2011 Port was an incredible vintage with a niveau of quality that we have yet to see again. The wines are bold, refined and precise, have beautiful balance, power, richness and symmetry.
The iconic wine writer and Master of Wine, Jancis Robinson wrote: "There is little doubt that 2011 produced some stunning vintage ports, into which more effort and skill has gone than any other previous vintage in the Douro. And I find it impossible to think of any other wine region, anywhere in the world, that produced better wines." "I have never been so excited by the launch of a clutch of vintage ports...The good thing is that port is in general is better made than ever before..." --A bold claim that withstood time's test and was echoed unanimously by Port producers.
"Ripeness and tannic structure characterize Port in 2011 which, despite difficult weather conditions, could rank as a legendary vintage in a new era of better winemaking and improved spirit quality," said Richard Mayson of Decanter Magazine.
The 2011 vintage was a special year with extraordinary circumstances. It had a rainy winter, a warm spring, followed by a hot summer, with the saving grace of rainfall to break the heat near early September before harvest. Winemaker Charles Symington of Symington Family Estates of Graham's and Warre's Port houses, said, "The conditions for ripening and harvesting were as good as perfect and almost unprecedented."
DECANTER 98 POINTS - "A classic year to start the decade: everything was in place to produce some magnificent long-lasting wines. Deep, opaque but just turning on the rim. Rich and multi-layered, opening up to reveal ripe cherry-stone fruit; soft, rich and fleshy in style. Initially backed by broad, ripe, structured tannins with dark chocolate intensity. All there, big, rich and lasting with a glorious flourish on the finish."
WINE ADVOCATE 97 POINTS - "The 2011 Vintage Port hasn't been seen in a while. It begins our mini-vertical this issue. Showing rich and gorgeous fruit, this is pure, young and elegant. There is still plenty of power here, but decanting a small portion for about three hours gave me some hope that it would be approachable a bit sooner than anticipated. Noval has mid-palate finesse all the time—so, too, here. It makes this very graceful, despite the power and the first lush impression. The pure power does not detract from the feeling of elegance at all, as this comes together well. Dried herbs, eucalyptus and a long finish make this special, the complexity on the finish sealing the deal. This is early in this wine's evolution, but it is beginning to open its eyes and peek out at the world. Mark Squires."
WINE SPECTATOR 97 POINTS - "This is extremely dense, yet remarkably sleek in feel, delivering a torrent of dark plum, black cherry and cassis flavors. Long and very refined through the finish, with a terrific graphite spine. Offering a very focused beam of fruit and structure, this wine will outlive many of us.—Non-blind Quinta do Noval vertical (May 2018). Best from 2025 through 2055. 2,250 cases made, 800 cases imported."
ANTONIO GALLONI - VINOUS 96 POINTS - "The 2011 Vintage Port is very complete on the nose, focused and full of energy, with touches of grilled walnut and sage filtering through the black fruit, quite earthy in style (more than I remember.) The palate is very classy and complex with black fruit, sage, black pepper and an endearing, slightly powdery texture towards the finish. This has shed some of its puppy fat - a bit more serious now and worth cellaring for another three to four years. Tasted at the Quinta do Noval tasting at Spring restaurant in London. Neal Martin 2022. Drink window: 2030-2070."
JANCIS ROBINSON 18.9 (OUT OF 20) POINTS - "Dark purplish crimson. Quite a claret-like build for a port. Dense and racy and wonderfully intense and compact. Very fine, firm tannins and dry rather than voluptuous on the finish. Intense, tense fruit. Dried herb flavours. But not a hint of dried fruit or raisins. Very sinewy and lively. Nothing remotely heavy about this. Really exciting wine. Drink 2022 - 2045." (JR)
The iconic wine writer and Master of Wine, Jancis Robinson wrote: "There is little doubt that 2011 produced some stunning vintage ports, into which more effort and skill has gone than any other previous vintage in the Douro. And I find it impossible to think of any other wine region, anywhere in the world, that produced better wines." "I have never been so excited by the launch of a clutch of vintage ports...The good thing is that port is in general is better made than ever before..." --A bold claim that withstood time's test and was echoed unanimously by Port producers.
"Ripeness and tannic structure characterize Port in 2011 which, despite difficult weather conditions, could rank as a legendary vintage in a new era of better winemaking and improved spirit quality," said Richard Mayson of Decanter Magazine.
The 2011 vintage was a special year with extraordinary circumstances. It had a rainy winter, a warm spring, followed by a hot summer, with the saving grace of rainfall to break the heat near early September before harvest. Winemaker Charles Symington of Symington Family Estates of Graham's and Warre's Port houses, said, "The conditions for ripening and harvesting were as good as perfect and almost unprecedented."
DECANTER 98 POINTS - "A classic year to start the decade: everything was in place to produce some magnificent long-lasting wines. Deep, opaque but just turning on the rim. Rich and multi-layered, opening up to reveal ripe cherry-stone fruit; soft, rich and fleshy in style. Initially backed by broad, ripe, structured tannins with dark chocolate intensity. All there, big, rich and lasting with a glorious flourish on the finish."
WINE ADVOCATE 97 POINTS - "The 2011 Vintage Port hasn't been seen in a while. It begins our mini-vertical this issue. Showing rich and gorgeous fruit, this is pure, young and elegant. There is still plenty of power here, but decanting a small portion for about three hours gave me some hope that it would be approachable a bit sooner than anticipated. Noval has mid-palate finesse all the time—so, too, here. It makes this very graceful, despite the power and the first lush impression. The pure power does not detract from the feeling of elegance at all, as this comes together well. Dried herbs, eucalyptus and a long finish make this special, the complexity on the finish sealing the deal. This is early in this wine's evolution, but it is beginning to open its eyes and peek out at the world. Mark Squires."
WINE SPECTATOR 97 POINTS - "This is extremely dense, yet remarkably sleek in feel, delivering a torrent of dark plum, black cherry and cassis flavors. Long and very refined through the finish, with a terrific graphite spine. Offering a very focused beam of fruit and structure, this wine will outlive many of us.—Non-blind Quinta do Noval vertical (May 2018). Best from 2025 through 2055. 2,250 cases made, 800 cases imported."
ANTONIO GALLONI - VINOUS 96 POINTS - "The 2011 Vintage Port is very complete on the nose, focused and full of energy, with touches of grilled walnut and sage filtering through the black fruit, quite earthy in style (more than I remember.) The palate is very classy and complex with black fruit, sage, black pepper and an endearing, slightly powdery texture towards the finish. This has shed some of its puppy fat - a bit more serious now and worth cellaring for another three to four years. Tasted at the Quinta do Noval tasting at Spring restaurant in London. Neal Martin 2022. Drink window: 2030-2070."
JANCIS ROBINSON 18.9 (OUT OF 20) POINTS - "Dark purplish crimson. Quite a claret-like build for a port. Dense and racy and wonderfully intense and compact. Very fine, firm tannins and dry rather than voluptuous on the finish. Intense, tense fruit. Dried herb flavours. But not a hint of dried fruit or raisins. Very sinewy and lively. Nothing remotely heavy about this. Really exciting wine. Drink 2022 - 2045." (JR)