Colheitas - need for an image makeover?

[Moses Botbol]

I hope you bought it!!!

Not yet, it's hidden. They also had St. Leonardo 20 year tawny.

[Luc Gauthier]

a) Part of the fun of buying and drinking port is in the seeking out of special bottles that are not so easy to find just anywhere. In that respect, when I come across an interesting colheita in a store it makes the whole experience that much more special. There is something about that obscurity that adds to the allure for me.

On my way back from Boston recently , I stopped in a restaurant/boutique by Lake Champlain in VT.
Had some clam chowder soup and a crab sandwich .
Also picked up a 1967 Feist Colheita bottled in 2003 .
I wasn'T going to find a similar bottle at the SAQ .

[Tom Archer]

So what do you think ... time for a makeover?

Reading this old thread through again, I'm still comfortable with my earlier views..

..the English speaking market is still blighted by a lack of comprehension, and without the opportunity to make meaningful comparisons, the wine writers still give this class of port a wide berth..

Birth years are becoming a very signficant market factor now, where quality ports are concerned; and Colheitas are able to fill most of the gaps left between the vintage declarations..

But the big problem is the class name. Aside from the uncertainty surrounding pronounciation, it is also bereft of style and romance - to an English ear, it sounds flat, dull and obscure..

IMO, there is nothing to be lost from approving the name 'Vintage Tawny' for English speaking markets.

Tom

[Andy Velebil]

..the English speaking market is still blighted by a lack of comprehension, and without the opportunity to make meaningful comparisons, the wine writers still give this class of port a wide berth..

And every other class of Ports that aren't a VP, which is a shame. Most major publications only ocassionally re-review non-declared VP's. Some time ago I remember looking at the TN's in one publication that many retailers still use as shelf talkers for aged tawny's and reserve ruby's/tawnys and was shocked to see how old some of them were. There was no way that same TN could be relevent today.

Birth years are becoming a very signficant market factor now, where quality ports are concerned; and Colheitas are able to fill most of the gaps left between the vintage declarations..

Yeap, and the bad thing is every time a birthyear wine rolls around retailers jack the price up and leave them there.

But the big problem is the class name. Aside from the uncertainty surrounding pronounciation, it is also bereft of style and romance - to an English ear, it sounds flat, dull and obscure..

I assume by English, you mean British? In the USA, the name is very easily understood and pronounced. The name isn't the issue as simply informing the public what it is.

IMO, there is nothing to be lost from approving the name 'Vintage Tawny' for English speaking markets.

This is where I totally disagree. There is already enough confusion as it is. Remember when the term Vintage Character was used and the confusion it created?

[Eric Menchen]

IMO, there is nothing to be lost from approving the name 'Vintage Tawny' for English speaking markets.

This is where I totally disagree. There is already enough confusion as it is. Remember when the term Vintage Character was used and the confusion it created?

So "Vintage" is out. I'm happy with "Colheita," but maybe the bottles could be labeled "Tawny" with a year for Tom's market?

[Tom Archer]

In the USA, the name is very easily understood and pronounced

By you maybe, but the man in the street? - No chance..

Remember when the term Vintage Character was used and the confusion it created?

Yes. It was neither vintage nor akin to a vintage port, a misleading name that should have been strangled at birth; and not many years later.

Colheitas are wines from a specific vintage that are made as Tawnies rather than Rubies.

The English translation 'Vintage Tawny' is factually accurate, clear, and informative.

- Why deny its use?

Tom

[Glenn E.]

Why deny its use?

Because "Colheita" has style and gives the wine a sense of romance. It has a certain mystique to it that makes it special.

"Vintage Tawny" sounds like a lesser class of wine. Americans, at least, are getting rather tired of marketing gimmicks, and "Vintage Tawny" sounds like a marketing gimmick. The way it plays in my head when I hear "Vintage Tawny" goes something like this: It's not a real Vintage Port, but we want you to think it's as cool as Vintage Port, so we're going to use the word "Vintage" in the name so that we can sell you an inferior product.

"Colheita" plays much better even though it sometimes requires an explanation.

[Andy Velebil]

Why deny its use?

Because "Colheita" has style and gives the wine a sense of romance. It has a certain mystique to it that makes it special.

"Vintage Tawny" sounds like a lesser class of wine. Americans, at least, are getting rather tired of marketing gimmicks, and "Vintage Tawny" sounds like a marketing gimmick. The way it plays in my head when I hear "Vintage Tawny" goes something like this: It's not a real Vintage Port, but we want you to think it's as cool as Vintage Port, so we're going to use the word "Vintage" in the name so that we can sell you an inferior product.

"Colheita" plays much better even though it sometimes requires an explanation.

Well put Glenn

[Moses Botbol]

"Colheita" plays much better even though it sometimes requires an explanation.

Well put Glenn

Too many already know that Colheita means harvest/vintage and would be confused by another term... Definitions are for the back label.