Cockburn’s Special Reserve is the world’s most popular premium port. Special Reserve is a medium dark ruby color, with a deep garnet edge. The blend has a clean aroma, showing maturity and finesse, with a hint of dried plums. Off dry to medium sweet, Special Reserve has a rich, mellow texture and smooth tannin structure, with a long, satisfying finish. The classic way to serve Special Reserve is with aged Stilton cheese after dinner. Or enjoy with roasted almonds or walnuts and squares of rich, dark chocolate for a simple but elegant dessert.

Rating

Ultimate Beverage Challenge 85 points (May 2012) Cooked red plums soaked in honey and speckled with lemon zest come to mind when tasting this appealing and fresh dessert wine. Pleasing acidity makes this a great meal ender.

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Special Reserve is a "vintage character" port, intended to reflect a shipper’s Vintage Port style. Vintage Character ports are matured before release and ready to enjoy when bottled, without the need for decanting. These offer the taste of a vintage port with about 5 years of bottle age. Vintage character ports are a blend of fine ruby ports from various years and vineyards, aged in large vats to retain their ruby red color and bottled ready to drink after filtration. Cockburn’s focuses much of its expertise on maintaining the quality of Special Reserve. Special Reserve fruit is picked at the peak of ripeness from single varietal vineyards in the finest vineyard areas. Slightly longer fermentation produces a less sweet finish, highlighting fruit and tannin structure, known as "grip." A higher percentage of older wines in the Special Reserve blend creates a complex, layered wine that is the Cockburn’s signature style. Only the five best port grapes are used in Special Reserve: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tintã Cão, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca.