Very complex with dried flowers and roses. Full-bodied, very layered and tightly wound. Chewy and powerful. Firm and off-dry. Needs five or six years to soften. Beauty. Try in 2024.
The fruit on the nose is aromatic, fragrant woodland violets, spicy the palate has a mix of black and red fruits the sweetness of redcurrant jelly and ripe damsons. The tannins are fine well integrated the mid palate has generosity the back palate is peppery, herbal an attractive savoury quality the finish is vibrant poised elegant. 2035-60
A deep purple colour with a floral, spicy nose of violets, cinnamon and all spice. The palate is supple and smooth with relatively forward fruit and integrated tannins suggesting that this could be opened before some other declared 2016s. Peppery, herbal, savoury complexity adds to the intrigue, with the high-toned fruit and silky texture leaving a clean, vibrant finish of elegance and finesse.
Not quite as deep-coloured as Dow and Graham but almost! Very dark blackish crimson. Strongly aromatic with balsam notes. Smells as though this would be just the job with roast lamb somehow – in the same way as a redcurrant jelly. The acidity seems more marked than its grand stablemates Dow and Graham. Racy and sinewy.
Drink 2035-2060
Sophisticated and intellectually challenging, this is a very detailed wine and yet is does not jump out of the glass, preferring you to search for its flavours. While many 2016s show up-front appeal, the main thrust of the flavour in Warre’s is pushed back on the palate and this is a great sign for long-term ageing.
Nearly 50% from old mixed vines from Quinta da Cavadinha in the Pinhão Valley and Quinta do Retiro in the Torto supplemented by Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca from Quinta da Telhada in the Douro Superior: open, pure, floral aromas (violets), totally charming at this stage, with lovely supple, seamless fruit, fresh and lithe with fine grained tannins building in the mouth. Beautiful wine with real poise and length. 4,250 cases produced. 18.5/20