Long shot - Valladao port

[Richard Osborne]

Hi everyone

This may be a (very) long shot, but I am interested to see if anyone knows anything at all about the port "Valladao". As far as I am aware, this is available only in Intermarche shops in France (?) for around 10 Euros per bottle of 10 year old tawny.

This was the first 10 year old port that I started drinking seriously and at that price, I feel is a bargain. I describe it as one of the more "spirity" tawnies, fairly light and orangey in colour with a very sweet taste. In a recent tasting of around 10 bottles of 10 year old tawny, it was favourable alongside Grahams, Kopke and Ramos Pinto. This is very much in contrast to the Taylors, which perhaps controversially, I find a bit too fruity/full bodied in flavour with a very reddish, almost reserve like colour.

My question is - does anyone have any info on what this port is and who it is sourced from? My guess would be that the Symington family supply it for Intermarche's own brand. I'd be interested in any info and any thoughts from anyone who has also tasted it (in particular, am I biased by having drunk this as standard quaffing port for the last 15 years or so?)

Thanks in advance!!
Richard

[Rob C.]

Haven't heard of Valladao, but have certainly heard of Vallado.

Does the 10yr look like this? If so EUR10 is a great price!

[Rob C.]

No - my apologies, i think you are right - Porto Valadão seems to be a brand produced for sale in Intermarche (and perhaps some other continental European supermarkets). Reference here to it being bottled by Quarles Harris, which is (as you say) a Symington brand/house.

Good shots of front and back labels here

I will certainly give one a go next time i am in France!

I wonder how similar it is to the Sainsbury's own-label 10yr tawny, which is also produced by the Symingtons - worth a try at least if you are now based in Manchester and can no longer get hold of the trusted Valadão!

[Richard Osborne]

Thanks Rob

Your research skills (and spelling) are better than mine!

I have been drinking the Sainsbury own brand - I think it is again similar in style and much cheaper than Grahams.

Interestingly the Valadao is the only port that has consistently has the orangey colour. I always wondered if Symington used their leftovers for own brand port but given the consistency and difference to anything else I have tasted, it would seem that it has an identity of its own, or is a very small niche producer!

[Rob C.]

Interesting - i just have no idea how many blends they make for the various different markets, and whether each label/brand they bottle contains a different blend.

For instance, i haven't seen it in the UK but i know that Trader Joe's in the US stock a 10yr Quarles Harris (not sure whether it is supermarket own-label or Quarles Harris label).

[Glenn E.]

For instance, i haven't seen it in the UK but i know that Trader Joe's in the US stock a 10yr Quarles Harris (not sure whether it is supermarket own-label or Quarles Harris label).

When I've seen it at my local Trader Joe's it has had a QH label.

[Roy Hersh]

Same here, not sure that I've ever noticed a B.O.B. Port in TJ's. Although it looks like TJ's is a major outlet for the Symington's to put QH into the USA.


Richard,

Thanks for your posts here and aboard. We hope you will continue to come back.