To follow the 2016 declaration was going to be a tough act, but the 2017 Port declaration is widely thought to have even exceeded the excellent 2016s. The first ever back-to-back declaration by the Symington family shows just how rare an occasion this is.
Symington Ports
The 2017 Vintage Ports are exceptional, with tannins that are amongst the most refined ever, low rainfall during the growing season has given low yields and huge concentration. A vintage that is being likened to 1945, high praise indeed!
Fladgate Ports
In the Douro Valley, with its complexities of climate and topography, no two vintages are ever alike. 2016 was a wet year with a late harvest producing elegance & finesse; while 2017 was a drought year producing classic "old-fashioned" Ports of yesteryear with great power, yet silky tannins. Old vines and the finest terroir yielded wonderful wines. The Taylor 2017 is magnificent!
Niepoort
Not yet tasted by Seckford, but we have heard great things, including Dirk Niepoort's own introduction: “the 2017 Vintage Port is epic and a triumph, the best I’ve witnessed in all my years at Niepoort... In 2017 Nature helped in all aspects and from a very early stage it was clear that something magic was on its way. The harvest promised perfection and the weather during the harvest helped achieve this. Up until this point, 2015 was the best Vintage Port I’d made (Ed - 2016 was not declared at Niepoort). 2017 is in the same line of 2015, but with a touch more perfection...it’s possibly our finest Vintage Port since 1945."
Quinta do Noval
2017 is a triumph - it is so good why wait 100 years? Enjoy it now (or soon) and serve it as you would a red wine. I think you'll love it too. Never has a young Noval been so aromatic at this early age. You can open the 2011s already...as paraphrased from yesterday's presentation - what may be very naughty & very bad can be great fun!
To request an allocation of any of the items on this page, please email your wish list here.
2017 Quinta Do Noval
Producer's Note: A great year. The 2017 shows wild, beautiful aromas. Intense concentration & power; with freshness, balance & harmony. Could it be another 1945?
Seckford: The colour is a glossy crimson (where Graham's is dark purple and Taylor's has a just-transparent core), while the nose is more winey than obviously porty; and is intoxicating. The palate is so fresh - it is no imagination to see the hand of a top Bordeaux producer at work here. The palate is redolent of Pauillac currants and berries; all with a swirl of creme anglaise to finish...it is summer pudding in a glass - perfection!
2017 Niepoort
Producer's Note: A wonderful dark purple rim and great depth of colour characterise the wine’s appearance. The aromatic profile is dominated by superb youthful dark fruit. It is powerful on the initial attack, leading into a fresh mid-palate with beautifully seductive flavours of dark fruit. A great combination of power and elegance, ending in a bold, dry, lengthy finish. The length and structure of the 2017 vintage promise a long-lived wine with great ageing potential, yet unbelievably perfect in its youth. This 2017 Vintage Port is unquestionably a King of Ports.
2017 Taylor
Producer's Note: Deep purple black with a narrow magenta rim. High notes of pure, intense woodland fruit with lively accents of green apple, fresh plum and raspberry. Around this core of bright, singing fruit is a heady aura of gumcistus and wine herbs. On a deeper register, exotic notes of cedarwood and jasmine provide an additional dimension of complexity. The wine has an attractive leanness and muscularity with sinewy, linear tannins that integrate seamlessly into the mid palate and then re-emerge to hold the wine in a confident grip. Energised by a racy acidity, the intense berry flavours continue to build into the long finish. Although the keynotes are refinement and poise, the wine displays the restrained vigour and stamina that are the hallmarks of the Taylor style.
2017 Fonseca
Producer's Note: Dense purple black with a narrow purple rim. The nose opens with very fine pure black fruit, a fusion of black cherry, cassis and blackberry jam aromas, with notes of crushed mint, an ethereal fragrance of violets and undertones of ripe tropical fruit. The year has added an additional layer of purity and refinement to the subtle, complex Fonseca fruit character, as well as an attractive minerality. The palate is supported by a vibrant acidity and taut, wiry tannins that provide structure but also texture and volume. The fresh berry flavours carry into the long finish. A finely crafted and perfectly balanced Vintage Port.
To request an allocation of any of the items on this page, please email your wish list here.
2017 Croft
Producer's Note: Intense purple ruby core with vivid purple rim. The nose displays the ripe strawberry and blackcurrant fruitiness and resiny notes of rock rose and eucalyptus that are the essence of the Croft Vintage Port style. The palate opens with a surge of rich berry fruit flavour and is supported by a dense mesh of close-knit tannins. Although the wine displays some of the plump, rubenesque character of prior Croft vintages, the accent here is on symmetry and finesse. The characteristically exuberant fruit and heady herbal aromas are carefully modulated and the wine is classical in its proportions. An elegant and aromatic Vintage Port, perfectly poised between opulence and restraint.
2017 Graham
Producer's Note: The wine is a truly outstanding example of the best that the Douro is capable of producing. Deep purple in colour and with a viscosity that signals a huge concentration, the aromas of blackberry, plum and bergamot leap out of the glass. On the palate there are layers of black fruit with fresh apricot highlights, and an amazingly long and persistent finish.
2017 Dow
Producer's Note: It is rare to see such tremendous depth and intensity in colour as this wine displays. The freshness of the floral aromas is very attractive with a dominance of rockrose, a flower that grows wild around the hills of Senhora da Ribeira. On the palate, it is exceptionally full-bodied, rich and powerful with black fruit coming to the fore. Gorgeous, ripe fruit is balanced by the fine tannin structure. On the finish, it is typically Dow, austere and somewhat drier than many other ports. The intense fruit flavours linger long on the palate.
2017 Warre
Producer's Note: Warre’s 2017 has bright floral aromas of roses and violets, typical of the Touriga Nacional and also of rockrose, which is a feature of the Touriga Franca. On the palate the wine is full and plummy with amazing concentration and buoyant freshness delivering flavours of black cherries & berries. Layers of complexity with a remarkable full-bodied structure.
To request an allocation of any of the items on this page, please email your wish list here.
2017 Cockburn
Producer's Note: The Cockburn 2017 has resinous, forest floor aromas with bergamot notes mingling with rockrose scents. Fresh, mineral notes are evocative of eucalyptus and anise. The palate is intense with layers of blueberry and kirsch flavours underpinned by peppery tannins which provide Cockburn’s signature grip. A very complete wine, complex and finely tuned that suggests impressive longevity.
2017 Quinta do Vesuvio
Producer's Note: This is a powerful, attention-grabbing wine, with taut muscularity. It offers magnificent aromas of rockrose, mint and hints of ginger. The substantial palate is full with expressive black fruit notes lifted by peppery schist tannins (the ‘seasoning’ provided by the Sousão). The long, lingering aftertaste indicates impressive ageing potential.
Symington Ports
The 2017 Vintage Ports are exceptional, with tannins that are amongst the most refined ever, low rainfall during the growing season has given low yields and huge concentration. A vintage that is being likened to 1945, high praise indeed!
Fladgate Ports
In the Douro Valley, with its complexities of climate and topography, no two vintages are ever alike. 2016 was a wet year with a late harvest producing elegance & finesse; while 2017 was a drought year producing classic "old-fashioned" Ports of yesteryear with great power, yet silky tannins. Old vines and the finest terroir yielded wonderful wines. The Taylor 2017 is magnificent!
To request an allocation of any of the items on this page, please email your wish list here.
Niepoort
Not yet tasted by Seckford, but we have heard great things, including Dirk Niepoort's own introduction: “the 2017 Vintage Port is epic and a triumph, the best I’ve witnessed in all my years at Niepoort... In 2017 Nature helped in all aspects and from a very early stage it was clear that something magic was on its way. The harvest promised perfection and the weather during the harvest helped achieve this. Up until this point, 2015 was the best Vintage Port I’d made (Ed - 2016 was not declared at Niepoort). 2017 is in the same line of 2015, but with a touch more perfection...it’s possibly our finest Vintage Port since 1945."
Quinta do Noval
2017 is a triumph - it is so good why wait 100 years? Enjoy it now (or soon) and serve it as you would a red wine. I think you'll love it too. Never has a young Noval been so aromatic at this early age. You can open the 2011s already...as paraphrased from yesterday's presentation - what may be very naughty & very bad can be great fun!
2017 Quinta Do Noval
Producer's Note: A great year. The 2017 shows wild, beautiful aromas. Intense concentration & power; with freshness, balance & harmony. Could it be another 1945?
Seckford: The colour is a glossy crimson (where Graham's is dark purple and Taylor's has a just-transparent core), while the nose is more winey than obviously porty; and is intoxicating. The palate is so fresh - it is no imagination to see the hand of a top Bordeaux producer at work here. The palate is redolent of Pauillac currants and berries; all with a swirl of creme anglaise to finish...it is summer pudding in a glass - perfection!
2017 Niepoort
Producer's Note: A wonderful dark purple rim and great depth of colour characterise the wine’s appearance. The aromatic profile is dominated by superb youthful dark fruit. It is powerful on the initial attack, leading into a fresh mid-palate with beautifully seductive flavours of dark fruit. A great combination of power and elegance, ending in a bold, dry, lengthy finish. The length and structure of the 2017 vintage promise a long-lived wine with great ageing potential, yet unbelievably perfect in its youth. This 2017 Vintage Port is unquestionably a King of Ports.
To request an allocation of any of the items on this page, please email your wish list here.
2017 Taylor
Producer's Note: Deep purple black with a narrow magenta rim. High notes of pure, intense woodland fruit with lively accents of green apple, fresh plum and raspberry. Around this core of bright, singing fruit is a heady aura of gumcistus and wine herbs. On a deeper register, exotic notes of cedarwood and jasmine provide an additional dimension of complexity. The wine has an attractive leanness and muscularity with sinewy, linear tannins that integrate seamlessly into the mid palate and then re-emerge to hold the wine in a confident grip. Energised by a racy acidity, the intense berry flavours continue to build into the long finish. Although the keynotes are refinement and poise, the wine displays the restrained vigour and stamina that are the hallmarks of the Taylor style.
2017 Fonseca
Producer's Note: Dense purple black with a narrow purple rim. The nose opens with very fine pure black fruit, a fusion of black cherry, cassis and blackberry jam aromas, with notes of crushed mint, an ethereal fragrance of violets and undertones of ripe tropical fruit. The year has added an additional layer of purity and refinement to the subtle, complex Fonseca fruit character, as well as an attractive minerality. The palate is supported by a vibrant acidity and taut, wiry tannins that provide structure but also texture and volume. The fresh berry flavours carry into the long finish. A finely crafted and perfectly balanced Vintage Port.
2017 Croft
Producer's Note: Intense purple ruby core with vivid purple rim. The nose displays the ripe strawberry and blackcurrant fruitiness and resiny notes of rock rose and eucalyptus that are the essence of the Croft Vintage Port style. The palate opens with a surge of rich berry fruit flavour and is supported by a dense mesh of close-knit tannins. Although the wine displays some of the plump, rubenesque character of prior Croft vintages, the accent here is on symmetry and finesse. The characteristically exuberant fruit and heady herbal aromas are carefully modulated and the wine is classical in its proportions. An elegant and aromatic Vintage Port, perfectly poised between opulence and restraint.
2017 Graham
Producer's Note: The wine is a truly outstanding example of the best that the Douro is capable of producing. Deep purple in colour and with a viscosity that signals a huge concentration, the aromas of blackberry, plum and bergamot leap out of the glass. On the palate there are layers of black fruit with fresh apricot highlights, and an amazingly long and persistent finish.
2017 Dow
Producer's Note: It is rare to see such tremendous depth and intensity in colour as this wine displays. The freshness of the floral aromas is very attractive with a dominance of rockrose, a flower that grows wild around the hills of Senhora da Ribeira. On the palate, it is exceptionally full-bodied, rich and powerful with black fruit coming to the fore. Gorgeous, ripe fruit is balanced by the fine tannin structure. On the finish, it is typically Dow, austere and somewhat drier than many other ports. The intense fruit flavours linger long on the palate.
2017 Warre
Producer's Note: Warre’s 2017 has bright floral aromas of roses and violets, typical of the Touriga Nacional and also of rockrose, which is a feature of the Touriga Franca. On the palate the wine is full and plummy with amazing concentration and buoyant freshness delivering flavours of black cherries & berries. Layers of complexity with a remarkable full-bodied structure.
2017 Cockburn
Producer's Note:The Cockburn 2017 has resinous, forest floor aromas with bergamot notes mingling with rockrose scents. Fresh, mineral notes are evocative of eucalyptus and anise. The palate is intense with layers of blueberry and kirsch flavours underpinned by peppery tannins which provide Cockburn’s signature grip. A very complete wine, complex and finely tuned that suggests impressive longevity.
2017 Quinta do Vesuvio
Producer's Note: This is a powerful, attention-grabbing wine, with taut muscularity. It offers magnificent aromas of rockrose, mint and hints of ginger. The substantial palate is full with expressive black fruit notes lifted by peppery schist tannins (the ‘seasoning’ provided by the Sousão). The long, lingering aftertaste indicates impressive ageing potential.
To request an allocation, please email your wish list here.