Warres Vintage Port 2016

Warre's Vintage Port 2016

Producer Tasting Note:

The structure and complexity of the old vines was balanced with great acidity and freshness from the Cavadinha grapes and the superb floral aromatics from the two Touriga varieties harvested at Quinta da Telhada. Due to the very cool nights during the vintage, the grapes arrived at the Cavadinha lagar winery so cold in the mornings that, in effect, they had a ‘cold soak maceration’ before fermentation began, favouring excellent aromatic extraction.

Nearly half the Warre’s 2016 is made up of old, mixed vines from both Cavadinha and Retiro. In sections of these vineyards, as many as 30 to 40 different varieties are planted together, and at Retiro they are between 80 and 100 years old with a predominance of Touriga Franca, a variety that has typically prospered in the Rio Torto Valley, home to Quinta do Retiro. These vineyards produced tiny yields, just 630g/vine.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Warre's 'feminine' ports come from the relatively high 29-ha vineyard at Quinta da Cavadinha in the Pinhão Valley, the 22-ha vineyard at Quinta do Retiro in the Rio Torto Valley, and the 25-ha Quinta da Telhada in the upper reaches of the Douro Superior.
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

17.5/20 points, Jancis Robinson, www.jancisrobinson.com, May 2018

"The 2016 Vintage Port is a 46/37 blend from old vines and Touriga Nacional, with Touriga Franca making up the rest. It was bottled in May 2018 with 113 grams of residual sugar. The fruit on this is gloriously expressive and concentrated. It's classic and delicious, but it doesn't show the power and structure of the top wines. Charles Symington called it very elegant. Or, say, understated and approachable. It is pretty delicious, though, and I have to give this some props just because it is. Don't expect it to be the best ager in the group. There were 4,250 cases produced." Drink 2020 - 2056

91/100 points, Mark Squires, WINE ADVOCATE, July 2018

"Gorgeous, with warm plum reduction and gently steeped raspberry, blackberry and boysenberry fruit flavors forming the core, all inlaid with warm ganache and smoldering tobacco accents. Very plush in feel, but has no lack of energy, as everything sails beautifully through the long finish. A late echo of anise completes the seduction. Best from 2035 through 2055."

98/100 points, James Molesworth, WINE SPECTATOR (#4 in 2018 Wine Spectator "Top 100 Wines")