Port 2011: Vintage Guide
Ripeness and tannic structure characterise Port in 2011 which, despite difficult weather conditions, could rank as a legendary vintage in a new era of better winemaking and improved spirit quality.
Richard Mayson began his career working for The Wine Society, winning the Vintner’s Company Scholarship in 1987 during his time there. Now specialising in the wines of Iberia, especially fortified wines, he owns a vineyard and produces wine in the Alto Alentejo, Portugal, and is the author of four books, including The Wines and Vineyards of Portugal (winner of the André Simon Award 2003) and Port and the Douro. Mayson writes regularly for Decanter and The World of Fine Wine, contributes to the Oxford Companion to Wine and lectures for the WSET diploma and Leith's School of Food and Wine in London. In 1999, he was made a Cavaleiro of the Confraria do Vinho do Porto in recognition of his services to the Port wine trade, and he was an associate editor of Oz Clarke’s Wine Atlas. Mayson runs his own website for fortified wine enthusiasts, portandmadeirapages.com, is currently writing a book on the wines of Madeira.
Ripeness and tannic structure characterise Port in 2011 which, despite difficult weather conditions, could rank as a legendary vintage in a new era of better winemaking and improved spirit quality.
If you need inspiration...
Find out who won the regional trophy for over £10
Find out who won the regional trophy for over £10. And the winner is...
Find out who won the regional trophy for over £10
Find out who won the regional trophy for over £10
A trip to Madeira is a trip back in history...
In his last Decanter article on Portuguese wine, Richard Mayson looks back over 26 years in the trade and picks his favourite producers of yesteryear, today – and tomorrow��
2003 has been declared a vintage by all the major the Port houses - and the wines look well-structured and certainly long-lived.
Vintage port is often held up as the most aristocratic of wines. But RICHARD MAYSON argues that a 20-year-old tawny can offer greater overall drinking pleasure.
Portugal has spent the last 20 years rediscovering its terroir. RICHARD MAYSON looks at how its best quality areas are now prospering.
Four Portuguese red wines were placed among the world’s greatest at an international blind tasting in Lisbon last month.
After a somewhat difficult decade, Chablis' Domaine William Fèvre would appear – under new owners – to be back on its feet. RICHARD MAYSON reviews the changes
It's been a steep learning curve, but it has paid off. Producers in Ribatejo and Estremadura are making exciting wines, and rediscovering native grapes. RICHARD MAYSON introduces the wines of the area.
Portugal's amazing endowment of native white grapes has long been overshadowed by its red brethen. This should change, argues RICHARD MAYSON
There's more to Emilia-Romagna than cheap Lambrusco, discovers RICHARD MAYSON
The global popularity of Chardonnay shows no sign of waning. RICHARD MAYSON goes Stateside in search of California's finest and strips Sonoma bare.
Wines come and wines go, but Mateus Rosé has stood the test of time. Richard Mayson talks to Salvador Guedes, third generation of Sogrape bosses in a family to find out what the future holds for Portugal's biggest wine producer
Douro's unfortified red wines are increasingly coming out of port's shadow says, RICHARD MAYSON, who looks at latest launches from the valley
...it's a way of life. Drinking fino or manzanilla sherry in Spain, that is. RICHARD MAYSON applauds the wines that fuel many a Jerezano's day (and night)
A country-wide association of independent growers producing and bottling wines entirely from grapes grown in their own vineyards is helping to reinforce the move throughout Portugal towards high quality single quinta wines. RICHARD MAYSON samples some of the fruits of their individual labours.
Long regarded as a poor relation to the region's famous Port wines, Douro table reds are finally getting the recognition they deserve, writes RICHARD MAYSON