Krohn Quinta do Retiro Novo 2004

Wiese & Krohn's estate Quinta do Retiro Novo is located in Sarzedinho, a small village in the Rio Torto valley. Quality is determined by the grape varieties, by the age of the vines, their method of training and the density of planting. All these factors are officially converted into points, the sum of which determines the final classification of the property. Here, this sum exceeds 1200 points, ensuring it belongs to a select group of "Class A" properties. Summer was hot in 2004 followed by a wet September but finally more sun pushed up sugar levels before harvest. After harvest, old lagares (open granite tanks about 75cm high) are still used to make the best Ports with traditional foot treading of the grapes without any mechanical crushing. This Port was aged for a couple of years in wood and several years in bottle before release. It has the potential to age for around 25 years or more.

Wiese & Krohn was founded in 1865 by two Norwegians - Theodor Wiese and Dankert Krohn - shipping initially to Scandinavia and Germany. In the century and a half since its foundation, Krohn has built up an outstanding reputation. Long renowned for the quality of their sublime Colheitas (single vintage tawnies), they produce a remarkably complete range for a small house, and each wine excels in its category.

Much of the secret lies in the high quality of their vineyards - the magical combination of terroir, locality, aspect, incline and low-yielding vines. Their Quinta do Retiro Novo estate in Sarzedinho, in the Rio Torto valley (where vinification takes place), is all A grade vineyard. Indeed Krohn only work with grapes from A-graded vineyards across all of their ports, and their top wines are still trodden by foot. Since 2013 Krohn has been part of the Fladgate Partnership - alongside Taylor's, Fonseca and Croft.