Poças Vintage Port 2018

The 2018 Vintage Port is a field blend from old vines aged for six months in old Balseiros. It comes in with 125 grams of residual sugar. This, says the winery, "is the first time in more than 25 years that we have made our Vintage Port in the stone lagares. The foot treading allowed for a better quality extraction and good aeration." Very concentrated and pure, this is deep and rich on opening, but air allows it to become more graceful. It seems fairly accessible early on, but there are tannins here, however ripe, that will support the fruit well. Expressive and tasty, this also has the serious feel that you want to see in a fine Port. A couple of days later, it surprisingly and seemingly pulled in most of the sugar. It didn't seem nearly as sweet as statistics would suggest, while remaining sensual, elegant and chock-full of flavor. This is lovely, and it looks like a big winner. It certainly makes a nice case for being the best of this issue's 2018 Vintage Port submissions overall. It should age well. It has a good chance to develop very well, not just hold.

A special edition bottling to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the producer, the wine is packed with sweet dried fruit, generous tannins and great opulence. The wine's structure will allow it to age well, but it has enough richness to be ready soon. Drink from 2022 or age for many years.