Port is made by fortifying wine with a spirit similar to brandy called ‘ aguardente ’ or fiery water, this is done mid-fermentation to leave a high level of residual sugar. Port can be made from over fifty types of grapes including several local grape varieties such as Port grapes Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, and Tinta Cão. Port can only be made in vineyards around the Douro River valley. It is said that the English drink port in a snub to Napoleon, but it became increasingly popular in the 17th century as the duty on French wines was increasingly prohibitive.
What is a single Quinta vintage?
There are several types of Port including white and the relatively new Rose port, which like rose wine is made with red grape varieties, but spends less contact time with the skins. Port styles can be a little confusing with Ruby as the most commonly available right through to vintage port which is only released from an exceptional year’s harvest. Vintage Port makes up around two percent of port production and is only partially aged in barrels but can be left to bottle age for several decades. A single quinta vintage is a step down from a full vintage made from a producer’s premier vineyards. It is produced to be enjoyed younger, typically within five to seven years.
Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port 2013
Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port is made by Taylor’s, one of the most famous port producers established in 1692. Located in the hilly, eastern Douro valley it is recognised as one of the great port vineyards. This wine is a deep purple-red colour with lots of stewed black fruits on the nose. Right now, it’s fresh and fruity to drink with undercurrents of dried fruits and hints of coffee and molasses. Deliciously smooth and packed with blackberry fruit.
Grape variety Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francêsca,
and Tinta Barroca
Country of origin Portugal
Region Eastern Douro Valley
Vintage 2013
Alcohol 20%
Notes
Quinta de Vargellas is run on Taylor’s award-winning sustainability model using single-row terraces, engineered to minimise soil erosion and chemical use.
The Caskaway 