare their outstanding 2017 were the fist to declare a classic vintage. This was followed by Sogevinous (Calem, Kopke, Burmester, Barros), Quevedo and regular declarations from Vesuvio and Noval. Surprisingly Taylors declared their 2018 (following 16/17) but will not sell it until 2021. QUANTITIES ARE TINY. Whether it's due to careful selection, Corona virus or just a desire not to overload the market, producers have only produced a fraction of normal volumes (roughly 1/3 of normal production). Read more in our 2018 Vintage Port blog


37 products found.

Quinta de la Rosa, 2018

Vintage Port, DOC Douro

Quinta de La Rosa is a small estate in the heart of the Port wine-growing region in Alto Douro, near Pinhao, owned and operated by the Bergqvist family.

The Quinta and its vineyards were given to the Bergqvist family as a Christening present by the Feuerheerds, who established the property in 1906.

It remains one of the few Single Quinta where the vineyards start at the bank of the Douro and rise 450 meters to the towering top of the mountain. From the river's edge to the top, one passes through 11 different microclimates. This gives La Rosa great flexibility to add variety and complexity to its Ports.
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Price: $63.59 USD
Stock: 40 in Stock

Quinta do Noval, 2018

Vintage Port, DOC Douro
** 95+ Points- Wine Advocate **

2018 Quinta do Noval
Noval has had a run of vintage port declarations in recent years and 2018 is no exception. Only 1600 cases have been produced from the 2018 harvest and quantities are tiny. Managing director Christian Selly offers his insight into the vintage: ‘Like 2017, 2018 was a year of low yields, but for different reasons. 2017 was a year of extreme drought, while 2018 was marked in the first part of the year by heavy rainfall. This meant that potential yields were naturally much reduced by the difficulties of the flowering period. Subsequently however, a long hot dry summer ensued.
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Price: $115.50 USD
Stock: 55 in Stock

Quinta do Vesuvio, 2018

Vintage Port, DOC Douro

The 2018 Quinta do Vesuvio is one of my top Port wines of the 2018 vintage. Flamboyant, full of concentration lovely violet nose and absolutely loaded with red fruit at this early stage. Tannins are finely resolved and should provide the structure for the wine to develop. Only 965 cases made so will be in short supply 95/100. TC VWP June 2020


Reviews

Richard Mayson
Quinta do Vesúvio 2018 *****
A blend of 54% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca / Alicante Bouschet (co-fermented) and 6%
Sousão (for freshness), predominantly from cooler north / north -west facing vineyards:
Beautifully lifted, scented floral aromas (rose petals), vinous and overt;
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Price: $102.53 USD
Stock: 15 in Stock

Quinta do Vesuvio, 2018

Vintage Port Magnum 150cl

The 2018 Quinta do Vesuvio is one of my top Port wines of the 2018 vintage. Flamboyant, full of concentration lovely violet nose and absolutely loaded with red fruit at this early stage. Tannins are finely resolved and should provide the structure for the wine to develop. Only 965 cases made so will be in short supply 95/100. TC VWP June 2020


Reviews

Richard Mayson
Quinta do Vesúvio 2018 *****
A blend of 54% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca / Alicante Bouschet (co-fermented) and 6%
Sousão (for freshness), predominantly from cooler north / north -west facing vineyards:
Beautifully lifted, scented floral aromas (rose petals), vinous and overt;
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Price: $219.33 USD
Stock: 3 in Stock

Ramos Pinto, 2018

Vintage Port, DOC Douro
Quinta do Bom Retiro
Presented in Original Gift Box
***93 Points- Wine Enthusiast***

Ramos Pinto is delighted to announce the release of the 2018 Quinta do Bom Retiro 2018 Vintage Port, this is only the second release from the single Quinta in over two decades.
Quinta do Bom Retiro is only produced in exceptional years from the best plots on the Bom Retiro estate The estate dates back to 1789 when Queen D. Maria I included the Quinta in the Feitoria Demarcated Region. With a total of 110 hectares, 64 planted to vines with an average age of 40 years, the Quinta has a long history of producing exceptional vintage ports.

Ramos Pinto has always been a pioneer in the Douro, Bom Retiro was the Quinta first to use new planting methods suited to the terroir of the Douro.
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Price: $122.64 USD
Stock: 25 in Stock

Ramos Pinto, 2018

Late Bottled Vintage Port, Douro
Includes Ramos Pinto Gift Box
***92 Points Decanter Awards***

The 2018 Ramos Pinto Late Bottled Vintage Port is unfiltered and comes from one single year and one single harvest. Whereas its richer cousin, the Vintage, is bottled in the second year, this wine is bottled in the fourth year. Smoother than the Vintage, more developed and easier to drink. It is a powerful, defiant, full-bodied and harmonious wine. It is a wine familiar with the flavours of chocolate and cheese. After the bottle is opened it remains at its best for a further 15 to 30 days, if properly stored. It is a wine that is not filtered and can therefore either be drunk immediately or be left forgotten in a cellar, developing further complexity.
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Price: $34.98 USD
Stock: 17 in Stock

Taylor's Port, 2018

Vintage Port, DOC Douro
***98 Points- Wine Enthusiast***
***95 Points- Wine Advocate***

This is the third consecutive declaration by Taylor's a highly unusual event. The release has been delayed due to the current situation. Managing Director Adrian Bridge writes
"Adrian Bridge, Managing Director:
“Although a Classic declaration normally only happens about three times a decade, the exceptional run of years has meant that Taylor’s has been able to make a third in a row. This is very unusual but our principle is that we declare a Classic Vintage when the quality is there. This is dictated by the year, not by any other consideration. All our properties are farmed so that every grape has the potential to become Vintage Port.
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Price: $107.07 USD
Stock: 37 in Stock

Taylor's Port, 2018

Vintage Port, DOC Douro
Half Bottle 37.5 cl
***98 Points- Wine Enthusiast***
***95 Points- Wine Advocate***

Impressive purple-black core with a narrow purple rim. An intense burst of powerful woodland fruit, a dense coulis of blackberry and blackcurrant, almost overwhelms the nose. The black fruit aromas are infused with discreet notes of cherry and mocha. As would be expected of Taylor’s, the fruit is very fine and focused, but the year seems to have given it an additional layer of density and weight. A familiar veil of violet scent hangs over the wine, together with a fragrance of rose petal and wild, minty herbal aromas. On the palate, the wine has beautifully ripe tannins, which integrate perfectly into the mid-palate, providing both structure and volume, and then break out on the finish with a firm wiry, grip.
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Price: $61.65 USD
Stock: 38 in Stock

Taylor's Port, 2018

Vintage Port- MAGNUM, DOC Douro
***98 Points- Wine Enthusiast***
***95 Points- Wine Advocate***

This is the third consecutive declaration by Taylor's a highly unusual event. The release has been delayed due to the current situation. Managing Director Adrian Bridge writes
"Adrian Bridge, Managing Director:
“Although a Classic declaration normally only happens about three times a decade, the exceptional run of years has meant that Taylor’s has been able to make a third in a row. This is very unusual but our principle is that we declare a Classic Vintage when the quality is there. This is dictated by the year, not by any other consideration. All our properties are farmed so that every grape has the potential to become Vintage Port.
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Price: $214.14 USD
Stock: 3 in Stock

Taylor's Port, 2018

Vintage Port, DOC Douro
1 x 300 cl DOUBLE MAGNUM
Please allow 5 days for delivery

This is the third consecutive declaration by Taylor's a highly unusual event. The release has been delayed due to the current situation. Managing Director Adrian Bridge writes
"Adrian Bridge, Managing Director:
“Although a Classic declaration normally only happens about three times a decade, the exceptional run of years has meant that Taylor’s has been able to make a third in a row. This is very unusual but our principle is that we declare a Classic Vintage when the quality is there. This is dictated by the year, not by any other consideration. All our properties are farmed so that every grape has the potential to become Vintage Port.
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Price: $506.14 USD
Stock: 5 in Stock

Taylor's Port, 2018

Vintage Port, DOC Douro
1 x 600 cl

Taylor’s has announced that it will release a classic Taylor’s Vintage Port from 2018. We are delighted to offer it En-primeur for delivery in Autumn 2021. We are offering them DUTY PAID but can offer them in Bond if preferred.

This is the third consecutive declaration by Taylor's a highly unusual event. The release has been delayed due to the current situation. Managing Director Adrian Bridge writes
"Adrian Bridge, Managing Director:
“Although a Classic declaration normally only happens about three times a decade, the exceptional run of years has meant that Taylor’s has been able to make a third in a row.
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Price: $1,031.75 USD
Stock: 2 in Stock

Sandeman, 2018

Late Bottled Vintage Port, Douro
***2023 Decanter Gold Award Winner***
Special Offer | Was £24.95 | Now £19.95

Sandeman's Late Bottled Vintages are renowned for their quality and depth of character and have won numerous awards. This Port has been specially selected for a roundness of flavours. Deep ruby colour, almost opaque. Aroma of good intensity and complexity, slightly floral, with notes of bright red fruits, spices, curry, pepper, and some cocoa and chocolate, the result of good maturation and stoniness. It has good volume in the mouth, high-quality, well-polished tannins, well-integrated acidity, and notes of spices, pepper and curry. The finish is long-lasting.

Drink now, it's perfect with chocolate desserts, creamy cheeses or red fruit tarts.
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Price: $25.89 USD
Stock: Out of Stock