Dalva Vintage 2016

92 points Decanter
Rich red berry fruit and savoury, almost leathery, coffee-edged fruit aromas. Full and brooding, with spiky spirit and multi-layered complexity.

91 points Robert Parker
The 2016 Vintage Port Dalva is a field blend coming in with 100 grams of residual sugar. Bottled a couple of months before tasting, this will be released in October 2018. This is one of three 2016 submissions from this producer (including the Gran Cruz and the Ventozelo). I liked the flavor profile here best of the three, but the Ventozelo, admittedly, is even more precise and a little more concentrated. It is an interesting comparison with those two, but this certainly has far more lifted fruit than the Gran Cruz. This Dalva is far more precise, giving it a more sophisticated feel. Adding a long, dry and flavorful finish, this has upside potential too. At the moment, they are very close, but they will separate in time. This might be the winner over the decades. Finally, in comparison to last year's vintage, the winemaker preferred the 2015; I think it is about equal. Over time, they will both wind up in about the same place. It will take some cellaring and development to make fine distinctions and make them stick over the long haul. It's a nice effort and a nice price.

90 points IWSC
black fruit and Christmas spice. Fresh finish and lighter style.

91 points Wine Enthusiast
This is an intensely floral wine with bright fruit and fully integrated tannins. It is in a style that brings out acidity and ripe black fruits. With all this fruitiness it will develop quickly. Drink from 2025.