Warre's, Vintage Port, 2016
A stunning Warres, singing with floral aromatics and steely purple fruits, a real sense of lift and tension, full of elegant, feminine charm, and while it’s less dense than Dow’s or Graham’s it is no less long. As this caresses the mid palate a seam of electric red fruits appears alongside a fresh tea leaf, rose and fine mineral dimension. A great Warre’s.
critic reviews
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.
The 2016 Warre’s Vintage Port was picked from 19 September, the harvest took 10 days longer than usual in order to gain optimal ripeness. It has a tightly-wound but compelling bouquet with intense black fruit laced with clove, nutmeg and touches of smoke. This is a Warre’s with great precision and detail. The palate is sheer class: saturated ripe tannin that belie the structure underneath. There is a symmetry about this Vintage Port and a tension that keeps you returning for more. Wow. This is one of the finest Warre’s that I have tasted at declaration. Bravo! Production is 4,250 cases.