Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

'For the second year in a row, De Krans has produced my fortified wine of the year, delivering a brilliant Vintage Reserve that wouldn't look out of place in a line-up of top Portuguese Ports. Rich, complex, focused and peppery with notes of Asian spices and dark, inky fruit, this is a wine that will improve for a decade or more.' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 96/100

1999:
'A wine with great presence. Latest 99 (4.5*) tintas b/r, touriga (slightly more than pvs), souzão (50/5/30/15). Generously built, dense, not over-sweet - almost austere finish. Already velvety but min 3-4 yrs needed to open. Fortified with unmatured spirit; 16 mths 4 000l vats. 94g/l sugar, 19,5% alc. "Declared" only in outstanding vintages; no 00 due to heavy flooding; pvs was standout 97 (5*).' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2003

1999 was named Reserve Champion in the Museum Class at the 2010 SAPPA Port Challenge.

1997:
'A superb achievement in a line of Reserves, "declared" only in outstanding vintages. Winner of 1999 Schulz Trophy for best vintage port in competition organised by SA Port Producers' Association. Features both exceptional harmony and grip. Compote of red fruits, mocha and smoky tobacco on nose, silky but powerful fruit on palate. Less emphasis on wood maturation makes for vibrant flavours - only 6 mths, half in large vats, remainder 500l barrels - all old. 90% tinta b. from low-yielding 24-yr-old v'yards, plus younger souzão, tinta roriz, touriga Naçional. 19,2% alc, 88g/l sugar.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2000, 5*

1995:
'still 100% tinta from 20-year-old vines, dense plum with purple rim; wafts of spicy chocolate, fennel, warm stewed fruits. 19% alc, already integrated with firm tannins, making for drinkability, with promise of best to come. In now-standard drier, Cape Vintage style (88 gsm/l sugar). - Platter's SA Wine Guide 1998, Best of the Bunch, Superior Cape Quality, 5 Stars in WINE magazine