Sandeman, 20 Year Tawny Port

Alcohol percentage: 20%

Vegan

Grape variety:
A blend of Tinta Amarela, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão and Touriga Franca; fermented in the winery in the Douro Valley and then taken the following spring to Vila Nova de Gaia for long-term ageing in small, used oak barrels

Producer:
From the website of the UK agents for Sandeman:
“There are few more iconic images in the world of wine than the ‘Don’, the logo created for the Sandeman family in 1928 by George Massiot Brown. The cape was modelled on the attire worn by university students in Porto, while the wide-brimmed hat was a nod to the family’s presence in Jerez. Today, the wines are good enough to be every bit as famous as the image of the Don. This hasn’t always been the case, but since Sogrape bought Sandeman from Seagram in 2002, the major investment that has taken place in the vineyards and the winemaking has seen them rise to the top of the tree in Port. The production of Port – especially Tawny – requires patience and a long-term vision, something which explains why families like the Guedes and the Symingtons are the major players in the Port business today.”

The Bottle Shop rating:
This is a blend of barrels between 15 and 40 years old. The maturity is obvious but the freshness is remarkable. A relative bargain for fine wine of such an age