The result of this pattern was poor fruit set and one of the smallest vintages in living memory.

The lagares took plenty of “work”: colour good. Unfortunately this came to an end with a sharp cold snap, even some severe frosts which adversely affected the flowering on the highlands.Mid May through July were relatively mild, and intense heat really only set into the Douro in August, with many days around 35°C, and even some up to 40°C, and temperatures remained high through early September.

Baumés were not too high and acidity levels were normal, both clear proof that we had not had excessive heat.

27 September – 8 October 1980From a price/purchasing angle this vintage has been completely calm and free from the tensions and speculative fever… But with the price of brandy almost double that of last year… the cost price of a pipe of 1980 Port will stand at 22-25% above that of a pipe in 1979… from a quality point of view the prospects are excellent and a good stock of young, good quality full-bodied Port wine is now in existence.Very wet winter and spring followed by a dry hot summer and no rainfall from late June until 18th September.Picking began at Bomfim on the 24th, with fine weather holding till 5th October. Power, dimension and real character are all hallmarks of this most memorable vintage. The grapes were in very good condition; Baumés were above average at about 13º.Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional gave lower than average yields but gave fine concentrated musts. The fox is a wily creature and this year it was necessary to be wily (and lucky) and also because our wine maker at Malvedos, Henry Shotton, was fast asleep and alone one night on a mattress in the darkened winery, waiting for a lagar of must to be ready to run off sometime in the night. Heavy rain that weekend had such great effect that then-current estimates for the harvest start date were brought forward 10 to 14 days! The quantity generally is very much less than was expected, Bomfim producing about 54 pipes which is the lowest production for very many years.Harvest began at Bomfim and Senhora da Ribeira on 23rd September and elsewhere between 23rd and 30th. Luckily the summer began fairly cool and it was not till mid August that it warmed up, with a couple really hot spells (upper 30s to 40° C) in mid August and again around 9th/10th September. Not generally declared after the 2000 vintage, but some excellent Single Quinta Vintage Ports from major brands were produced.The 2000 vintage will be remembered for the immense concentration of its wines and the unusually small quantities that were produced.The final vintage of the 20th century produced some strongly aromatic and intensely coloured wines of excellent quality. By mid-August the grapes were looking a bit shrivelled, however in the second half of the month there was heavy dew at night which enabled the grapes to swell to normal proportions despite the lack of rain. The famous 1945, considered one of the greatest Vintage Ports, was produced following a dry growing cycle that closely resembles 2017 in terms of average temperatures, rainfall, yields and timing.We finished harvesting our vineyards on 26th September, often the starting date of previous vintages.

The heatwave was causing some anxiety about the condition of the grapes, and a few farmers panicked and began picking as early as late August.Those who waited were rewarded. Perfect vintage weather and perfect grapes.Wines very backward through, no doubt, the heat, which continued after the vintage. When the harvest started the fruit was in excellent condition, the grapes looking slightly “raisined” as good Port grapes should.It had been many years since so many of the quality indicators have been present in any one year, namely the excellent fruit quality, high sugar readings, ideal weather throughout picking, very low yields, purple colours already apparent from the beginning of fermentation, wonderful aromas from the musts and the low juice to skin ratio.Fermentations took place under near ideal conditions, no cooling being required, in fact a little heating was needed due to quite cool nights. Yields on the other hand are the lowest for many years, some quintas being as much as 30% down on their 1964/5 productions.We are delighted with the prospects for the 1966’s.

Another classic Vintage Port, 1904s are well-balanced and delicate and have developed into an old tawny style while being able to keep their excellent reputation throughout.Declared by almost all producers, Ernest Cockburn said the wines showed Declared by a few shippers to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, unfortunately the trade had bought heavily in 1896 and did not need the 1897.Declared by all producers, 1896 was an exceptional vintage.

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