Cockburn's Special Reserve port is created from a variety of high quality grapes, which are all hand picked by Cockburn's master pickers. Most the grapes are picked from Cockburn's own vineyard but a few are specially selected from neighbouring vineyards, all however are pricked from the spectacular upper Douro valley. The blend is made with four-fifths being from young youthful wines with the remainder from more mature wines which give the port roundness & a seductive, velvety feel. Aged for longer than other reserve ports in seasoned oak vats to achieve the perfect balance between vibrant youthful fruit & the smooth silky finish which the ageing in wood provides. In 2010 Cockburn's was taken over by the Symington family whose number one gold was to restore the Special Reserve to the premium leading port it used to be. Since the take over the Special Reserve has won a collection of prizes at all the major international wine competitions restoring its status as the benchmark for reserve port. The port is ready to drink & gentle filtration at the winery ensures that decanting is not necessary. Special Reserve is in its element served with rich dark chocolate desserts, fruit tats, berry or nutty puds & complements most cheeses incredibly well.