2016 Vintage Port

A fresh nose, and a lightness and elegance, but then the intensity builds and it has a lovely, salivating richness and freshness, with quite a floral and expressive fruit. The longer it stays in theA fresh nose, and a lightness and elegance, but then the intensity builds and it has a lovely, salivating richness and freshness, with quite a floral and expressive fruit. The longer it stays in the mouth the more exciting it gets, with the linear purity of the fruit giving a sense of ease and flow. Finishes pinging with fresh and salivating dark berries and spice. From beginning to end shows a svelte, elegant silhouette. Will make a suberbly drinkable Port in just a few years. As with the dry table wines from this property, and despite its position fronting the Douro, which is the hottest place to be, Romaneira seems to produce wines that are elegant above all. Drinking range: 2024 - Rating: 92-93 L&S (May 2018)

Rich and quite scented, plush with superfine tannins and an abundance of dark ripe fruit, it feels as though designed to give pleasure at a young age. A really juicy, sappy, bowl of fruit.Rich and quite scented, plush with superfine tannins and an abundance of dark ripe fruit, it feels as though designed to give pleasure at a young age. A really juicy, sappy, bowl of fruit. Rating: 92-93 L&S (May 2018)

There is no release of the 'straight' Niepoort Vintage in 2016 - just Bioma, which Dirk felt really deserved a declaration. Compared to the other 2016s this has a lighter, more evolved feel; anThere is no release of the 'straight' Niepoort Vintage in 2016 - just Bioma, which Dirk felt really deserved a declaration. Compared to the other 2016s this has a lighter, more evolved feel; an almost Burgundian shape and intensity. It brings to mind the esoteric Bordeaux wines from Chateau Tertre Roteboeuf. For now seeming less svelte than its peers - less 'together'. On the palate this is exciting. Bright, fizzing pink and purple fruit. Not hard, not heavy weight and there is a high line of an almost kirsch-like spirity note. But the acidity and flow is fabulous. Glides over the palate dolloping hits of sweet black fruit, intense raisin-juice concentrate and some sweeter red gummy-sweet gobs. A wild, interesting style - which is both intriguing and impressive. L&S (May 2018)

This is based on wines from Quinta do Seixo and Quinta di Vau. 10,000 bottles were produced from 40% each of Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional, 10% Tinto Roriz, and 5% each of Tinto Cão and Sousão.This is based on wines from Quinta do Seixo and Quinta di Vau. 10,000 bottles were produced from 40% each of Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional, 10% Tinto Roriz, and 5% each of Tinto Cão and Sousão. As with the mould-breaking 2011 vintage release, winemaker Luis Sottomayor is keen to impart a bit more muscle than has sometimes been the case in recent vintages. The 2016 has very fine tannins, but they have sort of grit about them despite being very fine and not aggressive. These tannins show as quite dry, so the structure is dry too - seeming even dryer than Dow. The density and long-drawn-out shape of the wine is impressive. Black fruit flavours merge with floral top-notes and a dusting of cocoa - the wine feels fine and svelte, and finishes with good acidity which should see it age effortlessly, and it looks as though this has a great future. Rating: 94-95 L&S (May 2018)

Tasted alongside the Taylor - Fonseca has a totally different feel. Super-dark and densely-concentrated, bigger and more burly - but rich, with dense liquorice feel and flavour. Some good wood spiceTasted alongside the Taylor - Fonseca has a totally different feel. Super-dark and densely-concentrated, bigger and more burly - but rich, with dense liquorice feel and flavour. Some good wood spice too and cinnamon mixed with some smashed cloves, all mingling with the intense, dark sweet black berries. Great flow, but this does actually feel like a young port - in a good way, with a good level of flow and fun. A joyous, richly-weighted offering which feels quite long-term. Rating: 93-94 L&S (May 2018)

Adrian Bridge who heads up the Taylor group was keen to highlight the keynotes of the 2016 vintage as being: '..purity, refinement and structure. The Taylor’s 2016 is characteristically elegant andAdrian Bridge who heads up the Taylor group was keen to highlight the keynotes of the 2016 vintage as being: '..purity, refinement and structure. The Taylor’s 2016 is characteristically elegant and poised and underpinned by firm, superbly integrated tannins of exceptional quality.' It would seem the only possible cloud on the horizon for buyers is that the yields were below recent vintage levels - and so the wine is likely to be tightly allocated. Grab it while you can. Very dark purple-edged colour. Magnifcent floral fruit - crystallised violets, scented and beautifully defined. Very pretty but not without power, juicy, succulent, supple tannins, and then an long, long, clinging finishwith blackberry, blueberry in syrup, cassis, and all still floral and fresh and precise. Rating: 95 L&S (Apr 2018)

Quite a coal-black nose. Rich, round and fleshily sweet, it is not quite as distinctively individual as the very top wines, even if it is generously mouthfilling. Ripe with suave tannins and fineQuite a coal-black nose. Rich, round and fleshily sweet, it is not quite as distinctively individual as the very top wines, even if it is generously mouthfilling. Ripe with suave tannins and fine fruit. Should offer much enjoyment from quite a young age. Rating: 91-92 L&S (May 2018)

Wow - this has fabulous impact on the attack, even if it is quite hard to ‘dissect’ at this stage. Like Fonseca, Noval is built for the longer haul, and for now it is quite compact, quite denselyWow - this has fabulous impact on the attack, even if it is quite hard to ‘dissect’ at this stage. Like Fonseca, Noval is built for the longer haul, and for now it is quite compact, quite densely loaded with dark fruit, black cherry and a powerful mineral line runs straight and true - with fabulous zipping acidity adding succulence and energy throughout. This drive and density revealing the real reserves of power and likely longevity. Smart, serious and impressive. Rating: 95-96 L&S (May 2018)

Smooth and velvety, mid-weight with figgy sweet dark berry fruit, easy and harmonious with a relaxed feel, not the most distinctive, but there's a lovely chocolatey richness.Smooth and velvety, mid-weight with figgy sweet dark berry fruit, easy and harmonious with a relaxed feel, not the most distinctive, but there's a lovely chocolatey richness. Rating: 91-92 L&S (May 2018)

80% from Quinta do Canais, in the Douro Superior. Canais is close to Taylor's Vargellas, but whereas Vargellas faces north, it faces south and is more powerful as a result. Very dense, lots of80% from Quinta do Canais, in the Douro Superior. Canais is close to Taylor's Vargellas, but whereas Vargellas faces north, it faces south and is more powerful as a result. Very dense, lots of sweetness, good highlights, so that there are aromatic orangey notes as well as deep blackcurrant. Tannins, like all the 2016s, and refined and supple, but there's no shortage of intensity and grip. Drinking range: 2025 - 2060 Rating: 93 L&S (Apr 2018)

46% old vines from Quinta do Cavadinha, 37% Touriga Nacional, 17% Touriga Franca. 'The old vine juice gives a lighter palate presence, but we know how well they age, and the complexity that comes46% old vines from Quinta do Cavadinha, 37% Touriga Nacional, 17% Touriga Franca. 'The old vine juice gives a lighter palate presence, but we know how well they age, and the complexity that comes from these old vines', we are told. The tasting really confirms this. Very dark expression on the nose an intriguing spicy note. Delicacy on the entry that comes as a surprise after the full-on intensity of the Dow, but then a relaxed and very supple, beautifully-balanced middle and long, subtle finish. Lots of succulence, and it certainly has a lovely shape and length, and even if it is much less emphatic than Dow at this stage, it is composed and easy. Rating: 94-95 L&S (May 2018)

35% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, the remaining 25% being made up of old vines, which, as they are planted in a mix, are hard to define in terms of percentages of each. Amazingly intense and35% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, the remaining 25% being made up of old vines, which, as they are planted in a mix, are hard to define in terms of percentages of each. Amazingly intense and focused nose has a touch of 'minty fresh' but also a generous depth of warm fresh fruit, ripe blackberry in particular. Fresh too on the palate, mouthfilling, sweet, salivating. Very complete and so beautifully balanced as to be really hard not to swallow. Velvet rich with sweet plum fruit and plum skin tannins. Big round and friendly, a teddy-bear-hug of a wine. Rating: 95 L&S (May 2018)

48% Touriga Franca, 41% Touriga Nacional, 11% 'old vines'. Very, very dark dry fruit nose, rich and inviting. Damson - but there's something even more focused than that - a linear beam. Violet aromas48% Touriga Franca, 41% Touriga Nacional, 11% 'old vines'. Very, very dark dry fruit nose, rich and inviting. Damson - but there's something even more focused than that - a linear beam. Violet aromas too. Seems tighter and dryer than Graham (unsurprisingly). Very smooth and dry tannins on the entry, then a touch of sweetness, then a long dry finish. Something slightly minty or blackberry leaf. Very pure and long. Damson intensity all the way through. An outstanding Dow. Drinking range: 2025 - Rating: 95-96 L&S (May 2018)

Showy and vibrant, with stunning, pure waves of açai berry, blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry confiture flavors spilling forth, barely harnessed by a mouthwatering anise note and a long briaryShowy and vibrant, with stunning, pure waves of açai berry, blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry confiture flavors spilling forth, barely harnessed by a mouthwatering anise note and a long briary spine. Just as this nearly teeters from its fruit, this is reined in by terrific drive and cut though through the extremely long finish, thanks to a wellspring of acidity. Drinking range: 2035 - 2060 Rating: 98 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Oct 2018)

The 2016 The Stone Terraces Vintage Port, from a specific plot, is predominantly Touriga Nacional. It comes in with 110 grams of residual sugar and was bottled about a month before this tasting.The 2016 The Stone Terraces Vintage Port, from a specific plot, is predominantly Touriga Nacional. It comes in with 110 grams of residual sugar and was bottled about a month before this tasting. Along with the Capela from Vesuvio, this is a candidate both for the best of the Symington stable and the top wine in this vintage. But they are very different. The Capela has that rich Vesuvio fruit and seems a bit denser and burlier, showing off fine concentration and a lot of serious muscle. The Stone Terraces is more elegant and far more expressive just now, just a bit more open (but hardly ready). Seen twice, once with a lot more aeration, this proved it could become even tighter and more powerful. As elegant as it initially seemed, don't be fooled—there's serious power here to go with the purity of fruit. Intense, impeccably balanced and chock-full of gorgeous fruit, this is pretty brilliant. It should have a long life ahead. At the moment, I'd give this the clear nod over the wonderful 2015, but there may be ups and downs as they both start on their long lives. I like to see wines like this grow in the cellar a little, so let's remain a little conservative in evaluation. I won't be surprised if it merits an uptick in time. Drinking range: 2029 - 2075 Rating: 97+ Mark Squires, robertparker.com (Jul 2018)

More coal black even than Noval iteself. There's a mass of richness and spice combined with a juicy, forward, fresh-acidity-driven core which makes it amazingly fresh and more-ish. There's a gravellyMore coal black even than Noval iteself. There's a mass of richness and spice combined with a juicy, forward, fresh-acidity-driven core which makes it amazingly fresh and more-ish. There's a gravelly undertow of very present tannins on the finish, where the flavours open up to layers of ripe berry fruit flavours - and it clings on with great length. Rating: 96 L&S (May 2018)