Paulo Cruz - non-Port fortified Douro?

[Andrew Hall]

We had someone upload this to CellarTracker and I am more just personally curious than anything else. Is there some legal reason this would not be labelled as Port?


Thanks,

A.

[Andy Velebil]

Hi Andrew,

I am not familiar with this bottling from them. Never seen it before and I can't find anything online either. It appears to be 20% ABV but I can't read what it says under Tonel 7. Finally found another pic of it and it says "vinho do lavrador". Translated roughly means a wine of a Farmer. The pic on CT shows it was bottled in 2013.

Given the farmers wine part I would take a guess it is a Port but it is not a "legal" Port. It was probably originally made by a farmer (grape grower) for his family use, which is permitted by law, and it does not count toward what their property is legally allowed to make into Port either. As many grape growers in the Douro have a small stash of old Port lurking in their cellar these are starting to pop up from time to time. They tend to be sold for cash if you happen to visit the producer or are given away. Most of these are more Solara in style now as the families top up the barrels with younger stuff as the years go on*. Technically speaking they aren't supposed to sell these "Vihno Generoso" type of Ports, but it is the Douro...

This one is rather nice packaging. Casal does have a place you can rent near Pinhao. I wonder if you can buy it if you stay there.

*Keep in mind these are stored by a smaller land owner in Douro with the summer heat and often have a Douro Bake note to them. As a result they also evaporate at a higher rate in barrel and need to be topped up more often with something younger so one doesn't end up with a molasses like liquid. The family also may have periodically drawn off lots for home use/special occasions. Hence really being more Solara like than pure single vintage. I've had some that are amazing.

[Mario Ferreira]

Is there some legal reason this would not be labelled as Port?

Thanks,

A.

To be labelled as Port it needs to be aproved and controled by the IVDP, which is not the case of this particular bottling according from what one can read on the label.

This is the very first time I'm seeing such type of a bottling

[Mario Ferreira]

I would say that the wording "Douro" on bottlings is also owned (aka: registered and trade marketed) by the IVDP.
Being that the case, my guess is this bottling could turn out to be an "illegal label" as well (but confess I'm not sure on this particular).

[Eric Ifune]

Doesn't look that dark in the photo. Surely it couldn't be a recent bottling from cask from 1963

[Glenn E.]

I can't read what it says under Tonel 7. Finally found another pic of it and it says "vinho do lavrador". Translated roughly means a wine of a Farmer. The pic on CT shows it was bottled in 2013.

This picture says:

?l?gado do Avo Manuel

The second ? is likely a vowel and appears to be either 'i' or 'o' to me.

[Andy Velebil]

I can't read what it says under Tonel 7. Finally found another pic of it and it says "vinho do lavrador". Translated roughly means a wine of a Farmer. The pic on CT shows it was bottled in 2013.

This picture says:

?l?gado do Avo Manuel

The second ? is likely a vowel and appears to be either 'i' or 'o' to me.

If you go to Cellartracker on a desktop there is a much better pic of it. The color is also darker on CT so I suspect a flash of backlighting may have made this one look so light. This one has "Tonnel 7" where the one on CT does not. That also may cause the difference in color. Regardless, it appears to be an unregistered Colheita Port.

[Mike J. W.]

I actually have a bottle of this and came across it again when I was deciding what Port I'm going to open on Christmas Day for the family. I decided to see what I could find out about this and came across this thread. I'll probably open it up in the next year or so.

[Andy Velebil]

I actually have a bottle of this and came across it again when I was deciding what Port I'm going to open on Christmas Day for the family. I decided to see what I could find out about this and came across this thread. I'll probably open it up in the next year or so.

Very curious to read a tasting note on it when you do open it

[Mike J. W.]

I actually have a bottle of this and came across it again when I was deciding what Port I'm going to open on Christmas Day for the family. I decided to see what I could find out about this and came across this thread. I'll probably open it up in the next year or so.

Very curious to read a tasting note on it when you do open it

Will do. It might be the only tasting note for it ever.

[Roy Hersh]

The speculation here is beyond amusing.

I know Paulo Cruz and he is a great lover of Port and Madeira. He lives in a city close to Lisbon and has a famous wine shop that I have dined in with some well known names, including Paulo and also Dirk Niepoort. I will ask Paulo next time I see him, likely in April.

[Andy Velebil]

The speculation here is beyond amusing.

I know Paulo Cruz and he is a great lover of Port and every bit as much so, Madeira. He lives in a city close to Lisbon and has a famous wine shop that I have dined in with some well known names, including Paulo and also Dirk Niepoort. I will ask Paulo next time I see him, likely in April.

If you know him, how about sending him an email or text to find out what it is? That way we don't have to wait another 5 years (when this thread was started).

[Roy Hersh]

Ok, I will be happy to do so when time permits.