Vintage Port is one of the world's most distinctive and ageworthy wines. Boasting a long history, the production of Port remains steeped in tradition today. Because of this stature, as well as the need to cellar Vintage Ports for two decades or more before they reach their peak, buying these consistently high quality wines requires a commitment on the part of the consumer-but one that is amply rewarded.
The release of the 2020 vintage, from a hot growing season marked by intense fruit and low yields, offers fans the chance to buy Vintage Ports that will mature a bit sooner than truly classic years such as 2017 and 2011. Though lacking a bit in terms of vibrancy and structure, the 2020s deliver a very hedonistic experience.
This is an ideal starter vintage for those looking to explore these unique wines, while loyal collectors will discover a few exceptional bottlings they'll want to add to their cellars.
Port wine comes from the Douro region of Portugal, upriver from the neighboring towns of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia where the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The oldest demarcated region in the world, dating to 1756, the Douro in many ways remains stuck in time. Temperature-controlled cellars and stainless steel vats didn't make inroads here until just more than a generation ago, and many wineries still work with old granite lagares for macerating the grapes and large used wooden casks for aging the wines.
Port is a fortified wine, born from the addition of a neutral grape brandy that is added very early in the fermentation, halting the process and locking in residual sugars. The timing and proportion of the brandy addition tends to be specific to each house, resulting in a range of styles, from full-on sweet to slightly drier, though all Ports are dessert wines and all check in around 20% ABV.
Vintage Ports from top years typically need three decades of bottle aging to show their best.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 28, 2023-Ausgabe von Wine Spectator.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 28, 2023-Ausgabe von Wine Spectator.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Drouhin Expands its Burgundy Acreage
Maison Joseph Drouhin has purchased two estates in Burgundy, totaling nearly 50 acres of vineyards: Château de Chasselas in St.-Véran and the Rapet estate in St.-Romain.
Gallo Buys Notable Pinot Noir Player
America's largest wine company continues to expand, particularly with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Brad Pitt and the Perrin Family Get in the Gin Game
After a decade of building the Côtes de Provence-based Miraval brand together, Brad Pitt and Famille Perrin have decided to partner in the spirits industry with Gardener gin.
Jack Daniel's, Bad Spaniels and the Supreme Court
\"This case is about dog toys and whiskey, two items seldom appearing in the same sentence.\"
THE MARTINELLI STORY
LOVE SONOMA PINOT NOIR AND ZINFANDEL? THANK THE HARD WORK OF FIVE GENERATIONS OF THIS CALIFORNIA GRAPE-GROWING FAMILY
Exploration Brings Rewards
Part of the beauty of wine is the opportunity to expand horizons. Often there's also a value element to less-known wines.
2020 Cabernet Intel: Spottswoode
The Napa winery was able to thread the needle, with most of its harvest already fermenting before the smoke rolled in.
Paneer: A Simple Recipe to Make at Home
There's a lot to like about paneer, the fresh cheese that's a major staple of Indian cuisine.
Scientists Identify Byzantine Era Grapes
Archaeologists digging in the Negev desert in southern Israel have uncovered evidence of a booming wine industry dating back more than 1,500 years.
Château Haut-Brion Owner Buys Significant Wine Book Collection
In April 2022, Sonomabased antiquarian bookseller Ben Kinmont oversaw the sale of the Thackrey Library, a valuable collection of more than 700 tomes and documents assembled by California winemaker Sean Thackrey.