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Colheita Port

COLHEITA

These are probably the most appreciated Ports from our House. Colheita Ports are single year tawny Ports of a high quality level which have to be matured in wood for at least seven years. Normally they are bottled just before they leave our cellars, which may happen much later than the 7th year of age. For this reason, our Colheita Ports generally remain in wood for long or even very long periods, and acquire with time the characteristic mahogany colour of the old Tawnies, a fine and complex bouquet, a nutty character and a silky texture.

While remaining in the cask, they have to be regularly submitted to the reapproval of the Portwine Institute. On the other hand, after having been bottled their labels have to state the vintage and the year of bottling. The risk of throwing a sediment in the bottle is small, due to the long ageing in wood. Once the bottle has been opened, you have not to drink it out the same day – just stop it well, and leave it like that as long as you wish. A next time you open it, the fine aromas and flavours will still be there.

Take a Colheita Port after meal with creamy cheeses like Brie and Camembert from France or Serra from Portugal. Take it also with grilled chestnuts or crème brulé.

COLHEITA YEARS

Colheita 2007

Tasting Notes

Intense tawny-brown core with a broad brick coloured rim.  The harmonious and complex nose has a rich base of molasses and butterscotch aroma mingled with notes of plum and raisin, hints of black tea leaf and cigar box and fleeting floral scents.

The first impression on the palate is of smoothness and density but the wine develops an attractive lightness on the mid-palate with a lively acidity and juicy plum flavours. On the finish, a surge of opulent mellow flavour is balanced by an attractive dryness.  A beautifully balanced and seductive wine, at the perfect point of maturity.

Viticultural Year

The 2007 growing season is characterised by lower than average temperatures combined with several periods of rain during the spring and early summer. Unlike any of the previous four years, there was no significant heat wave during the summer months. The average July temperature was 1.7ºC lower than the 30 year average (1951-1980).

The picking started between the 20th and 25th September with perfect warm weather contributing to balanced fermentations which gave plenty of time to extract the entire colour and flavour from the skins, without reaching excessive temperatures.

24 hours of constant rain on the 2nd October changed the course of the harvest. Although the Ports produced after this date are still of good quality due to the fine weather from the 3rd October forward, they do not have the same depth and structure of those produced before the rain.

The 2007 Ports stand out for their intense structure and freshness of fruit, balanced with very good acidity levels. The way the spirit integrated almost immediately into the young Ports always characterises a good year.