Port Club
2011 Churchills Vintage case
“2011 has the makings of a phenomenal Port Vintage. In all my 39 vintages I have never encountered young Ports with such colour, structure and intensity. These Ports are head and shoulders above anything I have ever seen at this stage. I know it is still early to pronounce but I have absolutely no hesitation in making an unofficial “declaration” of the 2011 Vintage. The official “declaration” will only be made in the Spring of 2013 after the wines have been approved by the Port Wine Institute.” - Johnny Graham, 2012."
"This was my first Press Release on the 2011 Vintage and I have no reason to go back on my words. It really is an iconic year which will compare favourably with the past great Port Vintages of the previous century. Even now after ten years, a moment when bottled Vintage Ports tend to pass through the difficult phase of “closing up”, the sheer fruit intensity of the Churchill’s 2011 is still very much present within its tannic structure. I think it will give more and more pleasure as years go by and It is certainly a Vintage Port with which to celebrate the turn of the next century." - Johnny Graham, 2021.
Very intense in colour with mineral qualities, the 2011 Vintage has a concentrated berry nose, a fresh resinous palate and excellent natural acidity which provides the blend with a firm tannic structure that ensures greater longevity.
Produced with old vines (on average over 50 years old) from the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior sub-regions in the Douro Valley, of which the backbone comes from the old vines of Quinta da Gricha.
THE YEAR
During the winter of 2010/ 2011, the rainfall levels were slightly above average (mostly due to the precipitation occurred in December) in opposition to the spring, where the values were lower than average. In 2011, temperature values were significantly above the past 30 years. Three heat waves occurred: one in April and two in May. Also in May we had “tropical nights” (nights with minimum temperatures equal or above 20ºC) along with showers, strong to very strong, and thunderstorms and hail. Due to the climatic conditions, the blossom of the vines occurred 15 days earlier to 2010 (second week of March) and the flowering 10 to 14 days earlier (between 13 and 16 of May).