Cruz Porto
Gran Cruz Porto sociedade comercial de vinhos, Lda
| Founded |
1887 |
| Owner |
La Martiniquaise |
| Vineyards |
Quinta de la Granja, Quinta do Castelo, Quinta de Ventozelo |
The company took its name from the principle brand used by Assumpçao E. Fos founded in 1887. However the firm was founded 1901 by Manuel R. da Assunção, but the company did not start producing port until 1926. 1972 the firm was sold to French La Martiniquaise and the name was changed to Gran Cruz Porto in 1975. In 2007 Gran Cruz bought C. da Silva owing the brands Dalva and Presidential. With the acquisition of Vale de São Martinho in 2007 and Quinta de Ventozelo in 2014 Gran Cruz has secured access to their own grapes.
| Cruz Porto Vintages: | 1982, 1989, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
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| Quinta de Ventozelo Vintages: | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
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Vintage Port tasting notes:
| House | Cruz | Vintage | 1982 |
| Colour | Quite dark and beautiful with a yellow mature colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Burned sugar, cacao and crème candy in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 15.25 |
| Taste | Quite light in body Mature and peaking. Easy to drink and like. Candy in taste and quite tasty. Elegant and easy to drink and like with a nice finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 20th November 2014 | Point this date | 15.25 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö
In 2014 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Cruz | Vintage | 1989 |
| Colour | Yellow mature, very beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 19 |
| Bouquet | Old grocery shop with coffee, liquorice, fudge, burned candy and some crème caramel in the nose. | Score range | 15.40 - 16.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mostly toffee, burned candy and liquorice in flavour. Mature and peaking. Balanced and tasty but quite sweet with a very elegant and rather complex finish. | Average score | 15.63 |
| Last tasted | 1st September 2023 | Point this date | 16.00 |
| Comment | Tasted at home with the family.
In 2019 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Cruz | Vintage | 1998 |
| Colour | Still quite dark but with a yellow mature colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Generous bouquet with toffee, candy, cacao and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body Quite mature and almost peaking but still with some very round and very attractive tannins and will probably improve. Balanced and very tasty with toffee, candy some cacao and old grocery shop. The finish is quite long and very impressive. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 27th September 2020 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | Tasted at home with the family
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Cruz | Vintage | 1999 |
| Colour | Still quite dark ruby in colour with a brick red edge. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Sweet liquorice, cacao, dark chocolate, lots of different herbs and still some dark berries in the nose. | Score range | 15.50 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Very round and elegant tannins. Rather mature but will be better. Balanced and very soft, sweet and elegant. Liquorice and cacao with chocolate and lots of different herbs in taste. The finish is lovely and brilliant and still with tannins. Indeed an attractive and promising port. | Average score | 15.88 |
| Last tasted | 17th June 2023 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | Tasted at home with the family
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Cruz | Vintage | 2000 |
| Colour | Medium dark ruby, rather transparent with a yellow mature edge in colour. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Some dark berries and some fruit but just a hint of some toffee and cream candy in the nose. Quite strange what we are used to. | Score range | 14.50 - 15.90 |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite mature. Today rather simple in taste with dark berries and some fruit. Not at all what we are expecting. Easy to drink but today quite short in the finish and some unbalanced acidity. Not at all what we are used to from this port. | Average score | 15.35 |
| Last tasted | 17th July 2023 | Point this date | 14.50 |
| Comment | Tasted at home with the family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Cruz | Vintage | 2007 |
| Colour | Still quite dark blue in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Dried berry, roses and some perfume in the nose. | Score range | 15.00 - 15.40 |
| Taste | Medium body. Still immature with tannins. Will improve. Spring flowers in taste. Quite attractive finish and nice finish. | Average score | 15.20 |
| Last tasted | 12th September 2014 | Point this date | 15.40 |
| Comment | In Grand Cruz’s lodge at the trip to Oporto – Duoro with the Port Wine Club est. 1981 in Copenhagen.
| Tasters | SAI, JB |