Simao & Co VP 2014

Shiraz, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Alicante Bouschet, Durif, Tinta Barocca, Touriga Nacional. After a few years in bottle this is integrated and really hitting its stride with the fruit and savoury characters melding into one another. Possesses a wealth of fruit: dark plum, red and black cherry, cherry ripe, fig, macerated berries…I could go on for hours. This rich fruit comes alongside all sorts of dried herbs and brown spices, cocoa powder and some lift from a few flowers that have been left in the vase a bit too long. The finish is super long courtesy of great acid freshness supporting the lingering fruit sweetness. Stunning wine that will only gain in complexity over the coming decades.- Rob McLean, FWC.

In the words of Simon Killeen: ‘6 varieties: Shiraz, Tempranillo, Alicante bouschet, Tinta Barocca, Touriga Nacional and Durif. Co-fermented, fully foot stomped, 100% stalks and 100% wild. Trying to make port with the power, depth and push that the great wines of the Douro have. This wine for me will forever be inspired by the great ports from 1966 and more recent vintages like 2007 and 2011. I make my port drier (refreshment, drinkability) and higher in alcohol (longevity and complexity). Bottled under both cork and screw cap because I like the aged characters under cork and I want to see what screw cap does to this style of wine. This is a wine/style that I will take on the aristocracy of fortifieds with.’ You could tuck into this, easy as you like. The alcohol is warming and clear, but it works in neatly, in the context of the style. Bitumen, dried herbs, red berries, both a sweetness and a sourness. Dark chocolate, melted, oozing, low in sweetness and high in cocoa. It’s ever so delicious, despite its seriousness. Rated: 93 Points. Drink: 2015 – 2028. - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front.