St George’s Day, 23rd April, is when the Port Houses traditionally announce whether it will make a new Vintage Port release. and in this year 2014 the three Fladgate Houses have declared single vineyard ports.

Taylor’s to launch Quinta de Vargellas 2012 Vintage Port

Revealing this year’s decision, Taylor’s Managing Director, Adrian Bridge, said: "I am delighted to say that we will be making a limited bottling of 2012 Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port. The 2012 is showing the wonderfully pure, vibrant fruit which often results from a cool ripening season and displays all the elegance and poise which we associate with Vargellas Vintage Ports.” He added: "The wine will be released in time for the year end and we already have strong expressions of interest from the trade.”

Taylor’s wine maker David Guimaraens noted: "The Vargellas 2012 has an attractive crisp acidity and expresses the Vargellas terroir with great precision.” Allocations will be made in the coming weeks. 

Harvest Report for 2012

The winter preceding the 2012 harvest was much drier and colder than is customary. Budburst occurred towards the third week in March under very dry conditions, with good levels of rainfall occurring in April and early May. By the end of May, the vineyards showed low vigour, caused by the combination of an extremely dry winter and cooler than normal spring. Flowering occurred between the 14th – 30th May.

Good weather continued during June and July leading to the healthy development of the vines. The vines maintained their lower than usual vigour, resulting in smaller berries, bunches and lower yields. Véraison (colouring of the grapes) was inevitably later than usual.

In mid-August, the grapes were still very low in sugar and with high levels of acidity. The vegetation however, was remarkably healthy for the time of year. The fully performing canopies and fewer grapes resulted in a significant and continuous ripening of the crop during the duration of the harvest. As a result picking started on the 20th September at Vargellas, with a small pause on the 24th for a few hours of rain, but good weather prevailed for the rest of the harvest.