Established by Charles Skeffington in the late 19th century, Skeffington is a Port house that doesn't have the same brand recognition as many of its contemporaries but creates Ports rich in fruit that are refined, smooth and approachable. The house doesn't have its own vineyards, instead relying on its extensive and long-held relationships with growers to provide exceptional grapes that are vinified and matured at the Skeffington lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Skeffington Vintage Port 2016
20% abv
A fabulous value vintage port made by the Fladgate Partnership (Owners of Taylors and Fonseca) from the outstanding 2016 vintage.
Intense purple ruby core with vivid purple rim. The nose displays vibrant red fruit, with crisp aromas of cranberry, cherry and lively notes of apricot. Behind this first wave of fresh fruit, are spicy aromas of cardamom and black pepper, warm notes of mocha and scents of eucalyptus. In contrast, the palate opens with a surge of dense, mouth filling tannins providing wonderful body and structure to the wine. This is followed by rich woodland fruit that continues through to the long finish. A beautifully toned wine of impressive structure.
The 2016 Skeffington has a very pure bouquet with scents of macerated dark cherries, kirsch, marmalade and iodine and a lush, open personality that unfolds nicely with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a soft-textured entry. It is very pure, forward and welcoming even at this nascent stage, with a nutty seam underlying the sweet black currant and dark plum fruit. The 2016 Skeffington has a pleasant symmetry towards the raisin-infused finish.
This oft-overlooked Vintage Port is well worth checking out as a more affordable alternative to Fonseca or Taylor’s.
- Reference #:
- 10859
- Strength
- 20 ABV
- Bottles per Case
- 6 bottles
- Organic
- No
- Biodynamic
- No
- Vegan
- No
- Vegetarian
- No
- Sparkling
- No