Simply put, Cockburn's Vintage Port is the best of the best ÷ the best wine of one superior year blended from various vineyard sources. Aged two years in cask before bottling, vintage ports require at least 15 years of bottle aging.

Declaring a vintage is a weighty decision for port producers, as the company's reputation is largely determined by the quality and style of its vintage port (even though vintage declarations amount to only 1-3% of the total production in any year). Therefore, when Cockburn's declares a wine worthy of a vintage designation, the wine must be outstanding. Cockburn's has historically been more conservative than other port houses in declaring a vintage, choosing to declare only those years that best suit its elegant, less sweet style. Before declaring, Cockburn's blenders taste, categorize and identify those wines that might ultimately become a vintage blend. Only after this rigorous two-year selection process is a final decision made.

CURRENT VINTAGE:
2003 VINTAGE PORT

GRAPE SOURCE
Appellation: Porto / Douro Valley Region: Cima Corgo and Douro
Superior Estate/Quinta: Quinta dos Canais & Quinta do Atayde
Varietal Composition: - 60% Touriga Nacional, 40% Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Touriga Franca
Harvest Brix: 24º

WINEMAKER COMMENTS

Consistently hot and dry, with no surprises and an optimal level of rain during the different seasons of the year. The vines grew with a low but steady level of water, allowing them to classically develop. A fine picking season in September lead to a harvest with above average quantity and excellent quality, mainly due to the consistency of the weather.” He added, “It was a good year especially for Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional, allowing a strong maturation of these leading Douro varieties.”
-- Miguel Côrte-Real, Cockburn’s Viticultural & Commercial Director

“Our blenders have been tasting, categorizing and identifying the wines that might go into the final vintage blend for the best part of two years now. Only after the most rigorous selection was the final decision taken; it’s been a long, focused, process. This wine is intensely purple in color, with aromas of blackberries and mature plums; full and firm on palate, with a long fruity finish resonating with chocolate overtones. Try with a Stilton Blue and hazelnuts”
-- Jim Reader, Cockburn’s Head of Wine Making and General Manager

FERMENTATION:

Average Temperature: 75°F-82°F Lagares (foot treading): 100%

MATURATION:

Wood Type: Seasoned oak vats Barrel Size: 3960 gal. oak uprights (550 ltr)
Barrel Time: 2 years
Barrel Age: More than 50 yrs
Filtration: Unfiltered

WINE ANALYSIS:

acid: 0.31
pH: 3.74
Residual Sugar: 9.41%
Alcohol: 20%

IMPORTED U.S. CASES:

1,000 RELEASED: May 2005

• 2000 VINTAGE PORT
• 1997 VINTAGE PORT