2016 Vintage Port
"...there's no question that 2016 is a superb vintage..."
Richard Hemming MW on jancisrobinson.com
Quite out of the blue three half bottles of wine arrived in our offices, sent by Mentzendorff, UK agents for the Fladgate Partnership, owners of Taylor, Fonseca and Croft in the Douro Valley and, indeed, it was barrel samples from these great estates contained within.
Having read about the high quality of the wines of this vintage I was excited to give them a go. I duly pulled the corks and recorded video tasting notes.
If you are a drinker and collector of such wines, I would rate the '16 vintage as unmissable. I absolutely loved the style...
2016 Vintage Port, Croft
Having read about the high quality of the wines of this vintage I was excited to give them a go. I duly pulled the corks and recorded video tasting notes.
If you are a drinker and collector of such wines, I would rate the '16 vintage as unmissable. I absolutely loved the style...
The Wines
2016 Vintage Port, Croft
£237 in bond per 6 Drink 2025-50
I found this to be the most forward and plush of these ports and will consequently be ready soonest. It's a hedonistic mouthful, rich and touched by spice.
Click here to see my video tasting note
Click here to see my video tasting note
2016 Vintage Port, Fonseca
£294 in bond per 6 Drink 2028-55
I was completely entranced by this wine. It has such elegance and salient wine-y-ness. Just a lovely, lovely wine.
Click here to see my video note
2016 Vintage Port, Taylor
£300 in bond per 6 Drink 2030-60
Just such an exciting wine, with so much held in reserve. This is regal, structured and highly impressive.
Click here to see my video note
In addition to the wines above, I can offer the following worthies:
2016 Vintage Port, Smith Woodhouse
£170 in bond per 6
"I admire the tension here, a nimble and agile Vintage Port that gathers weight towards the finish." Neal Martin
2016 Vintage Port, Cockburn
£225 in bond per 6
"Very round with a savoury, herbal, dry finish but absolutely gorgeously sweet and fresh on the palate." Jancis Robinson
2016 Vintage Port, Quinta do Vesuvio
£240 in bond per 6
"The palate is sweet and candied on the entry, notes of marmalade and dried quince infusing the cassis and black cherry fruit with high notes of blueberry and a slight saline tincture towards the well balanced, quite persistent finish. Very fine." Neal Martin
2016 Vintage Port, Warre
£260 in bond per 6
"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." Jancis Robinson
2016 Vintage Port, Graham
£319 in bond per 6
"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." Jancis Robinson
2016 Vintage Port, Dow
£319 in bond per 6
"Rather savoury and minerally on the nose. Such a strong, almost minty personality. Lovely blend of freshness and ripeness..." Jancis Robinson
Email caspar[at]boweswine.co.uk to order
