The 2016 Vintages Ports are arriving. Vintage Port makes the perfect 21st birthday or milestone present. Not only will it last the 21 years, it will improve with the added age. Not all years are declared vintage — any house can declare a Vintage Port in any year. But when essentially everyone declares, it’s called a general declaration, and the vintage is of particularly high quality. In addition to these bottles for your 2-year-old’s 21st birthday. Have an older child you want to sock something away for? There are other birth year ports available. Contact us if you are looking for a different year.
Dow’s 2016 Port $61 (375ml), $120 (750ml)
“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.” – 98pts — Wine Spectator
Smith Woodhouse 2016 Port $67 (750ml)
The Smith Woodhouse 2016 Vintage Port is entirely based on the Madalena vineyard, primarily from the field blend of very old mixed vines. Aromas suggesting bergamot and tea-leaf, as well as floral aromas of rockrose and violets. Substantial on the palate, showing ripe, black fruit and licorice, the peppery tannins give freshness and excellent structure. 97pts – Wine Spectator, 94pts – Wine Enthusiast
Quinta de Roriz 2016 Port $70 (750ml)
Quinta de Roriz is one of the oldest and finest estates in the Douro, well-known by the end of the 17th century, and was in the hands of the van Zeller family for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Roriz was one of the first Ports to be bottled and shipped under the name of the quinta itself, and this continued into the early years of the 20th century. After some years of joint ownership with the van Zeller, the quinta and the name were acquired outright by the Symington and Prats families in 2009. “This is packed with racy plum, acai and blueberry reduction notes, all seamlessly layered with licorice snap and plum cake flavors. Shows a lovely graphite hint through the finish. Best from 2030 through 2050.” 94pts —Wine Spectator & James, Suckling, 93+ – Wine Advocate
Quinta da Romaneira 2016 Port $60 (750ml)
“Mostly Touriga Nacional (70%), with the rest comprised of Touriga Franca and Tinto Cão, aged for 20 months in neutral tonels. It comes in with just 77 grams of residual sugar. This was in bottle for about seven weeks when seen. Aromatic and enticing from the first smell, laced with eucalyptus, herbs and dried blue fruits, it opens tight and then evolves beautifully, developing expressive fruit and flavor. This is elegant as well, with a fresh feel. It might be a touch on the leaner side, but not by much. I’m very impressed with this bottling, perhaps the best Romaneira VP I’ve seen. If it continues to evolve well, it should be a sleeper of the vintage. There were 12,000 bottles produced from 25-year-old vines.” 94pts – Wine Advocate, 93pts – Wine Spectator
Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.