Cockburns
Cockburn’s was founded in 1815 by the Scottish brothers Robert and John Cockburn. Guided by Robert Cockburn’s conviction that “the quality of the wine – that is the first thing to be looked to”, Cockburn’s was also influenced by the personalities of the great individuals and families who over the centuries joined its ranks.
When purchased in 1962 by a multinational corporation, the quality of the wine began to wane, and although Cockburn’s Vintage Ports had once demanded the highest price of all Ports, one hundred years later their reputation had slipped. Following the Symington’s acquisition of Cockburn’s in 2010, and the company’s return to family ownership, 48 years of corporate decision making was revised, and the focus was returned to one thing: the quality of the wine.
Cockburn’s Special Reserve
Cockburn’s Special Reserve was originally introduced in 1969 and created an entirely new Port category that was fundamental to the success of Port and the Douro over the following decades. Cockburn’s Special Reserve is an exceptionally fine wine selected for its richness and concentration, from the finest vineyards in the Upper Douro and matured in oak casks for five years. This longer wood ageing gives its fruity and full-bodied palate a distinctive dry finish, making it the benchmark for all Reserve Ports.
A garnet red colour. Cockburn’s Special Reserve has a youthful nose packed with rich and concentrated red fruit aromas, predominantly red cherry with hints of plum and strawberry. On the palate it's sweet, well rounded, medium length and with luscious red berry flavours leading to a distinctive peppery finish.
Special Reserve is perfect served at the end of a meal, with rich, nutty or chocolate desserts, a cheese platter or simply on its own. Although usually served at room temperature, Reserve Ports are equally delicious when served lightly chilled. It does not need to be decanted and should be consumed within four weeks of opening.
Cockburn’s 20 Years Old Tawny
Twenty Year Old tawnies are made from wines of the very highest quality, blended and subsequently aged in oak cask for an average of twenty years, until they strike the correct balance between the delicacy and elegance that come from prolonged cask-ageing, and the rich fruit character that lends these old tawnies their structure, freshness and longevity. Cockburn’s 20 Year Old Tawny is pale, complex and delicate with hints of cedar and crystallised fruits. Perfect served lightly chilled to enjoy with good friends.
Cockburn’s 20 Year Old Tawny has a lovely bright amber tawny colour. On the nose with an amazingly delicate and complex bouquet of fruitcake, honey and nuts combined with notes of orange peel. On the palate smooth and polished, wonderfully balanced, with rich and warm nutty flavours leading to a long and lingering finish.
Cockburn’s 20 Year Old pairs extremely well with nuts, dried fruits and fruitcake, but is also
delicious with vanilla ice cream or crème brûlée. Serve lightly chilled to enjoy at its finest.
Cockburn’s 10 Years Old Tawny
Ten-Year-Old tawnies are blends of wines of the highest quality that have spent an average of ten years ageing in oak casks, until they reach the perfect level of maturity. They are, then, bottled ready to be enjoyed.
Cockburn’s 10 Year Old Tawny has a bright tawny red colour. On the nose lively candied fruit aromas, combine with toffee, caramel, and honey. On the palate beautifully rounded, with delicious mature dried fruits and hints of walnuts and almonds, exquisitely mellow and a
long luscious finish.
Cockburn’s 10 Year Old Tawny is a perfect match to sweet pastries, such as apple pie with cinnamon. An excellent alternative to Vintage Port to enjoy with good friends on informal relaxed occasions. Will keep for some weeks after opening. Serve lightly chilled to enjoy at its finest.
Cockburn’s Fine White
Cockburn’s Fine White is a blend of young wines from high altitude vineyards that has been matured in stainless steel for up to 18 months to accentuate its freshness.
Cockburn’s Fine White is a delicate golden colour with crisp, flowery aromas and hints of
almond.
Cockburn’s Fine White is perfect for mixing. Served in a large glass over ice with tonic water, a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint, it makes the perfect Port and Tonic, but it can also be served chilled on its own. It does not need to be decanted and should be consumed within four weeks of opening.
Cockburn’s Fine Tawny
Cockburn’s Fine Tawny is a blend of young, vibrant wines from different harvests aged for an average of two to three years in casks before being blended and bottled ready to enjoy. They are lighter in colour than Ruby Ports and combine the fruitiness of young wines and the nuttiness derived from the maturation in seasoned oak casks.
A bright reddish tawny colour. On the nose Cockburn’s Fine Tawny has light and crisp fruit aromas balanced with a nutty toffee mellowness achieved through its maturation in oak casks. On the palate it’s elegant and well balanced, with a smooth and subtle long finish.
Cockburn’s Fine Tawny is the perfect accompaniment to rich creamy desserts and dried fruits but is also wonderful enjoyed on its own or as part of a long drink. It does not need to be decanted and should be consumed within four weeks of opening. Serve slightly chilled.
Cockburn’s 2015 Late Bottle Vintage
Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Ports are wines of a single very good year that age in large oak vats between four and six years, until they reach an ideal level of maturity. LBVs are then bottled, ready to be enjoyed without the need for decanting as the natural sediment is left behind in the vat. They are rich, full-bodied wines with a smooth texture, mellowed over time by the wood ageing.
This Late Bottled Vintage Port is sourced from the same vineyards that produce Cockburn’s famed Vintage Ports, namely the company’s own Quinta dos Canais and Quinta do Vale Coelho properties, both located in the remote Douro Superior subregion.
Deep crimson centre with an intense garnet rim. The very high quality of both the Touriga Franca and the Touriga Nacional in 2015 sings through the attractive floral aromas, where a rock rose fragrance is particularly evident. The wine is simultaneously full and smooth on the palate, with typical red fruit flavours ranging from raspberry and strawberry to red cherry. There is a fine, peppery spice element on the finish, which shows Cockburn’s trademark grip.
This wine is fully mature and ready for pouring as it has been bottled free of sediment. Late Bottled Vintages, as the term implies, are bottled later than classic Vintage Ports (the latter after two years). Cockburn’s Late Bottled Vintage can be enjoyed anytime and pairs wonderfully
with dark chocolate desserts as well as semi-cured and cured cheeses like Cheddar and Manchego. In warm weather, try serving the wine lightly chilled, this will enhance the aromas and flavours. Once open, the wine will keep in good condition for several weeks.
Cockburn’s 2018 Late Bottle Vintage
Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Ports are wines of a single very good year that age in large oak vats between four and six years, until they reach an ideal level of maturity. LBVs are then bottled, ready to be enjoyed without the need for decanting as the natural sediment is left behind in the vat. They are rich, full-bodied wines with a smooth texture, mellowed over time by the wood ageing.
This Late Bottled Vintage Port is sourced from the same vineyards that produce Cockburn’s famed Vintage Ports, namely the company’s own Quinta dos Canais and Quinta do Vale Coelho properties, both located in the remote Douro Superior subregion.
Deep crimson centre with an intense garnet rim. The very high quality of both the Touriga Franca and the Touriga Nacional in 2015 sings through the attractive floral aromas, where a rock rose fragrance is particularly evident. The wine is simultaneously full and smooth on the palate, with typical red fruit flavours ranging from raspberry and strawberry to red cherry. There is a fine, peppery spice element on the finish, which shows Cockburn’s trademark grip.
This wine is fully mature and ready for pouring as it has been bottled free of sediment. Late Bottled Vintages, as the term implies, are bottled later than classic Vintage Ports (the latter after two years). Cockburn’s Late Bottled Vintage can be enjoyed anytime and pairs wonderfully
with dark chocolate desserts as well as semi-cured and cured cheeses like Cheddar and Manchego. In warm weather, try serving the wine lightly chilled, this will enhance the aromas and flavours. Once open, the wine will keep in good condition for several weeks.
Cockburn’s Fine Ruby
Cockburn’s Fine Ruby is a blend of young, vibrant wines from different harvests aged for an average of two to three years in oak vats before being blended and bottled ready to enjoy. Full-bodied, with ripe red-fruit flavours and balanced with a fine structure.
A lively light ruby colour. On the nose Cockburn’s Fine Ruby show’s fresh and appealing red fruit aromas such as red cherry and raspberry. On the palate it’s well balanced, with soft fruity flavours that lead to a long elegant finish.
Cockburn’s Fine Ruby is the perfect accompaniment to cheese and rich chocolate desserts but is also wonderful enjoyed on its own or as part of a long drink. It does not need to be decanted and should be consumed within four weeks of opening. Serve slightly chilled in hot weather.