Wines and Beyond

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Graham's from Portugal. W. & J. Graham's Classic Vintage Ports are produced in years when the harvest and the resulting wines are found to be exceptional. This occurs, on average, about 3 times per decade. After aging for 18 months in cask, the best wines of some the finest Quintas in the Douro, especially Graham's Quinta dos Malvedos, are blended to produce a rich, exquisite wine. Violets, roses, spices, and candied dark fruits emanate from the glass of the murky black/purple colored 2003 Graham Vintage Port. After four days of air, this wine's aromatics sweetened further, displaying jammy blackberry and blueberry scents. Bold, full-bodied, and expansive, the Graham benefited the most from extensive contact with air of all the 2003s tasted for this report. This opulently jammy wine assaults the palate with powerful yet soft layers of oily, candied red fruits as well as notes of tar and hints of mocha. A highly concentrated effort, it is creamy textured, suave, and reveals an admirably long finish filled with additional layers of dark fruits intermingled with spices. Projected maturity: 2030-2055. -Wine Advocate

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Quinta do Noval from Portugal. What a nose. Ripe fruit, with chocolate, blackberries and raisins. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with velvety tannins. Finish goes on and on. Layered and wonderful. Best after 2014. -Wine Spectator

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Dow's from Portugal. Very dark opaque purple colour, with a typically spicy nose and intense underlying aromas of blackberries and blackcurrants. On the palate enormous weight and structure with a marvellous balance of dense black fruit flavours and firm tannins.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Dow's from Portugal. Only produced or 'declared' in years of exceptional quality and represent a very small percentage (2 - 3%) of total Port production. The backbone of Dow's Vintage Ports are drawn from the companies' finest vineyards, Quinta do Bomfim and Senhora da Riberia. Each property contributing to the wines unique character and class. Aged in wood for approximately 2 years and bottled unfiltered, Dow Vintage Ports are considered to be amongst the finest Vintage Ports produced. These fine wines can be enjoyed young and vibrant or allowed to aged for many years in bottle, developing their very own style, very different from all wood aged Ports. 2003 follows the traditional Dow's Vintage Port style; drier than the other leading houses while retaining the traditional richness that is characteristic of all great Vintage Port. A wine with immense power and structure.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Cockburn from Portugal. Consistently hot and dry, with no surprises and an optimal level of rain during the different seasons of the year. The vines grew with a low but steady level of water, allowing them to classically develop. A fine picking season in September lead to a harvest with above average quantity and excellent quality, mainly due to the consistency of the weather. He added, It was a good year especially for Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional, allowing a strong maturation of these leading Douro varieties. -- Miguel Corte-Real, Cockburn's Viticultural & Commercial Director Our blenders have been tasting, categorizing and identifying the wines that might go into the final vintage blend for the best part of two years now. Only after the most rigorous selection was the final decision taken; it's been a long, focused, process. This wine is intensely purple in color, with aromas of blackberries and mature plums; full and firm on palate, with a long fruity finish resonating with chocolate overtones. Try with a Stilton Blue and hazelnuts -- Jim Reader, Cockburn's Head of Wine Making and General Manager

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Broadbent from Portugal. A balanced, silky red with serious grip. Full-bodied and chewy yet refined, with excellent fruit and a sweet finish. This is a Vintage Port made for importer Bart Broadbent by Niepoort. Always good stuff. -Wine Spectator

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Croft from Portugal. The 2003 Croft Vintage Port reveals an opaque, black-colored core with notes of dark ruby on the rim. Its gorgeously creamy, profound nose displays sweet dark cherries, black plums, pepper, raisin jam, and blueberries. Thick, satin-textured, and immensely rich, this opulent yet elegant wine is engagingly warm, concentrated, and harmonious. Copious quantities of plums, black cherries, jammy blackberries and spices are found throughout its personality as well as in its prolonged, spirit-tinged, finish. Projected maturity: 2020-2045. -Wine Advocate This is incredible on the nose and palate. It shows masses of wild black fruits with an almost exotic undertone. Full-bodied, medium-sweet and supervelvety. It goes on and on. No doubt one of the best of the vintage. Great Croft here; its single quinta Roeda must have delivered in 2003. This could be the best Port from here since 1945. Score range: 95-100 -Wine Spectator Barrel Sample

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Taylor Fladgate from Portugal. Another magnificent and finely-balanced old tawny blend of outstanding richness and complexity. This rare Port is traditionally enjoyed as a dessert wine or at the end of the meal. Ideal for summer drinking, Taylor's 20 Year Old Tawny may bc scrvcd cool.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Graham's from Portugal. 20 Years indicates and average age - this Aged Tawny Port is a blend of older wines, which offer complexity and younger wines, which bring fresh fruit flavors and vibrancy. During their long maturing period in oak casks, Aged Tawnies undergo subtle color changes: the deep red hue which characterizes Port's youth gradually gives way to a paler golden amber color. Graham's is known for its rich, elegant house style. This 20 Year has an intense, nutty bouquet, the classic Graham's richness and a concentrated, lingering finish. Many consider the 20 Year to be the perfect blend of complexity and vibrant fruit when it comes to Aged Tawny. Serving and pairing suggestions Graham's 20 Year is bottled ready to drink after an average of at least 20 years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it will stay fresh for four to six months if stored in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Graham's 20 Year is delicious when paired with milk chocolate, creme brulee or fruit tarts. In warmer months, try it chilled for a refreshing dessert in a glass.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Cockburn from Portugal. Cockburn's 20 Years Old Tawny is a blend of older, mature wines aged in cask and then refreshed by the addition of younger wines. The indicated age is the average age of the wines in the blend. These wines exhibit a silky smoothness from the cask aging and are ready to enjoy upon release. The constant blending and re-blending assures a consistent style. The 20 Years Old Tawny port shows a complex, nutty, spicy, aromatic nose, with a smoothness achieved through many years in wood. They are clarified before bottling and need no decanting.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Dow's from Portugal. 20 Years indicates and average age - this Aged Tawny Port is a blend of older wines, which offer complexity and younger wines, which bring fresh fruit flavors and vibrancy. During their long maturing period in oak casks, Aged Tawnies undergo subtle color changes: the deep red hue which characterizes Port's youth gradually gives way to a paler golden amber color. Dow's is known for its characteristically drier house style. This 20 Year has a full, nutty bouquet, concentrated, citrus, almond and caramel notes on the palate and a lingering finish. Many consider the 20 Year to be the perfect blend of complexity and vibrant fruit when it comes to Aged Tawny. Serving and pairing suggestions Dow's 20 Year is bottled ready to drink after an average of at least 20 years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it will stay fresh for four to six months if stored in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Dow's 20 Year is delicious when paired with soft ripened cheeses, flan or fruit tarts. In warmer months, try it chilled for a refreshing dessert in a glass.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Warre's from Portugal. Black pepper, ceiling wax, spices, and toast are found in the nose of the potentially exceptional 2003 Warre's Vintage Port. A concentrated effort, its youthful, classically ungenerous, masculine character reveals black pepper laced dark fruits. Silky-textured in its immensely endowed mid-palate, this top-flight effort displays an admirably long, tannin-filled finish. It will require serious cellaring. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate 93 Points

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Warre's from Portugal. An outstanding wine that epitomizes everything that is great about a superbly balanced Twenty Year Old Tawny; the translucent copper colored tone of the wine is matched by the beautiful soft nutty aromas gained by a full twenty years ageing in seasoned oak casks. Otima 20 Years is rich and delicate, but never cloying; the tannins and acidity ensure balance and perfect length.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Taylor Fladgate from Portugal. An exceptionally fine old tawny blend, aged for 10 years in oak casks. Elegant and smooth, combining delicate wood notes and rich mellow fruit, it is bottled for immediate drinking. A superb dessert wine, particularly with dishes made with chocolate, coffee or almonds, Taylor's 10 Year Old Tawny may also be served at the end of the meal in the same way as Vintage Port.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Dow's from Portugal. 10 Years indicates and average age - this Aged Tawny Port is a blend of older wines, which offer complexity and younger wines, which bring fresh fruit flavors and vibrancy. During their long maturing period in oak casks, Aged Tawnies undergo subtle color changes: the deep red hue which characterizes Port's youth gradually gives way to a paler reddish amber color. Dow's is known for its characteristically drier house style. This 10 Year has a full, nutty bouquet with citrus and vanilla accents on the palate and a soft lingering finish. Serving and Pairing Suggestions Dow's 10 Year is bottled ready to drink after an average of at least ten years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it will stay fresh for two to four months if stored in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Dow's 10 Year is delicious when paired with soft ripened cheeses such as a double cream cow's milk cheese, flan or fruit tarts. In warmer months, try it chilled for a refreshing dessert in a glass.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Graham's from Portugal. 10 Years indicates and average age - this Aged Tawny Port is a blend of older wines, which offer complexity and younger wines, which bring fresh fruit flavors and vibrancy. During their long maturing period in oak casks, Aged Tawnies undergo subtle color changes: the deep red hue which characterizes Port's youth gradually gives way to a paler reddish amber color. Graham's is known for its rich, elegant house style. This 10 Year has a full, nutty bouquet, the classic Graham's richness and a soft lingering finish. Serving and pairing suggestions Graham's 10 Year is bottled ready to drink after an average of at least ten years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it will stay fresh for two to four months if stored in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Graham's 10 Year is delicious when paired with milk chocolate, creme brulee or fruit tarts. In warmer months, try it chilled for a refreshing dessert in a glass.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Warre's from Portugal. The latest addition to the range of fine ports from Warres, Otima is an aged 10 year old Tawny especially suitable for those with a preference for the lighter style of Port. Its delicate palate challenges the traditional perception of Port as a dark and full-bodied after-dinner drink. Otima is a Premium Quality Port from a renowned Port house, and brings a lighter, more contemporary style to reflect todays lifestyle - a contemporary, quality drink, versatile enough to be enjoyed anytime.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Fonseca from Portugal. Fonseca Bin No. 27 was created over a century ago for family consumption, and only released commercially in 1972. It is produced primarily from wines from Fonseca's own quintas in the Cima Corgo and thus shows an exceptional quality and consistency from year to year. Blended from reserve wines selected for their intense fruit character and depth of color, Fonseca Bin No. 27 spends four years in large wood vats prior to bottling. Although it may improve slightly with bottle age, Bin No. 27 is ready to consume when bottled. It does not require decanting, as a cold precipitation prior to bottling prevents any crust from forming. Its well-knit structure, rich, velvety full body and luscious blackcurrant and cherry flavors, also evident in the nose, carry into an intense, lingering finish. Bin No. 27 should be served at room temperature either alone or with simple, classic last courses and desserts. It is best consumed within two weeks after uncorking.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Graham's from Portugal. Six Grapes has a seductive, rich aroma of ripe plums, cherries and dark chocolate notes. On the palate it's complex, with an excellent structure and a long, lingering finish. Six Grapes is one of Graham's original Port blends--it is a very full-bodied, luscious wine drawn from the same vineyards as Graham's Vintage Ports. Blended from two or three years' harvests, the wine is an average of five to six years old when it is lightly filtered and bottled. Serving and pairing suggestions Six Grapes is bottled ready to drink after about five years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it should stay fresh for up to two months if stored in a cool, dark place or the refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Six Grapes pairs particularly well with dark chocolate, but is also fantastic on its own as a luscious dessert in a glass.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Croft from Portugal. This is a Vintage Character Port which is a blend of Ports which have been aged in wood for four to five years to produce wines of greater complexity than their younger counterparts. A port with attractive, intense fresh fruit aromas and flavours. Premium reserve port of superior age and quality. Vigorous but silky taste. Very consistent bottle to bottle. Decanting is not required. Enjoy for many months.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Ramos Pinto from Portugal. This ruby port has a vibrant youthful color, with a red-brown rim that is the only visual concession to maturity. It has full aromas unveiling dry plum, fig and berry scents with a touch of pepper. On the palate, the attack is soft and succulent. This is a rich, subtle wine with a fine, generous structure and remarkable persistence. The Collector is an excellent accompaniment to mild cheeses and sweet dark chocolate. An unfiltered vintage character port is a blend of several excellent vintages aged in wood for about six years. The wine retains its delicate fruity aromas while gaining the patina and roundness of age. The Collector gives wine drinkers the opportunity to experience a vintage quality wine without laying it down for years

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Dow's from Portugal. Dow's 2000 Late Bottled Vintage Port is a fine value and marries delicious red fruit flavors with dark cocoa power and a slightly spicy, vibrant finish. It is made from a single year's harvest (in this case, 2000) and then aged for four years in oak casks. (The term late bottled vintage is because Vintage Port is aged for two years and then bottled with the intention of further bottle aging.) The extra aging helps it develop more quickly. Serving and pairing suggestions Given its extra aging, the Dow's LBV is bottled ready to drink. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it will stay fresh for up to two months if stored in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. It is delicious with dark chocolate or blue cheeses such as Point Reyes Original Blue.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Dow's from Portugal. These wines come from the same vineyards that, in a year when a Vintage is declared, produce Vintage Port. However, as they are bottled between the fourth and sixth year after the harvest, they mature more quickly and are ready to drink much sooner. Dow's LBV is a full rich Port with spicy ripe fruit flavors and an elegant aromatic nose. Well rounded on the palate and has the traditional Dow's drier finish.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Cockburn from Portugal. Cockburn's Fine Ruby port is a blend of young wines from various years, aged for three to five years and bottled after filtration. It retains the red color and fruit flavor of youth, and is ready to drink when bottled, offering a rich, fruity, sweet taste.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Dow's from Portugal. Dow's Ruby offers a great entry level Port for the shopper looking for value. It's bright raspberry and cherry flavors marry well with cocoa power and mineral notes with the drier finish characteristic of Dow's Ports. Serving and pairing suggestions Dow's Ruby is bottled ready to drink after an average three years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it will stay fresh for four to six months if stored in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Dow's Ruby is delicious with creamy blue cheeses or dark chocolate.

Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Dow's from Portugal. Dow's Tawny offers a great entry level Port for the shopper looking for value. It has bright citrus, caramel and almond flavors and the drier finish characteristic of Dow's Ports. Serving and pairing suggestions Dow's Tawny is bottled ready to drink after an average of three years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it will stay fresh for four to six months if stored in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Dow's Tawny is delicious with soft ripened cheeses, flan or fruit tarts. In warmer months, try it chilled for a refreshing dessert in a glass.