2016 Vintage Port: A declared vintage "These are the best vintage ports I have ever made" Charles Symington, Head Winemaker The 16 s to be at least as good as 2003 and 2011. Christian Seely, MD of Quinta do Noval The 2016s are likely to become rarities in future, particularly given the trend towards enjoying vintage Ports young." Adrian Bridge, MD Fladgate Partnership A superb year for Port with the top families all declaring 2016 a vintage year. This was not the easiest of vintages but with all the risks came the ultimate reward. All the wines we tasted offer high quality with an attractive and often charming style unique to the terroir of each of the vineyards. It is rare to taste wines with such power and intensity yet easy to appreciate so young. These wines will be very enjoyable to drink after mid to long term cellaring. The last declared vintage was 2011 and before that 2003. Yields in 2016 are smaller and a rise in demand will be sure to accelerate this vintage to new heights.
Taylor s 295 - case 6 Bottles OMG. This is really the most amazing young Taylor's I have ever tasted. Full-bodied and lightly sweet with super power and intensity. So racy and focused. Yet this has such muscle and intensity. Needs at least eight years to show you everything it has to offer. Drink in 2025. JS 100pts Dark crimson but without the blueish purple of the Grahams. Tight, refined nose rather claret-like. Not as obviously sweet as some. Restrained aromatically: backward with sharp, linear blackcurrant and violet notes. This tastes like a somewhat shouty, scratchy baby at the moment which is no criticism of a wine designed to age as long as a vintage port. But then there are masses of sweet fruit with liquorice surrounded in a scratchy skein of tannins and acidity. Drink 2043-2070. JR 18/20pts Graham s Extremely complex aromas that show the classic Graham character of black-fruit marmalade and burnt oranges. Follows through to a full body with great grip at the finish. Lightly sweet. Chewy and powerful. Such a focus at the end. JS 99pts All the Symington wines had exceptionally deep colours. This one has a particularly deep blackishpurple, still with a blueish hue. On the already-expressive nose I found prunes, something floral and a note of balsam, plus lots of freshness. Relatively open on the palate too. Rather elegant and the hugely sweet fruit almost covers a massive charge of silky tannins. This is almost like a sweet, tannic table wine. Pure and polished. Sweeter than most. One of those wines that some people might easily persuade themselves could be drunk relatively young, Satin Textured. JR 18/20 Fonseca 295 - case 6 Bottles Lots of ripe fruit here with raisins and wet earth that turn to violets and hot stones. Full-bodied, tannic and powerful with fantastic grip and intensity. Grabs you. Impressive. Drink in 2025. JS 98pts Dark crimson with a slightly chestnut hue. Very much a cloud rather than a rapier on the nose hedonistic and ripe with masses of sweetness almost masking a rigorous corset of tannins. You really taste the heat here but in a very ripe fruit way, not in a hot spirit way. Drink 2036-2066. JR - 17.5+/20pts
Quinta do Noval This is a superb baby Noval that reminds me of the 1966. Chewy yet so polished. The light sweetness suggests an overall dialing back of the sugar content. Stemmy and lightly green. A truly classic Noval. Almost all from Pinhao. Buy. Better in 2025. JS 98pts Very dark crimson. Rich and spicy on the nose. Juicy and succulent. A hint of something almost overripe. Heady and very definitely not uptight. Sort of sprawls all over the palate in a devil-may-care fashion. Lots of fun, though the tannins are by no means insistent. Oddly readable, but lots of fun. Drink 2030-2065 JR 18/20pts Quinta do Vesuvio 240 - case 6 Bottles The greenness and stalkiness comes through here with a minty, fennel character as well as blueberry and violet undertones. Peppermint, too. Full-bodied and off-dry, showcasing blue fruits and a spicy fresh finish. Try in 2022. JS 94 Very dark blackish crimson. Reminds me a little of the Noval Nacianal for its wildness (and foot sweat?!). Rather heady mix of wild herbs and grasses. Very juicy indeed. Massive impact and drama with grip on the end. Firm tannic grip after all that appeal. Real pace and excitement. Nervy. Convincing. JR 18/20 Dow s Aromas of blueberries, blackberries and dried flowers plus hints of slate follow through to a full body, very fine tannins and a driven and linear finish. Orange peel and dried fruit. Sleek and racy. Ready to try in 2024. JS 96pts Extremely dark blackish crimson (like Graham 2016!). Rather savoury and minerally on the nose. Such strong, almost minty personality. Lovely blend of freshness and ripeness, though some may reproach it for slightly less tannins than others. Lovely briny impact. Relatively forward, possibly tempting to drink it quite young? JR 18/20
Warre s 255 - case 6 Bottles Very complex with dried flowers and roses. Full-bodied, very layered and tightly wound. Chewy and powerful. Firm and off-dry. Needs five or six years to soften. Beauty. Try in 2024. JS 96pts Not quite as deep-coloured as Dow and Graham but almost! Very dark blackish crimson. Strongly aromatic with balsam notes. Smells as though this would be just the job with roast lamb somehow in the same way as a redcurrant jelly. The acidity seems more marked than its grand stablemates Dow and Graham. Racy and sinewy. Drink 2035-2060. JR 17.5/20pts Croft s 235 - case 6 Bottles Extremely perfumed with dark-berry and currant aromas. Hints of earth and spices. Full-bodied, round and medium sweet. Hints of resin. Opulent yet restrained. Shows ripe and beautiful fruit with clarity. Try in 2025. JS 97pts Blackish mid crimson. Mild, agreeable, friendly nose. Sweet and lightly spicy. Then the thread is drawn and it s much drier on the end. Fairly early maturing compared with the greats, I would have thought. Without massive density. Drink 2030-2050. JR 16.5/20pts Cockburn s 225 - case 6 Bottles This shows fantastic graphite and dark-berry character with black-stone undertones and hints of dried roses. Full-bodied and very tight and precise. Good kick in the end. Love the polished tannins, which are totally folded into the wine. Reminds me of the 1947 Cockburn. Try in 2024. JS 99pts Dark crimson with a mere hint of ruby at the rim. Lifted and silky. This immediately makes a claim to be a top-drawer wine on the nose. Very round with a savoury, herbal, dry finish but absolutely gorgeously sweet and fresh on the palate. Just a little heat on the end but this is a very convincing sign that Cockburn is back on form, even if it may not be one of the longest living. Drink 2035-2065. JR 18/20pts
Smith Woodhouse 170 - case 6 Bottles This is extremely floral with dark fruit and plum character. Full-bodied, very tight and focused. It's a complete young vintage Port that is great from start to finish. Rio Torto fruit makes this great! Better in 2022. JS 96pts. That super-deep Sym crimson again. Very luscious, appealing nose. Smooth and sweet, a sort of cadet to the big guns initially but then freshness and polished tannins (masses of them) kick in. Rather inky, almost bitter on the end. Leathery. Drink 2033-2055. JR 17+/20pts 16 Vintage Port Bt/cs Price In Bond/case Taylor s 6 295.00 Graham s 6 310.00 Fonseca 6 295.00 Quinta do Noval 6 310.00 Quinta do Vesuvio 6 240.00 Dow s 6 310.00 Warre s 6 255.00 Croft s 6 235.00 Cockburn s 6 225.00 Smith Woodhouse 6 170.00 Tri case (Taylors, Fonseca, Croft) 3 170.00 Prices are offered In Bond Other formats are available upon request, charges may apply.