2024 Vintage Port: Symington Family Estates
After a substantial seven-year hiatus since the last major Vintage Port declaration, the anticipation surrounding the 2024 Vintage Port from Symington Family Estates has reached a peak. Richard Mayson delves into this much-anticipated release, highlighting the distinctive qualities of the wines offered by Symington.
This latest declaration showcases several years marked by climatic extremes, with notable variations in temperature and rain, particularly during the 2018, 2020, and 2022 seasons, contrasting with cooler and more variable conditions in 2019 and 2021. The year 2023 initially appeared promising until an unexpected deluge impacted the harvest. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 made traditional grape processing methods, like foot-treading in lagar, challenging.
The 2024 vintage, however, is remarkable for its ordinary yet favorable conditions. Charles Symington, a veteran in the winemaking profession, describes the 2024 season as embodying "a classic, old-style year." The vintage benefitted from an exceptionally wet winter that kept vineyard soils saturated leading into spring and summer. Budburst, flowering, and pintor (the moment grapes change color) occurred during typically expected timelines. Although July experienced some warmth, the growing season remained relatively moderate without extreme heat spikes affecting grape quality.
Harvesting began early September with the highly regarded Sousão grape variety, noted for its vibrancy and acidity. By mid-September, conditions were ideal for vintage production to commence, contributing to balanced yield levels around the 13% to 14% Baumé mark, particularly for the key grape varieties Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca.
Reflecting on the outcome, Charles Symington noted that the 2024 Vintage Ports exhibit precision and elegance, with structures that are "taut and wrapped in pure, crystalline fruit." Unlike previous warm years producing robust wines, the 2024 offerings will exhibit a refined balance, despite maintaining the longevity characteristically associated with classic vintages.
The family’s vineyards have significantly expanded since Symington began his winemaking journey over 30 years ago, with full control over the production from their own grapes. The advancements in vineyard practices have led to a marked improvement in balance and acidity levels in the wines. For instance, the inclusion of grapes like Alicante Bouschet and Sousão serves to create acidic structures and add depth, further enhancing the 2024 blends.
In March 2026, prior to the formal declaration on April 14, a lineup of nine 2024 Vintage Port wines was previewed, structured in a manner varying from Baroque to Brutalist. Below are key notes on these emerging wines:
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2024 Warre’s: A blend showcasing elegance with firm yet spicy tannins and a linear finish. | 96
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2024 Dow’s: Characterized by its depth and expressiveness, this classic vintage exhibits beautiful balance. | 97
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2024 Graham’s: A rich blend delivering a long, structured finish with a dusty, earthy palette. | 98
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2024 Graham’s The Stone Terraces: Notable for its exotic fruit ripeness with tremendous finish. | 99
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2024 Quinta do Roriz: Displays rich, accessible aromas but is comparatively simpler and shorter. | 91
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2024 Smith Woodhouse: Offers plush fruit and polished structure, still needing some smooth out over time. | 89+?
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2024 Cockburn’s: A smooth, gentle opening on the palate with a core of dark chocolate concentration. | 94
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2024 Quinta do Vesúvio: Exemplifies freshness and purity, creating a lovely definition. | 96
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2024 Capela da Quinta do Vesúvio: Dense and aromatic, showing great finesse and refinement. | 98
For wine enthusiasts and collectors, the 2024 Vintage Ports from Symington Family Estates represent a significant moment—reflecting a decade’s worth of skill and adaptation in winemaking following considerable climatic changes.