COCKBURN

This is quite primal, with lush plum, blackberry and açai berry reduction rolling through, pushed by warm licorice and Black Forest cake notes. A substantial bass line thumps on the finish, showing plenty of sparkly spice and incense details hitting the top range Drinking range: 2030 - 2050 Rating: 96 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Oct 2018)

The 2016 Vintage Port, bottled in May 2018, is a blend of 62% Touriga Nacional, 21% Touriga Franca and small portions of Sousão and Alicante Bouschet. It comes in with 106 grams of residual sugar. Fairly intense and even tighter than Graham's, this might be somewhat approachable in a few years, but it really needs to open up. It will require more time than the wines like Warre's and Smith Woodhouse in the Symington stable. Beautifully wrought, this looks like an impressive Cockburn's, more balanced and fresher than the stolid and jammy 2015 yet still with fine concentration to go with the freshness. Drinking range: 2026 - 2070 Rating: 93 Mark Squires, robertparker.com (Jul 2018)

The 2016 Cockburn’s, which comes mainly from the Bico de Pato vineyard, is deep in colour, perhaps more so than other vintages of this Port encountered during previous declaration tastings. The nose is tight at first, almost Bordeaux-like with blackberry, raspberry coulis, touches of inkwell and cassis. There is admirable purity here. The palate is beautifully balanced with supple tannin, a wonderful line of acidity and immense harmony. There is presence but not weight, a silky smooth finish with hints of raisin and fig that linger tenderly in the mouth. What a marvellous Cockburn’s! Production is 2,450 cases Drinking range: 2023 - 2050 Rating: 95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jun 2018)

Dark crimson with a mere hint of ruby at the rim. Lifted and silky. This immediately makes a claim to be a top-drawer wine on the nose. Very round with a savoury, herbal, dry finish but absolutely gorgeously sweet and fresh on the palate. Just a little heat on the end but this is a very convincing sign that Cockburn is back on form, even if it may not be one of the longest living Drinking range: 2035 - 2065 Rating: 18 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (May 2018)

A delicious and lip-smacking Cockburn’s, this is a floral, perfumed and toned Port with bright tannins and layered fruit. It is fit, tidy and neatly packaged and it has enough energy and richness to last the long haul. Impressive from Cockburn’s this is set to be one of the finest wines from this House in recent releases. Rating: 18.5 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2018)

A Douro Superior blend based mostly on the south-facing Quinta dos Canais (Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca) with support from Quinta do Vale Coelho upstream (Sousão) and Cachão do Arnozelo (Alicante Bouschet): relatively closed on the nose but with ripeness and dusty tannins underlying; intense dark fruit, cassis backed by powerful tannins. Big and broad. All there and all together: Cockburn truly back on form. 2,450 cases produced. Rating: 18+? Richard Mayson, www.richardmayson.com  (May 2018)

This shows fantastic graphite and dark-berry character with black-stone undertones and hints of dried roses. Full-bodied and very tight and precise. Good kick in the end. Love the polished tannins, which are totally folded into the wine. Reminds me of the 1947 Cockburn. Try in 2024. Rating: 99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2018)