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Fladgate releases three 2012 vintage ports

Published:  23 April, 2014

The Fladgate Partnership has declared the release of three 2012 vintage Ports from Taylor's Quinta do Vargellas, Fonseca's Guimaraens and Croft's QUinta do Roêda on St George's Day.

The firm traditionally declares vintages on St George's Day, celebrated today, April 23, in England.

The Fladgate Partnership, which owns Taylor's, Croft and Fonseca, has not declared any classic vintages from 2012, but focused on the individual estates mentioned, as well as Guimaraens, which is a blend of the best grapes from the Cruzeiro, Santo António and Quinta do Panascal estates. 

Chief executive Adrian Bridge said: "The 2012s are showing wonderfully pure, vibrant fruit which often results from a cool ripening season giving the wines remarkable elegance and poise." He said the wines were suitable for early drinking thanks to their ripeness and maturity. 

He added that the Vargellas Port "has attractive crisp acidity and expresses the terroir with great precision". As for the Roêda wine, Bridge describes it as "particularly elegant" with "seductive ripe fruitiness which is the hallmark of this great estate".  Guimaraens exhibits its "signature fruit clarity" and has an "attractive freshness and elegance", he added. 

Head winemaker David Guimaraens added: "A dry winter followed by a cool spring led to low yields but plenty of aromatic intensity. The cool ripening season was balanced by healthy growth giving the resulting Ports crisp acidity and a remarkable purity of fruit."

The 2012s will be offered on allocation to the trade through UK agents Mentzendorff and shipped at the end of the year. 

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