1997 Warre's Port

1997 Warre's Port is full of class and complexity.

The complexity, elegance and balance of Warre's vintage ports result from the blending of wines from three great quintas: Quinta da Cavadinha in the Pinhão Valley which runs north of the Douro, Quinta do Retiro in the Rio Torto Valley, which runs south from the Douro just downriver from Pinhão, and since 2006 the Quinta da Telhada in the Douro Superior, just 25 km from the border with Spain. The blend is rounded out by wines from three more vineyards clustered around Cavadinha, namely Quinta do Alvito, Quinta das Andorinhas and Quinta das Netas.

This variation in location and altitude produces a wonderfully balanced wine as it combines grapes from the intense heat of the lower altitude and Douro Superior vineyards with grapes from a much cooler maturity cycle higher up in the Pinhão Valley.

The 1997 vintage has a wonderful purple blue colour. A classic Warre nose packed with concentrated layers of ripe red fruits and underlying gum cistus aromas. On the palate, ripe blackcurrant berry flavours, firm and well-balanced tannins given by the concentration of the old vines at Cavadinha, which form the backbone of Warre. The Warre 1997 displays aspects of "a cooler climate wine", leading to more aromatic and elegant wine.

"Enormous mid-palate structure and impressive length. Undoubtedly a wine for long ageing and a classic amongst vintages." - SFE Tasting Room Team, 2006