The 2024 vintage in the Douro saw conditions that port producers had been waiting for since 2017. Subsequent years of too much heat had resulted in ports with lots of power but lacking the elegance and balance which define the very best vintages. 2016 and 2017 saw the first consecutive general vintage declarations for 144 years and although there have been occasional declarations during the intervening years from a few houses the general consensus is that 2024 is a great vintage. The 7 year gap between the declarations of 2017 and 2024 is the longest since the enforced break resulting from the Second World War, so if you’ve been looking for vintage port to buy from a more recent year than 2017 now is your prime opportunity.
Symington Family Estates (owners of many of the top names including Dow, Warre, Graham, Smith Woodhouse, Cockburn and Quinta do Vesuvio comment that “The harvests from 2018 to 2023 were marked by challenging growth cycles with erratic rainfall and prolonged heatwaves. We made some exceptional wines, but they weren’t classic. We drew on multi-generational experience of our vineyards, we adapted, and we innovated. We also waited. After seven years, 2024 delivered what we hope for but couldn’t force – the return of a classic Douro vintage. These are wines that our family have always aspired to create in any given vintage since 1882. And we made the very best of it that we could.”
Allocations are tiny but I have been offered a few cases and can therefore offer the following ports on a pre-shipment basis. I have reproduced the winemakers’ tasting notes here because even though I have tasted all of these 2024s, tasting young vintage port is very much a specialised skill and not something I have the opportunity to do that often. I have then added some production details and my own impressions of each.
I fully accept that anyone of my generation may be unlikely to ever be able to enjoy these ports at their best, but if you are looking for something for a child, grandchild or godchild these may be just the thing! If you were married in 2024 these will be ideal to enjoy on your silver wedding anniversary!
I am happy to accept orders for sealed cases of six bottles of any single port in the first instance and these will be given priority. I will then be able to offer individual bottles on a pre-shipment basis for orders placed before 30th June (subject to availability). Prices are inclusive of duty, VAT and shipping.
Please also note that we have an excellent range of fully matured/maturing vintage ports for celebrating birth years, anniversaries and Father's Days! Available to buy now, details of these follow the 2024 offering.
Per sealed case of six bottles: £450.00
Per individual bottle up to 30th June (if available): £82.00
Per individual bottle from 1st July (if available): £87.00
“Offers alluring aromas of red and black fruits with subliminal mint and eucalyptus, completed by a floral rockrose character. Fabulously opulent and seductive on the palate, with kirsch, black plum and traces of liquorice held in perfect balance by polished tannins and bright acidity.” The fruit comes from the following estates: Quinta dos Malvedos (the main component) Quinta do Tua, Quinta da Vila Velha and Quinta do Vale de Malhadas. It’s a blend of 55% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 9% is a field blend of mixed old vines and 6% Sousao. 5,935 cases were produced representing 15% of Graham’s total production in 2024. It looks as though this will be a classic Graham Vintage Port with dark fruit and a ripe, almost jammy, core and great depth and that Grahams chubbiness and power. Likely drinkability from 2035 but with a very long life ahead of it.
Per sealed case of six bottles: £450.00
Per individual bottle up to 30th June (if available): £82.00
Per individual bottle from 1st July (if available): £87.00
“This displays deep, brooding aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry, with hints of bitter chocolate, black pepper and powdered schist. Concentrated on the palate with a compact, tight-knit structure that gradually reveals sumptuous blackcurrant, plum and liquorice flavours, held in balance by vibrant acidity and peppery tannins with Dow’s trademark drier finish.” The fruit comes from Quinta do Bonfim, Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira and Quinta do Santinho. It’s a blend of 40% Touriga Franca, 35% Touriga Nacional, 15% is a field blend of old vines and 10% Alicante Bouschet. 5,535 cases were produced representing 17% of Dow’s total production in 2024. The classic Dow style is the driest and arguably the most serious of the main houses. It focusses on restraint and style coupled with longevity and this certainly looks to have a very long life ahead of it. Likely drinkability from 2038 as Dow tends to evolve more slowly. I won’t live to be 100 years old but if I were to, I’d be looking to enjoy a glass of this on my 100th birthday in 2065!
Per sealed case of six bottles: £375.00
Per individual bottle up to 30th June (if available): £69.00
Per individual bottle from 1st July (if available): £74.00
“Wonderfully fragrant and floral with notes of roses and violets, vividly fresh bright fruit brushed by a subtle pine breeze. Very fine and elegant on the palate – full yet silky and rounded. The sheer purity of fruit offers superb refinement and grace, with multilayered complexity from old mixed vines.” The fruit comes from Quinta da Cavadinha, Quinta do Retiro, Quinta da Telhada and Quinta das Netas. It’s a blend of 38% Touriga Franca, 34% is a field blend of old vines, 17% Touriga Nacional and 11% Sousao. 4,280 cases we made representing 13.5% of Warre’s total vineyard production in 2024. The classic Warre style is one of elegance with vintage ports that exhibit a pretty florality. It’s a style that sits somewhere between the drier restraint of Dow and the opulence of Graham. History suggests that Warre’s vintage ports tend to approach drinkability a little earlier than Dow and Graham though it’s too early to tell whether that will be the case here. Likely drinkability from 2033 onwards.
Per sealed case of six bottles: £300.00
Per individual bottle up to 30th June (if available): £55.00
Per individual bottle from 1st July (if available): £60.00
“A wine that is immediately enchanting and draws you in, such are its engaging elegance and aesthetic purity. There is seamless balance between the attractive floral and herbal aromas and the silky-smooth fruit, laced with kirsch and subtle traces of liquorice. A wine that reflects the year’s cooler growth cycle, with its keynote elegance and balance as well as the substance and complexity of the sizeable component of old vines.” The fruit comes from a selection of sites in the Rio Torto area of the Douro. It’s a blend of 40% Touriga Franca, 30% Touriga Nacional and 30% is a field blend of old vines. 1,270 cases produced. The Smith Woodhouse style is very traditional and is regarded as mid-tier within the Symington portfolio, sitting just a notch below the classic names of Graham, Dow & Warre. Prices therefore tend to be a little friendlier and Smith Woodhouse vintage ports tend to reach maturity a little earlier than Warre though again it’s just too early to tell, but best guess would be a peak drinking window of 2035-2050 but it will be approachable from about 2032.
Any orders should be placed not later than 30th June 2026. Delivery is likely to be sometime later this year. Please email sales@winesofinterest.co.uk with any orders or questions.
The following are in stock and available to order now. In all cases stocks will not be replaced once sold so when they’ve gone that’s it. Some are from stock in a private cellar which we should be able to secure fairly quickly if you're interested in any of those. Before we look at the individual older vintages I should explain the significance and importance of Quinta do Vesuvio and a number of our older ports are from this Quinta.
Vesuvio is a 326 hectare single estate port property located in the remote Douro Superior up near the Spanish border and owned by Symington Family Estates. Most of their vineyards face north and northwest which protects the grapes from the brutal heat in this part of the valley. The fact that Vesuvio is a single estate producer means that it does not rely on the convention for general declaration for vintage ports and is not dependent on the ability to blend fruit from several properties across the Douro. Such is the quality of their best fruit that Vesuvio is capable of making a vintage port in years that are not generally declared, though quantities are often tiny. Think of Vesuvio as a “Grand Cru” of vintage port and Vesuvio vintage ports are a great option if you’re looking for port from a vintage that was not generally declared because you can be assured of a vintage port of the highest quality.
A superb vintage and regarded as one of the best of the 20th century. At time of writing, we have just one bottle of Graham 1994 left. This was a truly great year and Graham’s is one of the more powerful and structured ports of the vintage. It is deep in colour with a powerful and concentrated flavour with concentrated fruit and tremendous depth. This is just about as good as vintage port can possibly be and drinking beautifully now.
A better year than many tend to realise. Though not a general declaration 1996 produced some good wines and Quinta do Vesuvio were able to make a vintage port from the very best of their harvest. There is more structure and density here than with 1998 or 2001 with firmer tannins and great concentration. There were some very good single quinta vintage ports produced in 1996 but the 1996 Quinta do Vesuvio is easily a step above those. Now at its peak and will remain so for many years to come.
Another year that we not generally declared but in which Vesuvio also produced an exceptional vintage port. Unusual weather patterns resulted in small yields but high quality concentrated fruit which left Vesuvio as the only declared vintage this year apart from some single quinta wines. Vesuvio’s location up near the Spanish border meant that it avoided much of the rain that fell further downstream which lowered the fruit quality. The 1998 Quinta do Vesuvio is perfect for current drinking and will remain so for a while yet. It is a port of tremendous elegance and style.
A widely declared vintage producing small quantities of tremendously concentrated ports. The Fonseca 2000 is reckoned to be the standout port of the vintage with huge fruit, great concentration but still very well balanced. It is often ranked alongside the great Fonseca vintages of 1963, 1970 and 1985. It should be at its best from 2030 and remain there for at least three decades! Some Quinta do Vesuvio 2000 is also available. Less famous than the Fonseca and arguably better value. It is drinking beautifully now and will continue to do so for many years to come. Both of these are available from a private cellar.
We have just a few bottles remaining in stock of the 2001 Quinta do Vesuvio. It’s a vintage that was not generally declared but the Vesuvio fruit from 2001 reached a level of ripeness not seen elsewhere in the Douro that year. Even so, Vesuvio select only the very best parcels of fruit for their vintage port and made a port that is of vintage quality that we not possible for houses who rely on a range of vineyard sites for their fruit. This is now drinking beautifully, but there’s no rush! Because it wasn’t a generally declared vintage this is more keenly priced than many.
This was a very hot summer almost everywhere which resulted in tiny berries with thick skins and consequently very concentrated ports. These are more immediately impressive and drinking beautifully now. We have access to some Quinta do Vesuvio 2003 from a private cellar. Many critics rank this as highly as the fabulous 1994 Vesuvio.
A widely declared vintage and one of the best of recent times. Many critics rate it alongside 1970, 1994 and 2011. We have access to some stock of Quinta do Vesuvio 2007 which is concentrated and aromatic with great ageing potential drinking from now onwards and with a great life ahead. We also have access to some Dow 2007 on the same basis which is reckoned to be one of the ports (if not THE port) of the vintage. It famously received 100 points from The Wine Spectator and is reckoned to be one of the best examples of Dow vintage port ever produced. If either of these is of interest please get in touch for details of availability. A truly classic vintage.
Regarded as one of the great modern vintages with a combination of perfect ripeness, freshness, purity and structure. Those that know mutter about similarities with 1945 and 1963. We have some stock of Smith Woodhouse, Warre and Graham all of which are now at the start of their drinking window. As a general rule the 2011s are still youthful, but in their early stage of drinkability if you enjoy powerful younger ports with concentrated fruit and firm tannins. From 2030 onwards (depending on the house) they will begin to show more complexity with notes of chocolate and gentle spice. From 2045 onwards that will be entering that mature vintage port stage where dried fruit and walnut flavours begin to develop.
Not generally declared. Many producers jumped the gun and picked too early but a few held their nerve and waited. One such was Cockburn and we have just a few bottles left. This is already drinking nicely but a few more years of patience will undoubtedly be rewarded.
2016 and 2017 were both declared vintages. 2016 is generally regarded as more classical than 2017. These are elegant and balanced ports with fine structure. Very much vintage ports for the purist and without the raw power of the 2017s but still with great concentration and depth. There is refinement here rather than power in the same way that the 1963s were. We have stocks of Smith Woodhouse, Warre and Dow with anticipated drinking windows from 2030.
Widely considered one of the great modern vintages with powerful intense and concentrated ports. It has been compared to the classic historic vintages of 2011, 1994 and 1970 with dense and deeply coloured ports. We have some stock remaining of Warre and Dow with anticipated drinkability from 2030 onwards. 2017 offers huge fruit with tremendous concentration and depth.
