Effusively juicy, rich and concentrated, showing plenty of snap to the crisp and well-spiced flavors of wild berry, dark currant and plum tart. Orange-infused chocolate notes linger on the exotic, mocha-filled finish. Best from 2020 through 2045. – KM

Beautiful aromas of violets and blueberries with hints of blue slate. Full body, medium sweet with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. A leafy, stemmy, nutty undertone to this with hints of shaved milk chocolate. Very refined and beautiful. 5,000 cases produced of this foot-trodden wine. Try in 2021.

(WA92-95 points) The 2011 Croft is initially taciturn on the nose, even after allowing it 20 minutes in my glass. A light swirling immediately awakens the aromatics to offer blackberry, Seville orange marmalade, blueberries and dried fig – complex and quite compelling. There is real mineralite within this bouquet that, returning after 30 minutes, offers alluring ocean spray scents rolling in off the ocean. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety-smooth opening that belies the fine, structured tannins underneath. It clams up a little towards the finish, shuts the lid tight and consequently there is the sensation of less persistency here compared to the Taylor’s or Fonseca. But Croft has a knack of filling out with bottle age and becomes both gentle and generous with the passing years. Tasted May 2013. - Neal Martin

This shows very sweet fruit that’s ripe, dense and already delicious. That doesn’t mean the tannins don’t bring out the firmness at the core of this powerful wine. It is integrated, packed with black plum flavors, and full bodied. For long-term aging.

When it purchased this historic brand in 2001, the Fladgate Partnership was reunited with the Quinta da Roêda, which John Fladgate’s daughter brought with her in marriage to Charles Wright of Croft in 1875. Sited on the north bank of the Douro adjacent to Pinhão, Roêda is the heart of Croft vintages. It has been a major focus for António Magalhaes, charged with viticulture for the Fladgate Partnership, who has been working with David Guimaraens to restore the vineyard to its former glory. Each vintage release has improved on the last until this 2011, which is a jump shift in depth and brings Croft back to its rightful place among the elite of the Douro hierarchy. It has the distance and restraint of a great young vintage, the density of the fruit and the mouthwatering tannins held tight, youthfully closed. Hinting at its future in bright scents of roses and dark tones of freshly turned earth, this is a wine of significant weight and depth. It should reach its prime around 25 years from the vintage.