Colheita Port

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.

Tasting Notes

Brick red colour. Rich nose of sultanas, dried apricot and lovely rich raspberry; mellow with a touch of spice. On the palate an explosion of butterscotch, hazelnut and macadamia nuts, with soft undertones of spice and cinnamon. Very balanced wine with a generous finish.

Viticultural Year

The winter preceding the 2005 harvest was extremely cold and dry leaving the reserves of water severely depleted after an already dry and hot 2004.
The growing season started later than usual as a result of the cold weather and the shortage of water. The whole growing season was marked by lower vigour and small berry size for all grape varieties.

From May 16th until 6th September there was no further rain. However, in spite of the extreme heat and drought like conditions, the ripening process continued normally, although at a slower pace than usual. Fortunately, the dry summer conditions were relieved by steady rainfall between 6th and 9th September, giving the vines the critical relief that they needed, enabling them to complete the ripening process and deliver a perfectly ripe and well balanced crop.

Tasting Notes

Youthful, medium brick red colour. Lots of young plummy, damson fruit aromas, as well as dried figs, raisins, sultanas and nuts on the nose. Wonderfully smooth on the palate, elegant and silky in texture with beautifully balanced acidity, more dried fruit, a touch of vanilla and spice notes of cinnamon and a touch of cardamom. Remarkable sophistication and flavour, very expressive and great freshness. A long intense finish.

Viticultural Year

The 2003/2004 winter was very dry, having only rained 1/3 of the quantity registered the previous winter. The lack of water during the early part of the growing season led to very little pressure from disease. Our concern in July was mainly one of doubting the vines capacity to ripen the grapes due to the drastic shortage of water.

The vintage stood out for the perfect weather conditions for the whole period. The young Ports show good structure with very fresh berry fruit aromas, resulting from the cooler than normal ripening period.

SILVER MEDAL – Sommelier Wine Awards 2018

Tasting Notes

Deep red colour with an outer red-brown rim showing some maturity. Racy, powerful aroma. Smooth in the mouth, lively, full-bodied, with a pleasant and long finish.

Viticultural Year

Very wet winter and spring were followed by a warm weather, specially in August when temperatures reached unusual levels. Harvest began in the first half of September, with the grapes showing a healthy state, high concentration and sweetness but a relatively low acidity. Yield was average; the quality was very satisfactory and, in some cases, excellent.

Tasting Notes

Ripened fruit, caramel, mocha and raisins. The taste is an explosion of plums, nuts, spices and vanilla, with a nice sweet finish. Long and full.

Viticultural Year

The 2001-2002 Viticultural year was one of the driest years on record. During the winter almost no rain fell. Besides the dry winter, the temperature was extremely cold, with the Pinhão river at Cruzeiro completely freezing over at Christmas.

Just when we were waiting for the last ripening of the grapes to occur in early September, between the 15th and 22nd, we received 70mm (4.3 Inches) of rain across the Douro. If it had not been for the perfect health of the grapes this season, the effect would have been much more damaging.

The vintage started on our Quintas from the 23rd September, and clear hot weather resulted in very good Ports being made during the two weeks until the rains returned at the beginning of October

Viticultural Year

Very rainy Winter and good flowering conditions in May. A very hot weather in June was followed by unusually variable temperatures in July and August together with a significant and useful amount of rain. By the end of August the weather became dry and remained sunny, giving origin to a healthy and ripe crop.

Tasting Notes

Medium Tawny colour with a red-yellow rim. Powerful aroma of distinguished quality. Full, developed, elegant, long finish

Viticultural Year

Unfavourable weather conditions in May caused a scarce flowering and a low yield. Temperatures were high until harvest, but in August there was some rain. Maturation was excellent, the grapes showed a healthy state and weather was ideal for picking and vinifying.

SILVER MEDAL (Sommelier Wine Awards 2011, UK)
BRONZE MEDAL (Decanter World Wine Awards 2011, UK)
BRONZE MEDAL (International Wine Challenge 2011, UK)

Tasting Notes

Good depth of colour shading off gradually to an amber-red rim. Intense aroma showing some maturity. Lively and full in the mouth with a fine, medium-long finish.

Viticultural Year

Dry Winter and Spring with temperatures above average. Some rain fell in August and September, which helped the maturation process.

Tasting Notes

Slightly reddish colour. Powerful aromas of barley and endive, coffee with milk and spices. In the mouth the wine seems more tenous, somehow subdued and neutral. Subtle toasted notes on the finish.

Viticultural Year

Mild winter with enough rain. Temperatures in spring were in general below the average. Humidity was high, and flowering was rather irregular. Summer was dry and hot. Harvest began by mid-September and resulted in a small production.

Tasting Notes

Medium tawny colour typical of a still youthful wood-aged Port. Powerful, distinguished aroma showing a certain complexity. Balanced acidity, round, good length.

Viticultural Year

A very good year for Port. Dry and moderate winter. Lots of rain in May and June, which affected flowering. Harvest was done under normal weather for that period. Average yield of a superior quality.

BEST IN TEST (Världens Viner Awards, Älta, Sweden) 

SILVER MEDAL (Sommelier Wine Awards 2012, UK).

Tasting Notes

Lovely rich tawny colour, with notes of caramel and toffee scent. A touch of chocolate covered raisins and almonds, balance off the delicious intricate flavours. Smooth, elegante finish.

Viticultural Year

The viticulutural season began with a very wet winter. January and February were colder than normal resulting in a late bud burst. Cool, wet conditions continued until just prior to flowering on 25th May. Flowering took place in hot weather and, when combined with the large number of inflorescences at bud burst, resulted in the largest potential yields since 1900.

There was a considerable amount of rainfall in September which caused many people to start picking. However, strong winds and hot weather, between the 27-30th followed which dried out the bunches and allowed the grapes to ripen fully. This was reflected in a marked improvement in all ports produced from 29th September onwards.

Tasting Notes

Tawny colour. Fine, intense aroma. Smooth and full in the mouth. Harmonious with a good finish.

Viticultural Year

Winter was not very rainy and temperatures were above average. Early, homogeneous flowering. Early harvest, with some rain at the beginning of September.

SILVER MEDAL (Sélections Mondiales des Vins 2004, Montreal, Canada).

Tasting Notes

Deep red/tawny colour. Good structure. Nice nose which will get more complexity with time. Long aftertaste.

Viticultural Year

A classic year for Port. Irregular autumn and winter rains replenished the soil’s water supply. Ideal conditions for a slow and regular ripening of the grapes gave origin to concentrated wines, with high sugar and alcohol degrees and a balanced acidity.

SILVER MEDAL (Challenge International du Vin 2003, Bourg, France)

Tasting Notes

Light tawny colour. Very soft and complex, with a nutty character and a delicious freshness.Very long finish.

Viticultural Year

Dry hot summer. A light rain at the beginning of September was extremely welcome. Perfect weather conditions during harvest. GOLD MEDAL (Challenge International du Vin 2009, Bourg, France).

SILVER MEDAL (The Spiegelau International Wine Competition 2011, New Zealand)

Tasting Notes

Typical tawny colour of an old, wood-aged Port. Powerful, fine aroma showing complexity. Smooth, full and fresh. Long finish.

Viticultural Year

Dry winter and spring. Very hot and dry summer. Harvest began in the first days of September and had to be interrupted due to a heavy rainfall in the third week. Some very fine and fruity wines have been produced.

Gold Medal (Monde Sélection 2008, Bruxelles)
Gold Medal (Vuoden Viinit 2008, Helsinki)
Grand Or Medal (Sélections Mondiales des Vins, Canada, 2008).

Viticultural Year

A dry winter was followed by a rainy spring with a scarce flowering. Temperatures were low until September, but then weather became hot. Harvest was late and the grapes showed a perfect state.

GRAND GOLD MEDAL (Monde Selection 2008, Bruxelles)
GOLD MEDAL (Challenge International du Vin 2011, Bourg, France)
GOLD MEDAL (Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada 2011, Québec)

Tasting Notes

The 1982 is a stunning and impressive over 30 yo wine, framed with complex notes of dried fruits, herbs, candied sugar and citrus. Powerful, with a long aftertaste, it is a very elegant wine, one of the greatest from the 80s.

Viticultural Year

Very dry year. Cold winter, fine weather conditions for the flowering and a very warm summer. Harvest started rather early, showing a small, but good quality production.

GOLD MEDAL (Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada 2007, Quebec)
BEST OF THE WINE REGION 2007 (Revista de Vinhos, Portugal, Feb 2008)
GOLD MEDAL (International Wine Challenge 2012, UK)

Viticultural Year

Unfavourable weather conditions, with a cold late spring damaging the flowering and a hot, dry summer affecting maturation. At the beginning of September a most welcome rain improved considerably the general situation, and finally the harvest was done under a dry weather. Very small production.

GOLD MEDAL (Sélections Mondiales des Vins, Canada 2007, Quebec)
SILVER MEDAL (Winemasters Challenge 2007, Portugal)
GOLD MEDAL (Vuoden Viinit 2008, Helsinki)
SILVER MEDAL (International Wine Challenge 2009, UK)

Tasting Notes

Typical colour of an old, wood-aged Port: tawny-red in centre, increasing in paleness from centre to rim and ending in an amber rim. Developed aroma reminding burnt caramel and dried fruit, full of complexity, lively. Long finish.

Viticultural Year

Extremely dry year with a very hot summer. Only a small amount of rain fell late August. Healthy and fully ripe grapes. Very low production.

GOLD MEDAL (Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada 2012, Québec)

Tasting Notes

Very fine, complex aroma. Dried fruits combined with a pleasant freshness.
Fleshy in the mouth. Very long, elegant finish

Viticultural Year

Dry and warm winter and then some rain in the early spring. June was exceptionally hot, and the dryness affected many vineyards in the Douro Region. Harvest started by the end of September, under a sunny weather with cool nights, which was perfect for the grapes and the vinification.

TROPHÉE (Vinalies Internationales 2009, Paris, France)

SILVER MEDAL (Decanter World Wine Awards 2009, UK)

Tasting Notes

Typical tawny colour – the amber rim gradually turns mahogany towards the “eye”. Remarkable intensity of colour considering the age of this Port. Very powerful, complex and racy aroma. Very lively (acidity), nutty character. Has something in common with an old cognac. Long, long finish

Viticultural Year

Extremely cold winter, late and scarce flowering. Hot summer, but good weather conditions for the picking.

GOLD MEDAL (Sélections Mondiales des Vins 2004, Montréal, Canada)
GOLD MEDAL (International Wine Challenge 2005, London)
GOLD MEDAL (Challenge International du Vin 2010, Bourg, France)

Viticultural Year

Outstanding year for Port. A normal winter followed by a dry period from April to September. A small quantity of rain fell late September. Small production of very sweet wines full of tannins.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 2006 (Revista dos Vinhos, Portugal, Feb 2007)
GOLD MEDAL (Vinalies Internationales 2011, Paris, France)

Viticultural Year

A rather dry year, and just before the harvest the grapes in general had not yet reached the normal degree of maturity. Then the rain came, and the grapes gradually showed a bigger maturity. A period without rain and with a colder weather followed, which was most favourable for the fermentation process. Finally, a second wave of very heavy rain arrived and the weather got warmer. As a result of this, the wines reflected the conditions under which they were produced, the best ones having been produced in the absence of rain and under the colder weather.

“Top of the WINE Tasting” – Wine, November 1998

Bronze Medal – International Wine Challenge, 1999

Certificate of Excellence – The Institute of Masters of Wine, 1994

Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge, London, 2001

Tasting Notes
Old-gold colour beautifully graduated to a pale yellow at rim. Slight tears after the glass has been swirled denote viscosity and richness. Powerful, distinguished aroma with a complex character. Velvety and lively in the mouth. Good balance sweetness/tannins. Long finish.

Viticultural Year

In spite of the weather conditions, which were not ideal for the production of Port, some nice, light wines have been produced.

BEST OF THE WINE REGION 2006 (Revista dos Vinhos, Portugal, Feb 2007)

SILVER MEDAL (Decanter World Wine Awards 2007)

Viticultural Year

Very dry and hot weather, giving origin to a small production of very ripe, sweet wines full of fruit and tannin.

SILVER MEDAL (International Wine Challenge 2007)

SILVER MEDAL (Decanter World Wine Awards 2006)

CERTIFICATE of EXCELLENCE (Revista Néctar, Jan 2006)

SILVER MEDAL (Vinalies Internationales 2010, Paris)

SILVER MEDAL (Monde Sélection 2011, Bruxelles)