Warre's 1997
Vintage Port
A classic Warre's Vintage, full of class and complexity.
Description
Due to the excellent ripening conditions, it was decided to delay the vintage at the Quinta da Cavadinha until the 29th September, whereas many Quintas started some two weeks earlier. Picking at Cavadinha ended on the 8th October. Yields were well down on 1996. Production at the Quinta amounted to 139 pipes compared to 223 pipes the previous year, a drop of 38%. However the quality was excellent.
Our Expert's Recommendation
"This Vintage is beginning to show some of the wonderful characteristics of bottle matured wine. It can be drunk now but will repay a few more years in your cellar."
Press Comments
"Lots of black in with the red here; viscosity at least average. Fragrant, almost elegant within its peer group for this vintage, with lots of Assam tea-leaf refinement. Some rose, too. Higher vineyards? A close-textured, dense, vivid Port, with a nutty, tight core to it that promises well for the long term. Medium density of tannin, yet it’s very fine-grained and enveloping: these just aren’t going to go away quickly. The fruit isn’t simple but has complex, rose-petal enchantment to it. Glorious Port, and what it lacks in sheer weight and push it makes up for in seduction."
“Powerful, near opaque colour, then a generous and richly rewarding nose that marries toffee, chocolate, kirsch liqueur, and a thousand other earthly delights. On the palate, the wine is concentrated and rich, powerful and confident, with truffles and damsons and a robust and generous structure. Long and extremely elegant, its future is underlined but not compromised by its present”.
“Richly scented; elegant, excellent finish”.
“A firm, structured wine with spices and powerful, dry fruits. Black fruits dominate along with the tannins, giving the impression of a wine with still leashed-up power”.
“Emphasising freshness, based as it is on a good proportion of the floral and earlier maturing touriga francesa, Warre’s is the most forward and fruit-driven of the Symington wines. Early maturing, in this case, is a relative concept. Francesa is flattering when young, giving this wine a layered aroma and refined balance, pretty, seamless and bright. It finishes with raspberry and treacle flavours, smoky as blackberry tea. This Warre’s is a comfort, like potatoes with caviar, immensely satisfying and supremely elegant in its simple lines. nd this ’97 is quite a perfect Warre’s.”
“Aromas of minerals, berries and wet earth jump out of the glass. Full-bodied and very chewy, with lots of fruit and a long finish. A tough young wine. Warre is flexing its muscles here."
“Lovely rich nose. An abundance of very classy fruit here. Fullish. Sweet. Very good acidity. This is typical Warre and a fine example. Very very long. Very complex.”
Additional Information
For more information about Warre's, please visit
http://www.warre.com/
Click here to download the wine specification sheet.