Warre's

One of the famed Port houses of the world, Warre’s makes an incredible range of wines that are readily available in North America. Founded in 1670, Warre's is the first and the oldest British port company established in Portugal. By the end of the 18th century, Warre's had become one of the leading port companies, shipping 2,937 pipes in 1791, 10% of the total sold by 21 companies in that year. Andrew James ('AJ') Symington arrived in Porto in 1882 aged just 19. After a short stint working at Graham's Port and then running his own small port shipping operation, he became a partner of Warre & Co in 1905 and then became the sole owner in 1908.

Warre's sources its grapes from the Quinta da Cavadinha in the Pinhão Valley, as well as Quinta do Retiro, Quinta da Telhada, Quinta do Alvito and Quinta das Netas. The new wines were really enticing. I was particularly impressed with the Warre’s ‘Otima’ 20 Year Tawny Porto (OB, 93) which was dense and also showed beautiful freshness. The 2020 Warre’s Vintage Port (OB, 98) is a mesmerizing wine that is nowhere near ready but has massive cellaring potential. Learn more at https://www.symington.com/brand/warre-s-port and here are my reviews of the new wines by Warre’s.

NV Warre’s ‘Heritage’ Ruby Porto- Fruity in its red cherry and red raspberry profile, this is dense and rich but comes off hot. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2028- 88

NV Warre’s ‘King’s’ Tawny Port- The NV Warre’s ‘King’s’ Tawny Port also is quite fruity in its dense core of red fruits with cloves and caramel notes. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 89

NV Warre’s ‘Warrior’ Port- The NV ‘Warrior’ comes from Warrior comes from sites in the Pinho and Rio Torto valleys that produce Warre’s Vintage Ports. Right now this is highly approachable, loaded with dark fruits and chocolate flavors that mingle well with good tension and graphite notes. Drink now. Drink 2024-2028- 89

2010 Warre’s ‘Late Bottled Vintage’ Porto- This beautiful, ready to drink wine offers red cherry and red currant with Cuban cigar notes on the nose alongside sweet peach accents. The palate is dense and flavorful with loads of rich red fruits that parade with a light tension. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 90

NV Warre’s Fine White Porto- The NV Warre’s Fine White Porto shows off honeydew melon and lychee notes that combine with nutty accents on the palate. Smooth and nicely textured, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 89

Warre’s ‘Otima’ 10 Year Tawny Porto-A gorgeous bottling for the price, the Warre’s ‘Otima’ 10 Year Tawny Porto offers toffee, roasted dates and nutmeg drenched pie crust notes on the nose alongside coffee grounds. The palate is soft and elegant, as this is both rich and dense yet has a beautiful weightless appearance mid-plate. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 92

Warre’s ‘Otima’ 20 Year Tawny Porto- This 20 year tawny opens with white raisin, dates and rich red fruits with burnt orange on the nose. The palate is seamless and dense, loaded with richness and flavor density. Fabulous now, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034-93

1992 Warre’s ‘Otima’ Colheita Port- The 1992 Warre’s ‘Otima’ Colheita Port is a marvelous showing that is right at its peak. Orange peel, cinnamon and cardamom dusted pastry and shades of caramel cake all combine on the palate. Fresh and viscous, with nutty accents, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2017 Warre’s Vintage Port- This beautiful vintage Port comes Cavadinha as well as the the two Touriga varieties which were sourced from the Quinta da Telhada. Violets, tar and Turkish coffee notes mark the nose alongside shades of creme de cassis. The palate is heady and also very elegant with depth and concentration — and a finish that doesn’t want to quit. A total head-turner, this will easily live on for three decades to come. Drink 2035-2055- 97

2020 Warre’s Vintage Port- A stunning wine that has more than a decade to hit its stride, the mesmerizing 2020 Warre’s Vintage Port is composed of a field blend of vines ranging from 80-100 years of age coming from the Quinta da Cavadinha (53%) and Quinta do Retiro (47%) vineyards. The wine takes on mocha, tar and anise alongside creme de violette notes on the nose. The palate comes off as weightless and complex, with bright tension that runs through a hedonistic core of black and blue fruits, alongside Turkish coffee grounds and shades of creosote. Leaving no doubt of its full-throttle and brooding nature, this needs at least another decade to evolve in the cellar — but the potential absolutely is there. Drink 2038-2060- 98