Warre's Vintage Port 2016

Warre's 2016 Vintage Port is a wine of remarkable elegance and perfume. Among the major Symington Family Estates releases, Warre's has always occupied the middle ground between Graham's opulence and Dow's austerity, and this 2016 vintage captures that balance beautifully. It is a port that combines power with grace in equal measure.

The nose is hauntingly beautiful. Ripe black cherry and wild herbs are joined by crushed violets, dark chocolate, black tea, and a granite dust minerality that speaks to the terroir of Quinta da Cavadinha. There is a perfumed quality to the aromatics that sets Warre's apart. On the palate, the wine is elegant and perfumed, with black plum and pomegranate providing the fruit core, dark spice adding complexity, and fine-grained tannins providing structure without aggression. A floral lift carries through the mid-palate, maintaining freshness.

The finish is long and graceful, with a perfumed quality that fades through violet, spice, and mineral. It is a finish that invites contemplation, that makes you close your eyes and pay attention. The tannins are present but refined, suggesting good cellaring potential without the intimidating austerity of a young Dow's.

Warre's 2016 is arguably the most elegant vintage port released that year. While it may lack the sheer power of Taylor's or the voluptuous richness of Graham's, its perfume and grace make it a wine of rare beauty. For those who value finesse over force, this is an exceptional choice.