Vintage Ports display a richness not found in any other wine, with the smooth, sweet, warming black and red fruit combining elegance with power. Just as with any wine there are differences in both quality and style between the various houses.

It is generally acknowledged that Dow is the firmest, driest style of Port, and Graham the sweetest. Warre sits stylistically between the two, while Taylor is probably the most elegant. Croft and Smith Woodhouse are slightly earlier maturing, while the excellent value Gould Campbell is more backward.

In the past decade there has been a distinct move towards producing an earlier drinking style of Vintage Port to meet the growing demand, of Port drinkers who do not wish to store their wines for decades before being able to enjoy them. What would once have been thought impossible, we are offering some of the less grand 1997 Ports which are already starting to drink very well.

Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in nonvintage Ports and the traditional LBV and Crusted styles, both of which eschew filtration and are full of flavour and character, and have, quite understandably, found a new popularity.