2009 Croft, Port, Portugal

Touriga Nacional is a highly regarded grape variety indigenous to Portugal, often considered the country's flagship red grape. Known for its intense aromas and flavours, the wines typically feature dark fruits such as blackberries, blueberries, and plums, along with distinctive floral notes like violets and hints of spices, herbs, and chocolate. These generally have high tannin levels, good acidity, and deep, dark colour, contributing to their structure and ageing potential.

Rich, saccharine, intensely-flavoured and, at their best, wonderfully majestic and harmonious, these are wines to be savoured on their own, or with a fine chunk of cheese after a meal. Port comes from the stunning Douro region of Portugal, about 50 miles east of Oporto, and is made in two different styles: bottle-aged and cask-aged.

Croft has to be one of the most distinguished names in the Port industry. Founded over 300 years ago by a Yorkshireman, John Croft, who was one of the intrepid band of merchants to export wines to a British market unable to buy from Napoleonic France due to war. The firm’s activity dates back to 1588 which was also the first year of the first ever recorded shipments of Port wine.