1970 Vintage Port
A classic Vintage, with great balance, good structure, and long-lived wines. One of the absolute finest Vintage Ports of the last 50 years. Declared by all the major houses.
Drinking Status
Now mature, probably one of the finest glasses of port that you will ever taste. A wine of this quality, from the best houses, will age superbly for many decades to come.
Tasting Notes
Magnificent wines with abundant ripe fruit flavours and concentrated tannins. The harmony and balance of the best 1970's wines is quite simply outstanding. Some of the wines are ranked amongst the all-time greats.
Climatic Conditions
The first two months of the year were rainy but the weather turned even colder as well as dry in March. After a warm April the weather was ideal until rain fell in early September.
Vinification
The grapes were perfect when picking began on 21st September, though the high temperatures and dryness brought initial fears as to the quality of the wines.
Winemaker's Comments
"Thunder showers these last few days have amounted to several hours steady rain, very welcome and ideal providing it now clears. Prospects in the better districts good for quality and average yield."
Michael Symington
28 August 1970
"Picking started on 21st. The extreme heat at the beginning of the vintage made for some very high temperatures in the lagares and only slightly lower temperatures in the tanks, fermentations were therefore rapid but colour was nevertheless excellent. From 26th September to 6th October the weather continued fine but cooler particularly at night and fermentations became steadier and colour continued to be outstanding. It is unlikely that the early high fermentation temperatures will prove to have been dangerously high and it is likely that the 1970 wines will prove to be quite outstandingly good. Their colour is exceptional and very purple and they seem to have plenty of body. Everybody seems delighted with the 1970's and it would surprise nobody if the year produced a Vintage."
James Symington
18th October 1970