2015 Cockburn

Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
Forum rules
Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
Post Reply
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14879
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

2015 Cockburn

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I had the opportunity to spend an extended period of time tasting a bottle of Cockburn 2015. My overall opinion on this port is that it is pleasant and elegant but a little simple to be a great port. The fruit is round and gentle, the tannins so soft and hidden as to be only discernible on the aftertaste, and the wine is dominated by the acidity. The acidity - which is very pronounced - will likely give the port the ability to age for many decades, but my opinion is that this will be a gentle and elegant style of port rather than a big and burly wine. 87-89/100. Tasted between 7 and 13 Oct 2017.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
RonnieRoots
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1981
Joined: 08:28 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: Middle Earth

Re: 2015 Cockburn

Post by RonnieRoots »

AHB wrote: 09:39 Sun 15 Oct 2017 this will be a gentle and elegant style of port rather than a big and burly wine.
So in that sense very much a classic Cockburn VP?
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14879
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 2015 Cockburn

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

True, but I was a little underwhelmed by it. Usually I find more structure in a youthful VP, but this seemed elegant almost to the point of being light.

I wonder what the 1975 ports where like when they were first bottled? I didn't taste them, but I wondered whether they were like this. And don't get me wrong, I've grown to like the 1975 vintage ports. They are gentle and delicious and I am really enjoying drinking them at the moment.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
RonnieRoots
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1981
Joined: 08:28 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: Middle Earth

Re: 2015 Cockburn

Post by RonnieRoots »

Ah ok, that makes sense.

Growing fond of 1975?? What has become of the world!? :wink:
Would 1967 also be a good comparison? An elegant Cockburn that I always liked a lot.
Andy Velebil
Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
Posts: 3028
Joined: 22:16 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Los Angeles, Ca USA
Contact:

Re: 2015 Cockburn

Post by Andy Velebil »

It's pretty well known the Cockburn's facilities were in pretty poor shape when the Sym's took them over. I don't think they've totally revamped everything there yet. I'd imagine it's gonna take a bit more time to get everything back up to tip top shape and return it to the former glory it once was. No small task that's for sure. They've made good strides already with the lower and mid tier Ports and really cleaned up the VP as well... (and a really good and super inexpensive Cockburn's Douro wine called "Tuella" we get at Trader Joe's markets).
Post Reply