Port houses differ on 2009 declaration

Two of the Douro¡¯s leading Port companies have taken different views of the 2009 vintage, with The Fladgate Partnership describing the vintage as ¡°outstanding¡± and declaring a classic vintage Port from all three of its houses, while Symington Family Estates will release a vintage from just one of its houses, Warre¡¯s, as a commemorative bottling.

Speaking of the decision to make a fourth declaration in a decade (2000, 2003, 2007, 2009) for Taylor¡¯s, Croft and Fonseca, Adrian Bridge, CEO of The Fladgate Partnership, said: ¡°Like the great landmark vintages of the early twentieth century, the 2009s are built for longevity.¡±

He also said: ¡°In over three centuries of making great Ports, we have seldom seen four outstanding vintages come along in a decade.¡±

Meanwhile, Symington Family Estates described 2009 as a ¡°very dry and warm year¡±, and pointed out that the location of Warre¡¯s quintas at higher altitudes made it possible to create a ¡°vintage with the balance and elegance that characterises all Warre¡¯s ports.¡±

However, the Warre¡¯s classic vintage was also released to commemorate 200 years since the liberation of Oporto by the Anglo-Portuguese army, which was led by the Duke of Wellington.

And it was for actions during this battle that Major William Warre was awarded Portugal¡¯s highest military honour, the Order of São Bento d¡¯Aviz.

To celebrate this, the Port house has bottled 500 cases containing 6,000 numbered bottles of the 2009 vintage, and for every case sold in the UK, Warre¡¯s will donate £48.00 to the British charity Help for Heroes, while for every case sold in Portugal, €55.00 will be donated to the Liga dos Combatentes, the organisation that helps old soldiers in Portugal.

The decision by Symington Family Estates not to release a classic vintage for its other houses, including Graham¡¯s, Dow¡¯s and Cockburn¡¯s, may be connected by its high hopes for the 2010 vintage, as previously reported by the drinks business.