El Vino Co. Ltd
Vintage House
1-2 Hare Place
Fleet Street
London
EC4Y 1BJ
0207 353 5384
© 2006 El Vino Co. Ltd
Port is not for the very young, the vain and the active. It is the comfort of age and the companion of the scholar and the philosopher.
-Evelyn Waugh
Vintage Ports are only declared in years when the vintage is of outstanding quality and can produce wines that will age gracefully for decades. For this reason it makes an exceptional gift to celebrate the birth of a child, or the ultimate treat for the patient port connoisseur!
We are currently offering two vintages, 2000 and 2003, on an en-primeur basis. Orders for these wines cannot be taken online, but please give us a call on 020 7353 5384 or fill out the form below, and we will be more than happy to help. Scroll down for vintage reports and lists of ports available.
2000 was such a fantastic year in the Douro that every major port house declared the vintage. Weather conditions were about as perfect as the wine-makers could have wished for, with a mild winter and a hot, dry summer. Spring rains at the flowering stage gave rise to lower yields, but this only ensured greater concentration and depth in the wines produced. Characteristically rich and elegant, the wines are bursting with ripe, forward dark berry fruit flavours.
Offley Quinta da Boa Vista
£222.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Full, rich fruity bouquet with a robust palate and plenty of lengh.
Gould Campbell - ** Best Value
£276.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Rounder, sweeter and smoother than Offley with a touch of elegance.
Warre’s
£324.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Very well-balanced, with soft tannins and plenty of concentration. Velvety with plenty of fruit and considerable potential.
Dow’s
£336.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Classic house style - as ever one of the driest of the vintage ports, this wine has great depth and a long finish, and can be enjoyed for many years to come.
Graham's - Buyer's Choice
£372.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Considered one of the best of the vintage, this port has serious class, with a degree of subtlety underpinning the rich fruit flavours.
Fonseca
£432.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Ever excellent vintage port from top house Fonseca.
Taylor’s
£480.00 Per Dozen in Bond
For the first time in years this is better than Fonseca. Excellent structure, restrained fruit, elegance and flavours that go on and on. Port simply does not get better than this.
As elsewhere in Europe, Portugal had a very hot summer in 2003. Fortunately the previous winter had been particularly wet, so the vines were able to withstand the heat-wave in August far better than other areas of Europe. The result was a small crop of very high quality grapes with the potential to make wines that will keep well.
Comparisons have been made with previous vintages - some say it is like the 1945, but of course I couldn't possibly comment as it was before my time (honestly...!). Others find it similar to the wonderful 1970 vintage, but I remember these wines as having softer, more forward elegant fruit. Whatever your view on this, it has to be good news, as both vintages were superb, and the wines have matured well. Furthermore, whereas the top Bordeaux Chateaux have significantly hiked their prices for this small vintage, the port houses have not done so, and I can therefore say that 2003 Vintage Ports represent excellent value for money.
Offley Quinta da Boa Vista
£225.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Full, with plenty of flavour and showing excellent fruit expression on the finish. 12-15 years.
Gould Campbell - **Best Value
£260.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Yet again our recommendation as the Best Value for Money on the market. Continues a run of highly successful vintages and shows rich ripe fruit on the nose and palate. 10-12 years
Quarles Harris
£260.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Our first purchase from this House for many a year. Restrained bouquet with densely packed fruit on the palate and a smooth finish. 12-15 years
Croft
£305.00 Per Dozen in Bond
This is the first time we have purchased a Croft vintage since 1970, and follows a marked improvement in quality. Very rich, deep and plummy with a touch of spice. Full flavoured, with some tannin. 12-15 years
Warre’s
£325.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Sumptuous fruit on the nose with some herbal notes. A lovely smooth palate and finish. 12 years
Dow’s - ** Buyer's Choice
£330.00 Per Dozen in Bond
The 03 Dow's knocked us for six in terms of its sheer quality - definitely into the premier league with this vintage! With a powerful structure and plenty of fruit this has good long-term potential. 15-20 years
Graham's
£350.00 Per Dozen in Bond
As with their more recent vintages, this has beautiful fruit on the nose and a stylish palate. Lovely long finish - very impresive. 12-15 years
Fonseca
£370.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Huge mouthful of rich fruit, powerful and with a very long finish. Just what one expects from a classic Fonseca vintage. 15-20 years
Taylor’s - ** Investor's Tip
£385.00 Per Dozen in Bond
Restrained elegant fruit on the nose and palate, with considerable structure and length. Shows typical Taylor characteristics. 20 years +
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
We can only accept offers for a dozen unmixed bottles or multiples thereof.
The prices in bond exclude storage, custom’s clearance, delivery to our warehouse, duty and vat. The last two items will be invoiced at the rates prevailing when you decide to take delivery of the wine. We may also charge for onward delivery from our warehouse.
