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Cockburn’s 2024 Vintage Port is the clearest statement yet of what this great name is capable of when everything comes together. Founded in 1815, Cockburn’s has been a cornerstone of the Port trade for over two centuries. But it is under Symington Family Estates ownership since 2010 that the house has genuinely found its feet again. This 2024 Vintage Port is characterised by Cockburn’s signature palate of red fruits combined with a structured grip leading to a long, drying finish.
This is an “En Primeur” offer or pre-order from Fareham Wine Cellar. The 2024 Vintage Ports will be shipped in Autumn 2026.
The 2024 is Cockburn’s first declaration since 2017. It is produced from a blend of 63% Touriga Nacional, 24% Touriga Franca, 9% Alicante Bouschet and 4% Sousão, matured for 18 months in oak vats.
The majority of the Touriga Nacional fruit, and some Sousão, comes from Quinta dos Canais in the warmer eastern Douro. The Touriga Nacional comes from some of the finest plots at Canais, known as the Bico de Pato (duck’s bill).
Touriga Franca and more Sousão grapes were sourced from Quinta do Vale Coelho, which has been part of Cockburn’s vintage Ports since the late 19th century, and some excellent quality Alicante Bouschet from Quinta do Cachão do Arnozelo near Canais.
Provenance: Quinta dos Canais, Quinta do Vale Coelho, Quinta do Cachão do Arnozelo
Grape Varieties: Touriga Nacional: 63%, Touriga Franca: 24%, Alicante Bouschet: 9%, Sousão: 4%
The Symington family have declared 2024 as a classic Vintage Port year, their first in seven years, and one that wine lovers have been quietly hoping for.
After a run of harvests defined by heat and unpredictability, the Douro returned in 2024 to something closer to its traditional self. Gradual ripening, cool nights and a well-timed harvest gave fourth-generation Head Winemaker Charles Symington and his team the raw material they needed to produce wines of real elegance and restraint, the kind that reward patience in the cellar as much as excitement at the table.
Seven Vintage Ports have been bottled from this exceptional year. The core declarations – Warre’s, Dow’s, Graham’s and Cockburn’s – are joined by the magnificent Quinta do Vesúvio, one of the Douro’s most celebrated single-quinta estates. Two rare micro-terroir expressions complete the collection: Graham’s The Stone Terraces and the ultra-limited Capela da Quinta do Vesúvio, both produced in tiny quantities from some of the Valley’s most remarkable vineyard sites. In addition to the family’s principal Vintage Ports, they have also released a small quantity of Smith Woodhouse and Quinta de Roriz 2024 Vintage Port.
Charles Symington, Head Winemaker and Joint Managing Director, commented, “The 2024 Vintage Ports whisper rather than shout. After years of heat-driven power, these wines are characterised by their precision: taut structures wrapped in pure, crystalline fruit. This is Douro elegance with backbone, and refinement with staying power. It was worth the wait.”
Appearance: Intense dark ruby with a deep purple core and a bright, youthful magenta rim.
Nose: Remarkably fresh, lifted, and aromatic. It opens with vibrant scents of wild rockrose, gum cistus, and fresh eucalyptus, layered over a core of bright red cherries, damsons, and a touch of white pepper.
Palate: Characteristically taut, muscular, and dry-edged. The palate delivers a high-toned punch of red currant and black plum fruit, underpinned by Cockburn’s legendary structural “grip.” A firm, fine-grained backbone of peppery tannins is balanced beautifully by a streak of bright, crunchy acidity.
Finish & Cellaring: Long, clean, and bracingly fresh. The finish is defined by a savory, dry persistence rather than heavy sweetness, showing great precision and lift. This is a classic, athletic Vintage Port that requires patience; it will need at least 15 years to soften and has the structural stamina to cellar for 40+ years.
2024 Vintage
93-95/100 – Luis Gutiérrez
97/100 – James Suckling
18/20 – Richard Mayson
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