|
Three new releases today... 2016 Vintage Port... the first “declared” vintage by the Port houses since 2011. The Port producers only “declare”, and thus release, Ports when they feel it is “up to snuff”. 2011, 2007, 2003, 2000, 1997, 1994… basically two every decade. Not just that, but the early buzz is this could be a legendary vintage, on par with 1963! So, this is your chance to load up!
Many of you have already read the vintage report, so I am putting that at the bottom if you want to revisit.
Make sure you check out the Cockburn's... it looks to be the value of the vintage! Reply to order!
Dow's Vintage Port 2016 - Sale $94.99 (750ml)
- 98 pts Vinous / 96 pts James Suckling/ 93 pts Wine Advocate
“The 2016 Dow’s Vintage Port is based around the Vinha dos Ecos vineyard behind Bomfim, populated predominantly by mature Touriga Franca vines that were cropped at just 0.68kg per vine. It has a quite astonishing bouquet with layer upon layer of intense black cherry and cassis fruit, touches of clove, leather and a hint of over-ripe Satsuma. This is a mercurial bouquet that keeps changing in the glass, revealing smoky/burning ember scents with time. The palate is quite magnificent – perfectly balanced with a killer thread of acidity slicing through such pure intense black fruit that there is no heaviness at all. There is a sense of thrust on the finish as it fans out with almost careless abandon, a Vintage Port so self-assured that you can only sit back in amazement. Simply one of the best Dow’s ever made. " Vinous
Graham's Vintage Port 2016 - Sale $94.99 (750ml)
- 99 pts James Suckling / 96 pts Vinous / 95 pts Wine Advocate
“The 2016 Graham’s Vintage Port is inky black in colour. The bouquet is voluminous and intense, the aromas almost shrouding your head! Blackberry, black olive, clove and a touch of smoke, just a hint of pencil box in the background. The palate is brilliant, quite brilliant. Supple tannin, a satin-like texture, perfect balance and unerring purity, this is a fabulous Graham’s that effortlessly fans out and caresses the senses on the finish. This Graham’s has huge potential and is going to give a lot of pleasure for many years. " Vinous
Cockburn's Vintage Port 2016 - Sale $69.99 (750ml)
- 99 pts James Suckling / 95 pts Vinous / 93 pts Wine Advocate
“The 2016 Cockburn’s, which comes mainly from the Bico de Pato vineyard, is deep in colour, perhaps more so than other vintages of this Port encountered during previous declaration tastings. The nose is tight at first, almost Bordeaux-like with blackberry, raspberry coulis, touches of inkwell and cassis. There is admirable purity here. The palate is beautifully balanced with supple tannin, a wonderful line of acidity and immense harmony. There is presence but not weight, a silky smooth finish with hints of raisin and fig that linger tenderly in the mouth. What a marvellous Cockburn’s! "
And I still have some of this one...
Fonseca Vintage Port 2016 - Sale $99.99 (750ml)
- 98 pts James Suckling / 96 pts Vinous / 96-98 pts Wine Advocate
"The 2016 Fonseca Vintage Port began to be picked on 21 September at their Panascal vineyard, their Quinta do Cruzeira vineyard not picked until 6 October. It is deep, almost inky in colour. The bouquet is very intense with luscious black fruit laced with embers, clove and hints of bay leaf. There is wonderful purity here and a broodiness that suggests you'd better be patient. The palate is sweet and lively on the entry with some gorgeous ginger and curry leaf notes littered over the compact black fruit. There is wonderful density to this Fonseca. It is like a coiled spring with so much energy towards the finish that you just know this will be a long-term prospect." VInous
2016 Vintage Report by James Suckling
“The 2016 vintage may prove to be a modern legend for vintage Port. The 2016 vintage Ports exhibit fantastic depth and concentration yet at the same time they show a sheer tannin backbone that gives them great form and class. They have a cooler, less ripe nature to them compared to the extremely rich 2011s, 2003s and 2000s. The 2016s seem more in line with the racier 2007s but perhaps with slightly more intensity.
Port shippers say the lower grape yields and longer grape growing season in 2016 enabled them to produce exceptional wines. “It was not a traumatic growing season for the grapes,” notes Dominic Symington of Symington Family Estates, which counts a large number of properties under its control in the Douro. “We had a really even growing season. So we have much more refinement in the wines.”
Indeed, the quality of the tannins is exceptional. The Port producers attribute this to better methodology in the vineyards and cellars, not to mention vineyards planted during the 1990s and 2000s producing excellent fruit. “We know our fruit much better,” says Dominic. “We know when the acidity is there, and we are more precise. In the old days, we picked the grapes because the pickers showed up. Not anymore.”
Adds Nick Heath of The Taylor Fladgate Partnership: “There is more control everywhere. A lot of the success is coming from the modern vineyards.”
Whatever the reason, the superb quality comes through in these young Ports, and they are surprisingly impressive to taste now. They are not like the young vintage Ports I tasted at the beginning of my career in the early 1980s, which were big, raw and powerful.
The 2016s are much more finished and refined; they exemplify strength and form. It suggests that they can be consumed slightly younger, perhaps in five to eight years, but they will continue to age beautifully for decades ahead. Maybe the 2016 is the new 1963 — a legendary year that was always admired for its balance and strength.” James Suckling | 
