PORT
Port wine (also known as Vinho do Porto, Porto, and usually simply port) is a Portuguese fortified wine produced exclusively in the Douro Valley in the northern provinces of Portugal. It is typically a sweet, red wine, often served as a dessert wine though it also comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties. The wine produced is then fortified by the addition of a neutral grape spirit known as aguardente in order to stop the fermentation, leaving residual sugar in the wine, and to boost the alcohol content. The fortification spirit is sometimes referred to as brandy but it bears little resemblance to commercial brandies. The wine is then stored and aged, in barrels stored in a cave, before being bottled. Over a hundred varieties of grapes are sanctioned for port production, although only five (Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cão, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Touriga Francesa, and Touriga Nacional) are widely cultivated and used. Touriga Nacional is widely considered the most desirable port grape but the difficulty in growing it and the small yields cause Touriga Francesa to be the most widely planted grape. White ports are produced the same way as red ports, except that they use white grapes—Donzelinho Branco, Esgana-Cão, Folgasão, Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Rabigato and Viosinho.
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COCKBURNS 1994 PORT 750ML
Item #: i_377452Bottle Size: 750mlWINE ADVOCATE - 91 POINTS An attractive, smoky, tarry, roasted black fruit character dominates this opaque ruby/purple-colored wine's aromatic profile. Low acidity, sweet, rich fruit, and a forward, expansive feel suggest this full-bodied wine will mature quickly, but it will last for at least two decades. Like a few other 1994s, it almost seems too easy to drink at this stage. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. -
CROFT 16 PORT
Item #: i_305534Bottle Size: 750MLWine Advocate: 92WINE ADVOCATE 92-94 POINTS-"The 2016 Vintage Port is a field blend that was set to be bottled about a week after this tasting. It was the final blend, aged for 20 months in wood. It comes in with 104 grams of residual sugar. Tight, powerful and very intense, this is a big boy with the firmness you expect from fine Vintage Port, although the Fonseca is even more powerful. Showing good concentration and a fresh, lifted finish too, this is impressive at the outset. Initially, I was wowed by this. A few more tastes with more air made me think I'd like to see it prove some things in the cellar. It's not hot, but it seems a bit more alcoholic than its Fonseca and Taylor siblings. Still, there's a long way to go before making a final call. As noted, this is very tight, not nearly as approachable as many 2016s are in this relatively restrained year. It won't sear your mouth with tannins—they are not TOO hard—but you are going to have to cellar it a while to allow it to acquire more complexity and more harmony. I'm not quite convinced this will ever become as attractive as Taylor and Fonseca in this vintage, though." -
DOW 'S 1994 PORT
Item #: i_373826Bottle Size: 750mlWine Advocate: 96ROBERT PARKER 96 POINTS - "The massive 1994 is unquestionably the finest Dow I have tasted since the 1977. This opaque purple-colored wine is not as developed or flamboyant as Fonseca, but it is super-concentrated and multi-layered, with huge masses of fruit and some tannin in the finish. This is a slightly drier style than Fonseca or Graham's, but it appears to be a classic, majestic, enormously constituted 1994 that should age effortlessly for three decades or more. It is one of the stars of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2030."
As all savvy Port aficionados know, ’94 ranks as one of the very best Port years of the 20th Century. When this Dow was first released in October of 1996 Robert Parker gave it 96 Points. -
DOW 2000 VINTAGE PORT
Item #: i_376364Bottle Size: 750MLWINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "Very grapey, with lots of black licorice and blackberry character. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, exquisite finish. Refined and well-made. Best after 2012. 9,000 cases made." -
DOW'S 03 PORT
Item #: i_325570Bottle Size: 750MLWINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "Aromas of blackberries and licorice follow through to a full-bodied palate, with lots of sweetness, fine tannins and a caressing, textured finish. A refined Dow. Best after 2012. 8,500 cases made.' -
DOW'S 10 YEAR TAWNY PORT
Item #: i_377816Bottle Size: 750MLWine Spectator: 90WINE SPECTATOR 90 POINTS - " Wine Spectator - "Medium-bodied, with a fresh allure to the baked apricot, dried mango and cherry tart flavors. Long and delicate on the spice filled finish. Drink now."
WINE ENTHUSIAST 90 POINTS - " Wine Enthusiast - "A wine that is in the fresh, sweet style of 10-year-old, while balancing chocolate, cocoa and dark fig flavors. A firm structure keeps this profusion of flavors in order." -
DOW'S 20 YEAR TAWNY PORT 750ML
Item #: i_325580Bottle Size: 750MLWine Spectator: 90WINE SPECTATOR 90 POINTS - "Delicate, with a lively array of bright dried mango, date and dried apricot flavors that feature plenty of smoky notes. Features white chocolate, fruitcake and honey notes on the rich finish. Drink now. 5,000 cases made."
INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR 90 POINTS - " International Wine Cellar - "Complex aromas of toffee, roasted nuts, lead pencil, orange peel and caraway seed. Intensely flavored fruit is silky but nicely delineated; offers a fresh flavor of orange peel. Not at all thick, but brisk and vibrant. Finishes clean and long, with hints of smoked nuts and marzipan. This has far stronger material than the 10-Year-Old, which seemed clumsy and dull in comparison." -
DOW'S 2016 VINTAGE PORT
Item #: i_374614Bottle Size: 750mlJAMES SUCKLING 96 POINTS-"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." -
DOW'S 2016 VINTAGE PORT 375ML **HALF BOTTLE**
Item #: i_347200Bottle Size: 375ml**Please note, this is a half sized bottleNote: This is a Half-Bottle
WINE SPECTATOR 98 POINTS This packs a lot of fun, with a wallop of blackberry, fig, boysenberry and açai berry compote flavors working together, laced with a mouthwatering licorice snap note and driven by a fresh, well-detailed finish. A roasted apple wood accent is integrated as well, lending textural contrast through the vivacious finish. Best from 2030 through 2055. 350 cases made, 183 cases imported. — JM
WINE ADVOCATE - 93 POINTS The 2016 Vintage Port, bottled in May for release in October 2018, is mostly a 48/31 blend of Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional, with various other grapes and some very old vines for the rest. It comes in with 111 grams of residual sugar. This is a very elegant Dow's, but there is certainly both power and concentration lurking underneath. Adding fine fruit, it is expressive and sophisticated, a very refined offering that seems not quite as burly as in some years. It is still exceptionally appealing, but it was curiously understated when seen. Some bottle shock, perhaps? The fresh 2016 Vintage? This is an illustration of Charles Symington's philosophy, as relayed to me, that the "wines should be in harmony from the first day." I don't think this will be a great Dow's, but it is an enjoyable one. If it wakes up, it might be entitled to an uptick. For the moment, between the top blends in the Symington stable, I'd lean to Graham's as the best in this vintage. Both are easily outclassed by the single-plot wines. There were 5,480 cases produced. Mark Squires. -
DOW'S RUBY TRADEMARK
Item #: i_325660Bottle Size: 750MLWINE ENTHUSIAST 89 POINTS - "A dry wine, the sweetness overtaken by tannins, black currant stalkiness and acidity. It works well as a more serious style of Reserve Port, hinting at aging potential." -
FERREIRA 10YR QUINTA DO PORTO TAWNY 750ml
Item #: i_377236Bottle Size: 750MLWine Spectator: 91WINE SPECTATOR INSIDER 91 POINTS - "This Port is filled to the brim with rich, dried fruit and spiceflavors, including apricot and mango, along with vibrant whitechocolate and hazelnut notes. The finish is sumptuous. Drink now." -
FERREIRA 2014 LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT
Item #: i_378449Bottle Size: 750MLThe Ferreira Late Bottled Vintage Port is an absolute aromatic wonder. On the nose this highly praised Port combines ripe currant and plum with chocolate, cocoa and a hint of pepper. The palate thrills with perfect balance of rich fruit, seductive sweetness and velvety tannins. A Port as one wants it to be. -
FERREIRA 20YR DONA ANTONIAL TAWNY PORT
Item #: i_373043Bottle Size: 750MLWine Spectator: 92WINE SPECTATOR 92 POINTS - "Rich, smooth and polished, with an array of dried apricot, pearand guava notes that are accented by plenty of apple woodsmoke notes. The lush finish surges with mineral, along with hintsof peat and ginger cream. Drink now." 2010
WINE ENTHUSIAST 93 POINTS - " Always great, this is softer, less intense than in the past. But there is still great richness, and power as well as smoothness, burnt caramel blending well with the spirit, and finishing with its inimitable fresh acidity." 2007 -
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FONSECA 10 YEAR TAWNY PORT
Item #: i_328110Bottle Size: 750MLWine Spectator: 90WINE & SPIRITS 91 POINTS "Fruit interprets the alcohol in this wine with the orange-citrus scent of rum cake. Then Douro schist cuts the sweetness and strengthens the fruit presence to fuller pear, hazelnut and wildflower honey notes. It ends on a long, peppery buzz, delicious and satisfying."
WINE SPECTATOR 90 POINTS - " Wine Spectator - "Refined, with bright flavors of dried berry, plum compote and cherry tart that are long and lush. Very creamy on the finish, which features chocolate mousse." -
FONSECA 1970 PORT
Item #: i_328000Bottle Size: 750MLWine Advocate: 97James Suckling: 96ROBERT PARKER 97 POINTS - "An extraordinary Vintage Port, the powerful, exotic, multidimensional 1970 boasts a dark plum color with light amber at the rim. An intoxicatingly fragrant perfume of incense, liquorice, caramel, black and red fruits, and notions of saddle leather soars from the glass of its unctuously textured, full-bodied, velvety offering. This magnificent Port is finally hitting full maturity, where it should rest for another 20+years." -
FONSECA 1985 VINTAGE PORT
Item #: i_328070Bottle Size: 750MLWine Spectator: 95WINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "A hard, take-no-prisoners Port, extremely powerful and still closed when last tasted. Deep inky color, with concentrated blackberry and raisin aromas, full-bodied, with massive raisin flavors, a superb backbone and a very long finish." -
FONSECA 1994 PORT
Item #: i_305310Bottle Size: 750MLWINE SPECTATOR 100 POINTS-"Hold on to your hat. This is the best Fonseca since 1977, and it's probably even better than that classic vintage--more like the breathtaking 1948. Mind-blowing, with masses of color, aroma and fruit flavor. Smells like fermenting berries, boasting loads of crushed grape, violet and berry character. Big, full-bodied and very sweet, with tons of tannins and a sweet finish. Tannic and huge, it's a long-term, great Port. Best after 2012. 8,000 cases made."
WINE ADVOCATE 97 POINTS-"One of the most spectacular 1994s, this opaque purple-colored wine is an exotic, flamboyant, ostentatious port. Extremely fragrant and pungent, with a flashy display of jammy cassis, pepper, licorice, and truffles, this port is an attention-grabber. Awesomely rich, and full-bodied, with superb length, richness, and overall balance, it possesses a huge mid-palate, layers of flavor, an unctuous texture, and a blockbuster finish. Everything is in place, with the brandy and tannin well-integrated, even concealed by the masses of fruit and glycerin. This wine will drink fabulously well at age ten, but keep for up to thirty years." -
FONSECA 1994 PORT 750ML PORT TONGS RECOMMENED FOR OPENING
Item #: i_377457Bottle Size: 750mlWINE SPECTATOR 100 POINTS-"Hold on to your hat. This is the best Fonseca since 1977, and it's probably even better than that classic vintage--more like the breathtaking 1948. Mind-blowing, with masses of color, aroma and fruit flavor. Smells like fermenting berries, boasting loads of crushed grape, violet and berry character. Big, full-bodied and very sweet, with tons of tannins and a sweet finish. Tannic and huge, it's a long-term, great Port. Best after 2012. 8,000 cases made."
WINE ADVOCATE 97 POINTS-"One of the most spectacular 1994s, this opaque purple-colored wine is an exotic, flamboyant, ostentatious port. Extremely fragrant and pungent, with a flashy display of jammy cassis, pepper, licorice, and truffles, this port is an attention-grabber. Awesomely rich, and full-bodied, with superb length, richness, and overall balance, it possesses a huge mid-palate, layers of flavor, an unctuous texture, and a blockbuster finish. Everything is in place, with the brandy and tannin well-integrated, even concealed by the masses of fruit and glycerin. This wine will drink fabulously well at age ten, but keep for up to thirty years." -
FONSECA 20 YEAR TAWNY PORT 750ML
Item #: i_327940Bottle Size: 750MLWine Spectator: 94WINE SPECTATOR 94 POINTS - " Wine Spectator - "Intense, powerful and complex, this features heady aromas and flavors of toffee, marzipan, butterscotch and chocolate. Notes of mocha and French roast chime in as well, with a long, glorious finish of dried white fruits and spice."
WINE ENTHUSIAST 94 POINTS - " - "This gorgeous Port is at the perfect stage where there are still freshness and hints of orange and dried fruit, while the wood aging is concentrating the wine into its essence." -
FONSECA 2016 VINTAGE PORT
Item #: i_376444Bottle Size: 750MLWine Advocate: 97-99NEAL MARTIN 96 POINTS-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. Superb. Production is 4,900 cases.
WINE ADVOCATE 96-98 POINTS-The 2016 Vintage Port is a field blend that was not quite bottled when seen (set for a week later), but it was the final blend. It was aged for 20 months in wood and comes in with 99 grams of residual sugar. This Fonseca is remarkably expressive, lifted and gloriously fresh. It has good concentration but some years have had more and seemed sexier. However, the most notable feature is the structure. It is very impressive in structure, that classic Port power and firmness coming to the fore and overshadowing the rest at the moment. This is very tight and very unevolved. Don't even think of buying it if you aren't prepared to cellar it. The 2030 start date that I have will not be even close to late enough if you want harmony and complexity. To me, this is the best of the three 2016s from the Fladgate Group this issue (Croft and Taylor being the other two), thanks to its pure intensity, but time will tell if it becomes as sexy as I'm sure Taylor's will be. In the meanwhile, Fonseca looks like one of the greats of this vintage." -
FONSECA 2017 VINTAGE PORT
Item #: i_379208Bottle Size: 750MLWine Advocate: 97-99JAMES SUCKLING 95 POINTS-"Ripe and soft with loads of plummy, smoky and earthy character. Full body. Very sweet. Round and very soft textured. Flavorful finish. Drink in 2025 and onwards." -
FONSECA 97 PORT 1.5
Item #: i_327920Bottle Size: 1.5LWine Advocate: 93WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - " Somewhat of a lightweight for Fonseca, but undeniably charming, this dark ruby/purple-colored wine offers a floral, exotic, flamboyant bouquet, a sweet, fleshy style, but not a great deal of weight or massiveness. Heady alcohol, sweet tannin, and a velvety texture make for a gorgeous finish. While I would have preferred to have seen more weight, structure, and intensity, this is an outstanding, albeit lighter than normal Fonseca. Anticipated maturity: now-2020."
STEPHEN TANZER'S INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR 93 POINTS - " Full saturated ruby. Inky, brooding aromas of syrupy black fruits and violet. Dense, thick and tactile, with superb depth of flavor and compelling juicy sweetness. Finishes with powerful tannins and superb grip. Not as flamboyantly aromatic as this wine normally is in its youth, but structured for long, slow development in bottle." -
FONSECA BIN 27 PORT 750
Item #: i_328150Bottle Size: 750MLWine Spectator: 90WINE SPECTATOR 90 POINTS - "Fresh and grapey, with plenty of grip and power behind dark plum, chocolate and berry flavors that feature slate and pepper notes." -
GRAHAM 1994 SINGLE HARVEST TAWNY PORT
Item #: i_397228Bottle Size: 750mlWine Advocate: 96Amber brown Tawny colour, amazingly intense and deep. Rose petal, oriental spice and toasted honey, overlaid by sweet balsamic & dried fig aromatics. Full bodied, still with fresh blue & black berry flavours. Delicate toasted coffee finish. Beautifully fresh, very intense & lingering flavours. Shows superb structure, balance and finesse.