Croft Vintage Port 2017

Croft's 2017 Vintage Port is a generous, fruit-forward wine from one of port's oldest houses. Croft has always favored a softer, more approachable style, and their 2017 embodies this philosophy beautifully. This is a vintage port that, while still demanding cellaring, hints at the pleasure it will deliver with time.

The nose is bright and inviting for a young vintage port. Ripe raspberry and dark plum are joined by sweet spice, cocoa, fresh violets, and a hint of liquorice. There is a fruit purity here that is immediately appealing. On the palate, the wine is generous and rounded, offering cherry and blackberry alongside milk chocolate and dried rose. The tannins are supple and well-integrated, providing structure without the imposing grip of a young Taylor's or Dow's.

The finish is medium-long with rounded fruit, gentle spice, and an approachable warmth. It does not have the monumental length of the top-tier 2017 releases, but it is satisfying and complete.

Croft's 2017 is the most approachable of the 2017 vintage ports, and it is priced accordingly. It offers an excellent entry point into vintage port for those who are curious but not ready to invest in the top-tier releases. The softer tannin structure means it will likely mature earlier than its peers, offering pleasure within 12-15 years while still rewarding longer cellaring. For the price, it is hard to find a better introduction to the joys of cellaring vintage port.