Symington Family Declares 2016 Vintage Port
Posted 10 April 2018
by Dia Grigoriou
The Symington family has declared 2016 as a vintage of exceptional quality. The company behind the production of the quality port brands Graham's, Dow's, Warre's, Cockburn's and Quinta do Vesuvio has announced the declaration of all the aforementioned houses, the first to include all their port brands since the outstanding 2011 vintage.
A spokesman for the company said the 2015/ 16 winter was wetter than average, which provided a “vital counterbalance” to the hot Douro summer. It noted that some started picking during the hot September but it said “it was clear to those who were properly monitoring their vines that the grapes were not ready”. The Symington family delayed harvesting until September 19 and noted that “invaluable rain” fell on 12th and 13th of the month. The best Touriga Nacional from the company was not harvested until the 26th and the late-ripening Touriga Franca only during the first ten days of October.
All the 2016 Symington Vintage Ports were made from the estate's r own Quinta vineyards where head winemaker Charles Symington and his viticulture team could be seen every day tasting and analysing grapes throughout August and September. All the Vintage Ports were made in the company's five small lagar wineries, using the classic foot treading method, a staple for the creation of great Port.
With regards to the taste of these ports a representative for the company commented: “The 2016 Vintage Ports are exceptional with tannins that are among the most refined ever, supporting beautiful red-fruit flavours with extraordinary intense, purple colour. They have impressive structure and balance, with Baumes, acidity, tannins and colour in rare and perfect alignment. This is no doubt a result of the later ripening cycle, which allowed out grapes to mature evenly and completely. Production of each of our 2016 Vintage Ports is approximately one fifth below our previous declared Vintage following rigorous selection in the tasting room.”
Vintage Wine and Port will be offering these exceptional quality 2016 ports in the coming few months. This will be an en primeur offer (a sort of early bird release) with special prices for collectors, investors and port aficionados alike. Please watch this space!