Q:

I’ve been wondering for a while how a company such as the Symington Family Estates manages the blending over so many shippers. Does the same team work on all of the wines, or are there different panels for each shipper? If I’ve counted correctly, I think I am correct in saying that in a general declaration, up to 10 Vintage Ports could be released; far more than of any other Port company!

I was also wondering how a “house style” is maintained for each shipper within the company and whether there is an effort to make each shipper stylistically consistent over the whole range. For example, compared to Graham’s, Dow’s Vintage Port is usually thought of as very dry; could the same be expected when comparing LBVs or Fine Rubies from these houses? I think consistency is often attributed, for Vintage Port, to the use of major vineyards (e.g. Canais for Cockburn) and I was wondering if that is the same with the non-premium brands and tawnies?

Many thanks and congratulations on getting the new site up!