Cockburn 2024

The 2024 Vintage Port is a step up from the Smith Woodhouse, with pretty blackberry, black plum, maraschino cherries and light menthol aromas. The palate is nicely structured, with fine-boned tannins, well-judged acidity, not an intense Vintage Port yet nimble and tensile. Plenty of white pepper towards the sustained finish, this is a well-crafted Cockburn's. Lovely. 2030-2050.

The 2024 Vintage Port, the first declaration since 2017, was produced with a blend of 63% Touriga Nacional, the most abundant grape in Quinta de Canais, 24% Touriga Franca, 9% Alicante Bouschet and 4% Sousão. It matured for 18 months in oak vats. It has a low 95 grams of sugar—2017 had 107—and feels drier and more vinous and serious. This has one of the highest percentages of Touriga Nacional, and has an amazing finish. It's classical, more balanced and elegant, with typical rockrose, tobacco and wildflowers. It finishes quite dry, and the tannins are more noticeable. 35,760 bottles produced. It was bottled in 2026. Drink 2030-2060.

Fruit from south-facing sites in the Douro Superior: Quinta dos Canais, Quinta do Vale Coelho and Quinta do Cachão do Arnozelo (Charles Symington’s own property). A blend of 63% Touriga Nacional (part of the Nacional was co-fermented with a batch of Sousão, also sourced from Canais), 24% Touriga Franca, 9% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Sousão. 2,980 cases, ie 7.5% of Cockburn’s total vineyard production in 2024. TA 4.6 g/l, RS 95 g/l. Bottled May 2026 without filtration.This is traditionally the driest of the Symington ports, with a high proportion of Touriga Nacional and not as much Franca. Brighter with red fruit after the Warre’s. Cherries and even a citrus freshness. Vibrantly aromatic like the resin from rock roses. Then a change of key on the palate: big and bold, dark chocolate in texture and flavour. Sweet tobacco. Big but fresh. Chewy, sinewy, long, dry finish. Unexpectedly juicy on the finish. Drink: 2035 – 2064.

A blend from Quinta dos Canais and Vale Coelho, both in the Douro Superior, 63% Touriga Nacional, 24% Touriga Franca, 9% Alicante Bouschet and 4% Sousão: characteristically deep in colour like all these wines; open and gentle on the nose with a pronounced floral character (orange blossom); similarly suave and gentle initially on the palate, mouth-filling and very flattering in style, some dark chocolate concentration with tannins rising to a lovely rich, complete, firm finish. 2,980 cases.