Single Quinta Vintage

Single Quinta Vintage Port is currently one of the most exciting Port categories which could potentially challenge the dominance of ‘true’ Vintage Port in years to come. Single Quinta Port is made in much the same way as Vintage - aged for 2-3 years in cask before bottling without filtration – and is generally produced from a Port house’s finest single vineyard in years that are not declared. In a ‘vintage’ year, the grapes from these vineyards – like Quinta dos Malvedos for Graham and Quinta da Vargellas for Taylor - will be used as the backbone of the blend and not bottled in their own right.

The more approachable, earlier-maturing Single Quinta Ports enable producers to satisfy demand for Vintage Port while retaining the rarity and caché of its top Port. Single Quinta Ports are not normally as good as ‘true’ Vintage Port, but there are notable exceptions. Quinta do Vesuvio, Quinta do Noval and Quinta de la Rosa are all produced in ‘vintage’ years and can be every bit good as their more famous multi-vineyard rivals. Indeed the greatest and rarest Vintage Port in existence is from a single vineyard: Quinta do Noval Nacional.

Single Quinta Vintage Ports were traditionally sold when the Port house believed they were ready to drink, around 8 to 10 years after the harvest, but as they become more serious and more popular, some are released as soon as they are bottled. Single Quinta Ports should be decanted before serving and, with some notable long-lived exceptions, generally age for around 15 to 20 years.