Region
Region
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Porto | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£983.38 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (100)The 2017 Vintage Port Nacional is a field blend, mostly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Sousão and Tinta Roriz, aged for 18 months in old wood. It comes in at 99 grams of residual sugar and was bottled about a month before this tasting after 18 months in wooden vats. In 2016, I might've made an argument that the regular Noval was better. In this vintage, this seems to be a clear choice, granting that Ports change constantly in their youth. Its siblings at all levels in the last few vintages are very fine, but this is an indisputable benchmark that seems to better them all. Rich and vibrant, this has plenty of stuffing and flavor, more than the regular Noval. Then, it adds layer after layer of power. A couple of hours of air makes both the flavors and tannins more intense. It is simply gripping—yet also remarkably fresh. It's a great Noval, and one of the shortlist candidates for Wine of the Vintage. There were 200 cases produced. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,043.64 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98)The 2022 Vintage Port Nacional was produced with grapes from ungrafted vines, not pre-phylloxera, as you might read elsewhere, as these are relatively young vines from two vineyards planted with a field blend of Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Touriga Nacional, Sousão (some 15% in the field blend) and Tinta Roriz. It's produced in exactly the same way as the other Vintage Port, in granite lagars and aged in old casks for 18 months. It has 19.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.67 and 86 grams of sugar, quite similar parameters to the regular Vintage Port from the same vintage, and it's quite low in sugar compared with other years. But the wine is more backward, with more detail, and it's more serious, with lots of complexity. The tannins and the sweetness compensate each other; there's a lot of depth, concentration and power but in a very harmonious way. I think this has better balance and more elegance than other recent vintages. It opens slowly in the glass to give classical notes of candied violets and rockrose and a lactic hint. It should age effortlessly for 50 years. 1,920 bottles were filled in May 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Douro | 1 | 96 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£370.69 |
|||||
Decanter (96)Made only in top years from the best lots, like all Noval's reds this is fermented in stainless steel then aged in French oak - in this case for 10 months in 35% new oak. Signature orange blossom riffs make for a delicate interplay of fruit and flower. A plume of fine, schistous tannins and bright acidity gently but persuasively anchor and extend its inky, perfumed black berry and plum fruits, with hints of bergamot, milk chocolate, clove, cedar and cinnamon. Very fine and such a great example of the variety, and nearly half the price of the Reserva! |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£537.07 |
|||||
|
Imbued with the sophistication of the Douro region, the Quinta Do Vale Meao Port 2011 is a treasure within the world of fine wines, revered by connoisseurs. This remarkable Port, a product of a stellar vintage, is the work of the 5th generation of the esteemed vintners, the Olazabal family. They lovingly cultivated the Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and Touriga Nacional grape varieties, in their vinification warehouse. The Quinta Do Vale Meao Port 2011 exemplifies meticulous winemaking. Hand-harvested grapes undergo a foot treading process in granite ‘lagares’, followed by aging in French oak for 20 months. This process imbues the ruby-hued Port with an opulent palate. The tasting notes reveal an intricate structure with fruit-driven complexity, and a finishing touch of dark chocolate and spice. Each sip of Quinta Do Vale Meao Port 2011 is an indulgent adventure, transporting you to the sun-drenched terraces of the esteemed Douro Valley, Portugal’s most distinguished wine region. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 99 (MS) |
Inc. VAT
£3,005.38 |
|||||
Mark Squires (99)This old wine was acquired by Quinta do Vallado and said to be an 1866 Colheita (although Francisco Spratley Ferreira of the winery tells me he can't honestly say for sure if it is a true single-vintage Colheita, which is why it is marketed just as "Tributa"), pre-phylloxera vines. It was bottled for Antonia Adelaide Ferreira's 200th anniversary--a woman who built a lot of Douro and was the ancestor of Vallado's owners. Francisco told me (with some typos corrected) that "we think it is a true colheita, but it's impossible to be sure... We bought this wine and the owner said to me that [he] never touched ... this wine last 50 years! We believe that with this concentration and baume (13,5), this is really very old and wasn't "refrescado" (add young wines to fill the barrel).... At same time it' s amazing the acidity, especially thinking in this baume! The wine only was bottled last weeks!" I've run into my share of really old Ports recently--1863 Niepoort, Sequeira, the NV Wine and Soul "5G"--all were exceptional and all were very different. This would be my winner of that group. If you are really loaded, keep reading. Very dark in color and far thicker than the 5g (although not, perhaps, as vibrant), this is remarkably thick and viscous--there seems to be no question that it is old and concentrated. It is very complex, too. Laced with molasses and dark chocolate, and a touch of charcoal, it is enlivened by a big hit of acidity. The texture is quite caressing and sexy. Its age shows mostly in its thick demeanor. It reminds me of some century old Moscatels I've had in Southern Portugal. It is remarkably sweet and fresh in most other respects. It is a wonderful experience. There is bad news. You could predict this, huh? There were 1,300 bottles produced--and they are coming in special decanters running around $3,000 per 750ml bottle. (No, I didn't get one of those bottles, but I did get a sample taste!) |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£92.46 |
|||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£100.31 |
|||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£364.27 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)The 2016 Vintage Port is a blend of 43% Touriga Nacional, 25% Touriga Franca and 17% Alicante Bouschet, with Tinta Amarela and Sousão filling out the rest. It comes in with 115 grams of residual sugar. If this Quinta has a hallmark to me, it is the expressive, gorgeous fruit. It has a seductive feel, but it is also muscular and intense. It is one of the most muscular in the Symington stable this year, with the concentration to soak up the power. I'd give this the nod for the moment over the 2015, but they are pretty close, granting that I do not have them side by side. They may wind up in more or less the same place overall in the long run. We'll see. That said, this seems superb. Bottled in May 2018 and to be released in October 2018, there were 1,220 cases produced. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 19 (RM) |
Inc. VAT
£423.07 |
|||||
Richard Mayson (19)A blend of 54% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca / Alicante Bouschet (co fermented) and 6% Sousão (for freshness), predominantly from cooler north / north west facing vineyards: Beautifully lifted, scented floral aromas (rose petals), vinous and overt; sweet and suave initially, ripe but gentle blackberry fruit backed by velvety tannins leading to a finish that is both powerful and elegant at the same time. Wonderful freshness and vitality. A magnificent wine for drinking over the medium to long term. Just 965 cases produced representing 3% of the quinta’s total production |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 4 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£399.07 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2019 Quinta do Vesuvio comes from a vineyard with a north-facing exposure and foot-trodden. The wine is quite high-toned on the nose with black cherries, blueberry, crushed violet, quince jelly and truffle aromas, a hint of smoke in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, a little angular upon first pouring, though coalescing in the glass. Black pepper and touches of sage furnish the finish that gently fans out, although one gets the impression that it is holding something back. One for more patient Port-lovers. 770 cases produced (13 pipes) |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£371.74 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)This is an old-vine Port with two-thirds coming from ancient ones. Bark, black tea, crushed grapes and mahogany. Big and grippy. Old, traditional styled Port with incredible depth and power. Big yet polished tannins. This is foot-trodden. Co-fermented. Real deal. 470 cases. Try after 2030. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£258.06 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)The 2022 Capela da Quinta do Vesúvio Vintage Port was closed and tight even after a couple of hours in the glass. It's named after the Chapel vineyard, the first to be replanted in the property after phylloxera. It's a field blend of centenary vines, and the wine also has grapes from other plots, including a younger one planted exclusively with Touriga Franca. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in oak casks for 18 months. It's subtle and with incipient complexity. It has a super balanced palate, with abundant tannins but in great harmony with the rest of the components, coming through as powerful and elegant. It has a beautiful sense of harmony. It takes a long time to open up, and it's not explosive; it keeps the subtleness. I believe this is going to age very well, as it has the components and the balance between them to do so. It has 20% alcohol, a pH of 3.64 and 100 grams of sugar. They produced the equivalent of 5,520 bottles, 4,320 numbered bottles and other formats. It was bottled in 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£367.46 |
|||||
|
Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vintage Port 2000 epitomises the excellence of the Douro Valley. Crafted from the finest Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz grapes, meticulously hand-picked from prime vineyards, this vintage showcases the quintessence of traditional Port production. Fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve purity, the wine is aged in oak barrels for 24 months, allowing the robust fruit flavours to develop harmoniously. Quinta Vale Dona Maria, a family-owned estate with a legacy spanning over a century, ensures each bottle embodies their commitment to quality and heritage. The 2000 vintage, celebrated for its exceptional balance and depth, offers rich notes of dark berries, plum, and subtle undertones of chocolate and spice. Elegantly structured with a velvety finish, this Vintage Port promises a memorable experience for the discerning connoisseur. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£301.46 |
|||||
|
Experience the epitome of fine Portuguese wine-making with the exquisitely crafted Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vintage Port 2001. As a prestige offering from Douro Valley's respected winemaker Cristiano van Zeller, this extraordinary Port exemplifies exceptional dedication to detail and tradition. Aged for 20 months in wooden barrels, it enticingly balances freshness with complexity in each bottle. Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vintage Port 2001's bouquet reveals a distinctively rich and opulent blend of dark fruits and berries, accentuated with subtle notes of spice and cocoa. On the palate, expect the bracing distinction of chewy tannins, elegantly fused with a velvety texture and superbly long finish. An impressive piece of art crafted from a blend of approximately 30 grape varieties, this Port wine is a spectacular example of the winery’s superior understanding of the terroir, offering a testament to the stellar legacy of Quinta Vale Dona Maria. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£591.86 |
|||||
|
Experience the unparalleled elegance of Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vintage Port 2009, a distinguished offering from the heart of Portugal’s Douro Valley. Crafted with meticulous attention, this vintage port originates from carefully selected granite soils, nurturing seasoned Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz grapes. Hand-harvested and traditionally foot-trodden in the lagares, the juice undergoes a gentle fermentation process, preserving its rich character. Matured in a combination of French and American oak barrels, the 2009 vintage reveals a harmonious balance of robust tannins and velvety smoothness. Quinta Vale Dona Maria, renowned for its dedication to quality and heritage, ensures each bottle encapsulates the essence of the region’s terroir. On the palate, expect intense dark fruit flavours, intertwined with notes of chocolate and spice, culminating in a long, sumptuous finish. This exceptional Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vintage Port 2009 is a testament to masterful winemaking, perfect for connoisseurs seeking depth and sophistication. |
|||||||||
|
|
Douro | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£276.53 |
|||||
|
Quinta Vale Meao Douro 2017 is a benchmark red from Portugal’s Douro, crafted at the storied Quinta Vale Meão estate. Under the Olazabal family, the property is renowned for meticulous vineyard selection and a house style that marries power with precision. The 2017 vintage delivers a dense, dark-fruited core with lifted floral tones, fine-grained spice and a distinctly mineral, Douro savouriness. On the palate it is concentrated yet poised, with layered tannins and a long, tapering finish that speaks to careful élevage and disciplined extraction rather than excess. Made with an exacting, parcel-led approach, Quinta Vale Meao Douro balances ripe fruit intensity with freshness and structural detail, making it compelling now with decanting, yet built for extended cellaring in serious collections. |
|||||||||
|
|
Douro | 1 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,029.20 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)The backward and undeveloped 2022 Quinta do Vale Meão has all the baby fat, the spicy oak and the tannins that call for time in bottle. The toast from the barrels is still quite noticeable, but the palate is easier to read. Although the tannins did not quite reach the refinement of those from 2021, they were fine enough, abundant and still raw. The wine finished with a moderate 13.3% alcohol. Always selected from their oldest plots, the blend this year is 60% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 5% Tinta Barroca and 5% Tinta Roriz matured in 225-liter French oak barrels, 45% of them new. 10,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£161.15 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2019 Cabernet Franc Dolomite has an energetic, tensile nose of wonderfully defined red and black fruit, sage, bell pepper and clove aromas; hints of dried blood emerge with time. The palate is very well balanced, taut and fresh, with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a harmonious, sophisticated finish, and suggestions of black pepper on the aftertaste. This is a brilliant Cabernet Franc from Raats that will age gloriously. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 98 (GS) |
Inc. VAT
£736.32 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (98)The Eden 2022 is another ultra confident showstopper from Bruwer Raats’ tiny 0.2-hectare vineyard. This pristine Eden Cabernet Franc displays the most tantalising intensity and florality on the nose with a notable depth, seductive power and a piercing perfume focus. High toned, lifted and utterly beguiling, the aromatics display an exotic fanned peacock’s tail of pressed violets, cherry blossom and dried lavender over notes of oregano, dried thyme, sweet cherry compote, saline crème de cassis, oystershell, pencil shavings and delicate blueberry rock candy nuances. The palate is always underpinned by incredibly fine tannins but with this 2022, the vivacity, concentration and freshness of the accompanying acids bring immeasurable joy to the palate, seamlessly counterbalancing the complex red and black berry fruit intensity. This wine is all about purity, precision, and persistence, with a mouthfeel texture of silk and the most polished fine-grained granitic mineral tannins imaginable. This is surely as close as you are going to get to perfection with a young, energetic, premium Cabernet Franc in South Africa? Drink on release an over the next 10 to 15+ years. (598 bottles produced.) |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£441.49 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2022 Chenin Blanc Eden High Density Single Vineyard comes from the tiny plot around Bruwer Raats's home, vines from the Montpellier clone planted on their own stakes (echelas) at 8,000 per hectare. Whole bunch pressed and aged for 11 months in French oak (30% new), this pure and refined bouquet brings scents of yellow plum, beeswax, dried honey and lanolin. The palate is smooth and sensual right from the start, not plush, but there is a rondeur to this Chenin Blanc, lightly spiced with a little more viscosity on the finish compared to Raats's other Chenins this vintage. Very sustained on the finish, this will be utterly seductive. Just 2,300 bottles were produced, alas. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£365.98 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2018 MR de Compostella is a blend of 54% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 5% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. It presents a compelling bouquet of blackberry, charcoal, cedar and tobacco, all showing wonderful delineation and focus. But it is not the most flamboyant on the nose compared to other vintages; this takes its time to open at a stately pace. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, perfectly judged acidity, a silky-smooth texture and an utterly harmonious, complex finish. Residues of allspice and clove linger on the long aftertaste. Brilliant. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 98 (GS) |
Inc. VAT
£97.60 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (98)Never made with exactly the same blend in any two vintages, the 2020 is a classic Cape Bordeaux assemblage of 30% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 16% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot with a total production of only 1,000 x 6. The wine displays a real intensity in the glass with a ruby red rim and a red / black plum heart. The aromatics are vibrant and fabulously perfumed, bursting from the glass with expressive notes of red and black berry fruits, black currant, raspberry, red and black cherry, before notes of earthy blueberry emerge with suggestions of pressed violets, lavender, sweet sandalwood, star anise and graphite spice. On the palate, the vintage’s regal elegance emerges with exhilarating acids framing the plush opulent red and back berry fruits, saline cassis, tart red cherry and a blueberry confectionary generosity. Tasting the wine with Bruwer Raats, inevitable comparisons were made to the iconic 2017 MR, with both wines sharing a beautifully bright acid freshness and a weightless concentration of pure berry fruits with only the slightest suggestion of vanilla oak spice. This really is a wine with a mixed palette of colours, flavours and fruits and the most seamlessly elegant, finessed velvety tannins. Following on from the 2018 blockbuster, with no 2019 MR produced, this 2020 is a bold, enchanting, characterful wine full of precision that trumpets the return of this incredible benchmark Cape classic. A breathtaking wine on so many levels. Drink from 2024 to 2045+. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 98 (GS) |
Inc. VAT
£365.98 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (98)Never made with exactly the same blend in any two vintages, the 2020 is a classic Cape Bordeaux assemblage of 30% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 16% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot with a total production of only 1,000 x 6. The wine displays a real intensity in the glass with a ruby red rim and a red / black plum heart. The aromatics are vibrant and fabulously perfumed, bursting from the glass with expressive notes of red and black berry fruits, black currant, raspberry, red and black cherry, before notes of earthy blueberry emerge with suggestions of pressed violets, lavender, sweet sandalwood, star anise and graphite spice. On the palate, the vintage’s regal elegance emerges with exhilarating acids framing the plush opulent red and back berry fruits, saline cassis, tart red cherry and a blueberry confectionary generosity. Tasting the wine with Bruwer Raats, inevitable comparisons were made to the iconic 2017 MR, with both wines sharing a beautifully bright acid freshness and a weightless concentration of pure berry fruits with only the slightest suggestion of vanilla oak spice. This really is a wine with a mixed palette of colours, flavours and fruits and the most seamlessly elegant, finessed velvety tannins. Following on from the 2018 blockbuster, with no 2019 MR produced, this 2020 is a bold, enchanting, characterful wine full of precision that trumpets the return of this incredible benchmark Cape classic. A breathtaking wine on so many levels. Drink from 2024 to 2045+. |
|||||||||
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Porto | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£815.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (100)The 2017 Vintage Port Nacional is a field blend, mostly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Sousão and Tinta Roriz, aged for 18 months in old wood. It comes in at 99 grams of residual sugar and was bottled about a month before this tasting after 18 months in wooden vats. In 2016, I might've made an argument that the regular Noval was better. In this vintage, this seems to be a clear choice, granting that Ports change constantly in their youth. Its siblings at all levels in the last few vintages are very fine, but this is an indisputable benchmark that seems to better them all. Rich and vibrant, this has plenty of stuffing and flavor, more than the regular Noval. Then, it adds layer after layer of power. A couple of hours of air makes both the flavors and tannins more intense. It is simply gripping—yet also remarkably fresh. It's a great Noval, and one of the shortlist candidates for Wine of the Vintage. There were 200 cases produced. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
£865.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98)The 2022 Vintage Port Nacional was produced with grapes from ungrafted vines, not pre-phylloxera, as you might read elsewhere, as these are relatively young vines from two vineyards planted with a field blend of Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Touriga Nacional, Sousão (some 15% in the field blend) and Tinta Roriz. It's produced in exactly the same way as the other Vintage Port, in granite lagars and aged in old casks for 18 months. It has 19.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.67 and 86 grams of sugar, quite similar parameters to the regular Vintage Port from the same vintage, and it's quite low in sugar compared with other years. But the wine is more backward, with more detail, and it's more serious, with lots of complexity. The tannins and the sweetness compensate each other; there's a lot of depth, concentration and power but in a very harmonious way. I think this has better balance and more elegance than other recent vintages. It opens slowly in the glass to give classical notes of candied violets and rockrose and a lactic hint. It should age effortlessly for 50 years. 1,920 bottles were filled in May 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Douro | 1 | 96 (DC) |
In Bond
£291.00 |
|||||
Decanter (96)Made only in top years from the best lots, like all Noval's reds this is fermented in stainless steel then aged in French oak - in this case for 10 months in 35% new oak. Signature orange blossom riffs make for a delicate interplay of fruit and flower. A plume of fine, schistous tannins and bright acidity gently but persuasively anchor and extend its inky, perfumed black berry and plum fruits, with hints of bergamot, milk chocolate, clove, cedar and cinnamon. Very fine and such a great example of the variety, and nearly half the price of the Reserva! |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 2 | - |
In Bond
£420.00 |
|||||
|
Imbued with the sophistication of the Douro region, the Quinta Do Vale Meao Port 2011 is a treasure within the world of fine wines, revered by connoisseurs. This remarkable Port, a product of a stellar vintage, is the work of the 5th generation of the esteemed vintners, the Olazabal family. They lovingly cultivated the Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and Touriga Nacional grape varieties, in their vinification warehouse. The Quinta Do Vale Meao Port 2011 exemplifies meticulous winemaking. Hand-harvested grapes undergo a foot treading process in granite ‘lagares’, followed by aging in French oak for 20 months. This process imbues the ruby-hued Port with an opulent palate. The tasting notes reveal an intricate structure with fruit-driven complexity, and a finishing touch of dark chocolate and spice. Each sip of Quinta Do Vale Meao Port 2011 is an indulgent adventure, transporting you to the sun-drenched terraces of the esteemed Douro Valley, Portugal’s most distinguished wine region. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 99 (MS) |
In Bond
£2,500.00 |
|||||
Mark Squires (99)This old wine was acquired by Quinta do Vallado and said to be an 1866 Colheita (although Francisco Spratley Ferreira of the winery tells me he can't honestly say for sure if it is a true single-vintage Colheita, which is why it is marketed just as "Tributa"), pre-phylloxera vines. It was bottled for Antonia Adelaide Ferreira's 200th anniversary--a woman who built a lot of Douro and was the ancestor of Vallado's owners. Francisco told me (with some typos corrected) that "we think it is a true colheita, but it's impossible to be sure... We bought this wine and the owner said to me that [he] never touched ... this wine last 50 years! We believe that with this concentration and baume (13,5), this is really very old and wasn't "refrescado" (add young wines to fill the barrel).... At same time it' s amazing the acidity, especially thinking in this baume! The wine only was bottled last weeks!" I've run into my share of really old Ports recently--1863 Niepoort, Sequeira, the NV Wine and Soul "5G"--all were exceptional and all were very different. This would be my winner of that group. If you are really loaded, keep reading. Very dark in color and far thicker than the 5g (although not, perhaps, as vibrant), this is remarkably thick and viscous--there seems to be no question that it is old and concentrated. It is very complex, too. Laced with molasses and dark chocolate, and a touch of charcoal, it is enlivened by a big hit of acidity. The texture is quite caressing and sexy. Its age shows mostly in its thick demeanor. It reminds me of some century old Moscatels I've had in Southern Portugal. It is remarkably sweet and fresh in most other respects. It is a wonderful experience. There is bad news. You could predict this, huh? There were 1,300 bottles produced--and they are coming in special decanters running around $3,000 per 750ml bottle. (No, I didn't get one of those bottles, but I did get a sample taste!) |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | - |
In Bond
£72.00 |
|||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | - |
In Bond
£79.00 |
|||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£276.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)The 2016 Vintage Port is a blend of 43% Touriga Nacional, 25% Touriga Franca and 17% Alicante Bouschet, with Tinta Amarela and Sousão filling out the rest. It comes in with 115 grams of residual sugar. If this Quinta has a hallmark to me, it is the expressive, gorgeous fruit. It has a seductive feel, but it is also muscular and intense. It is one of the most muscular in the Symington stable this year, with the concentration to soak up the power. I'd give this the nod for the moment over the 2015, but they are pretty close, granting that I do not have them side by side. They may wind up in more or less the same place overall in the long run. We'll see. That said, this seems superb. Bottled in May 2018 and to be released in October 2018, there were 1,220 cases produced. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 19 (RM) |
In Bond
£325.00 |
|||||
Richard Mayson (19)A blend of 54% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca / Alicante Bouschet (co fermented) and 6% Sousão (for freshness), predominantly from cooler north / north west facing vineyards: Beautifully lifted, scented floral aromas (rose petals), vinous and overt; sweet and suave initially, ripe but gentle blackberry fruit backed by velvety tannins leading to a finish that is both powerful and elegant at the same time. Wonderful freshness and vitality. A magnificent wine for drinking over the medium to long term. Just 965 cases produced representing 3% of the quinta’s total production |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 4 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£305.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2019 Quinta do Vesuvio comes from a vineyard with a north-facing exposure and foot-trodden. The wine is quite high-toned on the nose with black cherries, blueberry, crushed violet, quince jelly and truffle aromas, a hint of smoke in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, a little angular upon first pouring, though coalescing in the glass. Black pepper and touches of sage furnish the finish that gently fans out, although one gets the impression that it is holding something back. One for more patient Port-lovers. 770 cases produced (13 pipes) |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
£296.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)This is an old-vine Port with two-thirds coming from ancient ones. Bark, black tea, crushed grapes and mahogany. Big and grippy. Old, traditional styled Port with incredible depth and power. Big yet polished tannins. This is foot-trodden. Co-fermented. Real deal. 470 cases. Try after 2030. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
£210.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)The 2022 Capela da Quinta do Vesúvio Vintage Port was closed and tight even after a couple of hours in the glass. It's named after the Chapel vineyard, the first to be replanted in the property after phylloxera. It's a field blend of centenary vines, and the wine also has grapes from other plots, including a younger one planted exclusively with Touriga Franca. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in oak casks for 18 months. It's subtle and with incipient complexity. It has a super balanced palate, with abundant tannins but in great harmony with the rest of the components, coming through as powerful and elegant. It has a beautiful sense of harmony. It takes a long time to open up, and it's not explosive; it keeps the subtleness. I believe this is going to age very well, as it has the components and the balance between them to do so. It has 20% alcohol, a pH of 3.64 and 100 grams of sugar. They produced the equivalent of 5,520 bottles, 4,320 numbered bottles and other formats. It was bottled in 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | - |
In Bond
£278.00 |
|||||
|
Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vintage Port 2000 epitomises the excellence of the Douro Valley. Crafted from the finest Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz grapes, meticulously hand-picked from prime vineyards, this vintage showcases the quintessence of traditional Port production. Fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve purity, the wine is aged in oak barrels for 24 months, allowing the robust fruit flavours to develop harmoniously. Quinta Vale Dona Maria, a family-owned estate with a legacy spanning over a century, ensures each bottle embodies their commitment to quality and heritage. The 2000 vintage, celebrated for its exceptional balance and depth, offers rich notes of dark berries, plum, and subtle undertones of chocolate and spice. Elegantly structured with a velvety finish, this Vintage Port promises a memorable experience for the discerning connoisseur. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | - |
In Bond
£223.00 |
|||||
|
Experience the epitome of fine Portuguese wine-making with the exquisitely crafted Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vintage Port 2001. As a prestige offering from Douro Valley's respected winemaker Cristiano van Zeller, this extraordinary Port exemplifies exceptional dedication to detail and tradition. Aged for 20 months in wooden barrels, it enticingly balances freshness with complexity in each bottle. Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vintage Port 2001's bouquet reveals a distinctively rich and opulent blend of dark fruits and berries, accentuated with subtle notes of spice and cocoa. On the palate, expect the bracing distinction of chewy tannins, elegantly fused with a velvety texture and superbly long finish. An impressive piece of art crafted from a blend of approximately 30 grape varieties, this Port wine is a spectacular example of the winery’s superior understanding of the terroir, offering a testament to the stellar legacy of Quinta Vale Dona Maria. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 2 | - |
In Bond
£465.00 |
|||||
|
Experience the unparalleled elegance of Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vintage Port 2009, a distinguished offering from the heart of Portugal’s Douro Valley. Crafted with meticulous attention, this vintage port originates from carefully selected granite soils, nurturing seasoned Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz grapes. Hand-harvested and traditionally foot-trodden in the lagares, the juice undergoes a gentle fermentation process, preserving its rich character. Matured in a combination of French and American oak barrels, the 2009 vintage reveals a harmonious balance of robust tannins and velvety smoothness. Quinta Vale Dona Maria, renowned for its dedication to quality and heritage, ensures each bottle encapsulates the essence of the region’s terroir. On the palate, expect intense dark fruit flavours, intertwined with notes of chocolate and spice, culminating in a long, sumptuous finish. This exceptional Quinta Vale Dona Maria Vintage Port 2009 is a testament to masterful winemaking, perfect for connoisseurs seeking depth and sophistication. |
|||||||||
|
|
Douro | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£272.40 |
|||||
|
Quinta Vale Meao Douro 2017 is a benchmark red from Portugal’s Douro, crafted at the storied Quinta Vale Meão estate. Under the Olazabal family, the property is renowned for meticulous vineyard selection and a house style that marries power with precision. The 2017 vintage delivers a dense, dark-fruited core with lifted floral tones, fine-grained spice and a distinctly mineral, Douro savouriness. On the palate it is concentrated yet poised, with layered tannins and a long, tapering finish that speaks to careful élevage and disciplined extraction rather than excess. Made with an exacting, parcel-led approach, Quinta Vale Meao Douro balances ripe fruit intensity with freshness and structural detail, making it compelling now with decanting, yet built for extended cellaring in serious collections. |
|||||||||
|
|
Douro | 1 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
£837.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)The backward and undeveloped 2022 Quinta do Vale Meão has all the baby fat, the spicy oak and the tannins that call for time in bottle. The toast from the barrels is still quite noticeable, but the palate is easier to read. Although the tannins did not quite reach the refinement of those from 2021, they were fine enough, abundant and still raw. The wine finished with a moderate 13.3% alcohol. Always selected from their oldest plots, the blend this year is 60% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 5% Tinta Barroca and 5% Tinta Roriz matured in 225-liter French oak barrels, 45% of them new. 10,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£115.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2019 Cabernet Franc Dolomite has an energetic, tensile nose of wonderfully defined red and black fruit, sage, bell pepper and clove aromas; hints of dried blood emerge with time. The palate is very well balanced, taut and fresh, with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a harmonious, sophisticated finish, and suggestions of black pepper on the aftertaste. This is a brilliant Cabernet Franc from Raats that will age gloriously. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 98 (GS) |
In Bond
£595.00 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (98)The Eden 2022 is another ultra confident showstopper from Bruwer Raats’ tiny 0.2-hectare vineyard. This pristine Eden Cabernet Franc displays the most tantalising intensity and florality on the nose with a notable depth, seductive power and a piercing perfume focus. High toned, lifted and utterly beguiling, the aromatics display an exotic fanned peacock’s tail of pressed violets, cherry blossom and dried lavender over notes of oregano, dried thyme, sweet cherry compote, saline crème de cassis, oystershell, pencil shavings and delicate blueberry rock candy nuances. The palate is always underpinned by incredibly fine tannins but with this 2022, the vivacity, concentration and freshness of the accompanying acids bring immeasurable joy to the palate, seamlessly counterbalancing the complex red and black berry fruit intensity. This wine is all about purity, precision, and persistence, with a mouthfeel texture of silk and the most polished fine-grained granitic mineral tannins imaginable. This is surely as close as you are going to get to perfection with a young, energetic, premium Cabernet Franc in South Africa? Drink on release an over the next 10 to 15+ years. (598 bottles produced.) |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£350.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2022 Chenin Blanc Eden High Density Single Vineyard comes from the tiny plot around Bruwer Raats's home, vines from the Montpellier clone planted on their own stakes (echelas) at 8,000 per hectare. Whole bunch pressed and aged for 11 months in French oak (30% new), this pure and refined bouquet brings scents of yellow plum, beeswax, dried honey and lanolin. The palate is smooth and sensual right from the start, not plush, but there is a rondeur to this Chenin Blanc, lightly spiced with a little more viscosity on the finish compared to Raats's other Chenins this vintage. Very sustained on the finish, this will be utterly seductive. Just 2,300 bottles were produced, alas. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£285.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2018 MR de Compostella is a blend of 54% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 5% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. It presents a compelling bouquet of blackberry, charcoal, cedar and tobacco, all showing wonderful delineation and focus. But it is not the most flamboyant on the nose compared to other vintages; this takes its time to open at a stately pace. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, perfectly judged acidity, a silky-smooth texture and an utterly harmonious, complex finish. Residues of allspice and clove linger on the long aftertaste. Brilliant. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 98 (GS) |
In Bond
£78.00 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (98)Never made with exactly the same blend in any two vintages, the 2020 is a classic Cape Bordeaux assemblage of 30% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 16% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot with a total production of only 1,000 x 6. The wine displays a real intensity in the glass with a ruby red rim and a red / black plum heart. The aromatics are vibrant and fabulously perfumed, bursting from the glass with expressive notes of red and black berry fruits, black currant, raspberry, red and black cherry, before notes of earthy blueberry emerge with suggestions of pressed violets, lavender, sweet sandalwood, star anise and graphite spice. On the palate, the vintage’s regal elegance emerges with exhilarating acids framing the plush opulent red and back berry fruits, saline cassis, tart red cherry and a blueberry confectionary generosity. Tasting the wine with Bruwer Raats, inevitable comparisons were made to the iconic 2017 MR, with both wines sharing a beautifully bright acid freshness and a weightless concentration of pure berry fruits with only the slightest suggestion of vanilla oak spice. This really is a wine with a mixed palette of colours, flavours and fruits and the most seamlessly elegant, finessed velvety tannins. Following on from the 2018 blockbuster, with no 2019 MR produced, this 2020 is a bold, enchanting, characterful wine full of precision that trumpets the return of this incredible benchmark Cape classic. A breathtaking wine on so many levels. Drink from 2024 to 2045+. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 98 (GS) |
In Bond
£285.00 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (98)Never made with exactly the same blend in any two vintages, the 2020 is a classic Cape Bordeaux assemblage of 30% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 16% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot with a total production of only 1,000 x 6. The wine displays a real intensity in the glass with a ruby red rim and a red / black plum heart. The aromatics are vibrant and fabulously perfumed, bursting from the glass with expressive notes of red and black berry fruits, black currant, raspberry, red and black cherry, before notes of earthy blueberry emerge with suggestions of pressed violets, lavender, sweet sandalwood, star anise and graphite spice. On the palate, the vintage’s regal elegance emerges with exhilarating acids framing the plush opulent red and back berry fruits, saline cassis, tart red cherry and a blueberry confectionary generosity. Tasting the wine with Bruwer Raats, inevitable comparisons were made to the iconic 2017 MR, with both wines sharing a beautifully bright acid freshness and a weightless concentration of pure berry fruits with only the slightest suggestion of vanilla oak spice. This really is a wine with a mixed palette of colours, flavours and fruits and the most seamlessly elegant, finessed velvety tannins. Following on from the 2018 blockbuster, with no 2019 MR produced, this 2020 is a bold, enchanting, characterful wine full of precision that trumpets the return of this incredible benchmark Cape classic. A breathtaking wine on so many levels. Drink from 2024 to 2045+. |
|||||||||
