2015 Port Vintage Report

2015-vintage-port

The 2015 Vintage Port Harvest


Abundant rainfall marked the start of the viticultural year, replenishing depleted soil water reserves. This was to prove crucial due to the very dry winter, spring and summer that followed which was the hottest and driest of the last 36 years. It was the hottest June of the last half-century resulting in exceptionally low yields at harvest time. The conditions leading up to the harvest were excellent and a little late rain followed by sunshine just before picking offset some of the heat stress to produce some of the best grapes in memory (particularly Touriga Franca)

To declare or not to declare?


The ports produced in the 2015 vintage are, without doubt, outstanding and many producers such as Niepoort, Noval Ramos Pinto have declared the vintage. With small productions and an eye to what will probably be a spectacular 2016 vintage, Taylor Fladgate and Symington’s have not declared all of their range producing instead some amazing value single quintas. These companies never make back-to-back declarations. Symingtons have produces a very small quantity of the ultra-rare Graham's Stone Terraces and declared Cockburn to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the shipper.

Our assessment.
Having tasted all of the 2015 ports below, our port expert, Dr Tony Carter, has scored all of them above 90 points (outstanding) and rated the Stone Terrace, Dows and Vesuvio in the exceptional category (95+ points). This is in line with other critical reviews. In general, the exceptional showing for the Touriga Franca adds amazing floral qualities across the board. This is supported by a good showing for the Touriga Nacional which adds structure and backbone great ageing potential for these wines. We look forward to revisiting them in 40 years time!

2015 is definitely a vintage for port drinkers. Apart from the rare and limited releases, investors should look towards the 2016 vintage. Port drinkers can find amazing value amongst the single quintas (Fonseca, Taylor's, Croft, Dow's) or pick up some excellent quality vintage ports.

29 products found.

Quinta do Vesuvio, 2015

Vintage Port, Douro
Double Magnum 300cl
Presented in Wooden Gift Case
***95 Points- James Suckling***
***18.5 Points- Jancis Robinson***

The 2015 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port Wine was announced by The Symington family, as a prime example of their Vintage Ports from its magnificent estate in the remote upper reaches of the Douro Valley. This is a limited bottling of just 1,001 cases: 11,400 bottles (75cl), 288 Magnums and 9 Double Magnums.

Quinta do Vesuvio is located in the Douro Superior, the demarcated region’s hottest and driest subregion with just 470 mm average annual rainfall. The property’s sheer size (326 hectares) and mountainous terrain result in varied aspects, predominantly north and northwest, as it occupies a south bank position along the Douro River.
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Price: $843.57 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock

Ramos Pinto, 2015

Vintage Port, Douro
Presented in Original Gift Box
***19/20 Points- Jancis Robinson.com***

The 2015 Vintage Port Wine from Ramos Pinto has been described as, "A wine with attractive aromas, fruit and rockrose, a good body with a long peppery finish. A Vintage which will age for many years." (Ana Rosas, Master Blender)

2015 was an excellent year in the Douro, with a very dry growing season and lower than average rainfall. A dry winter was followed by an atypically warm spring, allowing grapes to ripen fully in time for harvest in late August.

The Vintage is made from a blend of grapes from old vines grown in the Quinta de Ervamoira (Douro Superior) and Quinta do Bom Retiro (Cima Corgo).
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Price: $103.76 USD
Stock: 8 in Stock

Taylor's Port, 2015

Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port
1x600cl- IMPERIAL FORMAT
Please Allow 7 Days For Delivery

Very Rare 6L Imperial Bottle

The 2015 Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port Wine from Taylor’s, upon release, was announced by Managing Director Adrian Bridge; "The 2015 harvest has produced an excellent Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port, showing all the balance and elegance that are the hallmarks of the property. Although the 2015’s are already expressive and appealing on the nose, they also have the structure and completeness to allow them to hold up extremely well in bottle." Taylor’s wine maker, David Guimaraens, commented; "The condition of the crop was exceptionally healthy throughout the 2015 harvest, although the dry year meant that yields were relatively low.
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Price: $647.60 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock

Taylor's Port, 2015

Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port
9 Litre RARE BOTTLE FORMAT
Please Allow 7 Days For Delivery

Very Rare 6L Imperial Bottle

The 2015 Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port Wine from Taylor’s, upon release, was announced by Managing Director Adrian Bridge; "The 2015 harvest has produced an excellent Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port, showing all the balance and elegance that are the hallmarks of the property. Although the 2015’s are already expressive and appealing on the nose, they also have the structure and completeness to allow them to hold up extremely well in bottle." Taylor’s wine maker, David Guimaraens, commented; "The condition of the crop was exceptionally healthy throughout the 2015 harvest, although the dry year meant that yields were relatively low.
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Price: $1,161.53 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock