Krohn Vintage Port 2003 (20.5%)

Krohn Vintage Port 2003 comes from the Douro in Portugal. The year began with wet weather in winter and spring, followed by a very hot August, which gave concentrated, sweet grapes with relatively low acidity. The fruit is sourced from the Quinta do Retiro estate and neighbouring growers in the Rio Torto Valley, where old vines grow in schistous soils. The grapes are trodden by foot in open granite lagares, and fermentation is stopped with grape spirit to keep some natural sweetness. The port spent around two years in 547 litre oak pipes and larger casks, then was bottled unfiltered and aged further before release. The nose shows intense black fruit, sweet spices, liquorice and vanilla. The palate has rich, ripe plum and cherry, more spice and firm tannins.