Good winter and early spring rains were followed by a generally dry and mild growing season. After the leaner vintages of 2019 and 2020 it was nice to see a return to long term average crop levels. We had a slow and steady ripening period without any excessive heat spikes which has resulted in super varietal fruit intensity and balanced natural acidity.

A Mary Poppins kind of vintage; practically perfect! Joch is always loathe to comment favourably about vintage quality, for fear of jinxing things – he can be superstitious like that, but by the end of harvest, the word ‘exceptional’ was heard to come out of his mouth.

What a beauty! Our second vintage of this wine. Joch picked the Touriga when it was nice and ripe. The variety has terrific tannins and structure; perfect for a vintage port. Fermented in open vessels, the wine is then fortified with brandy grape spirit (which halts fermentation) and brings the alcohol up to about 19% Alc/ vol. The port then matures in big old oak barrels for about a year before being bottled. Should last for a good long while in bottle.

Varieties:                    Touriga Nacional 92% Shiraz 8%
Vineyards:                  Dutchman’s, Bradens and a little bit of Shiraz from Chanticleer

• Halliday Wine Companion

   

  Too often the fortified wine in a suite is the standout. Yet, morosely, nobody drinks it. Here is a good one. A veritable bargain, too. Sure, the spirit sticks out as a thrust of heat across the finish, yet there is depth, complexity and compelling length. All reasons to explore a meander of dark cherry, camphor, kirsch and saddle leather polished to an nth of volatile sweetness.

  93 POINTS

  Ned Goodwine M.W,

• 2021
• 2019