The Onion

1996

The viticulutural season began with a very wet winter. January and February were colder than normal resulting in a late bud burst. Cool, wet conditions continued until just prior to flowering on 25th May.  Flowering took place in hot weather and, when combined with the large number of inflorescences at bud burst, resulted in the largest...

2003

The Winter preceeding the 2003 harvest was very wet. Flowering took place in bright warm weather at the end of May in some of the best conditions seen for several years.  The first two weeks of August provided the intense Summer heat which often precedes a great Port Vintage. The picking season in September was warm, dry and the yields...

2022

TASTING NOTE Deep purple black with a narrow magenta rim. Exuberant, powerful, fresh blackcurrant and cherry nose. Finesse, elegance and poise with a linear push of woodland fruit, hints of plum and a kiss of citrus and quince. This dense backdrop is overlaid with an enchanting grapey freshness that builds as the nose develops. The floral...

1999

Following a wet 1998 vintage we had a very cold and dry winter, with very little rainfall. As a consequence, budburst started two weeks later than usual in mid March.  April and May were very wet, which was just as well as the water reserves in the soil were very low. Flowering occurred in mid May under wet conditions, however with the...

2011

The winter preceding the 2011 harvest was wetter and colder than the 30-year average. Budburst occurred as usual mid March and warm weather and rainfall in April produced vigorous growth. At the beginning of May dry conditions set in and there was little rainfall in eastern areas of the Douro until late August.  However the vines were able...