Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
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Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
Is 'Over 40' a special designation, rather than just '40 Years'?
I think Roy once stated that there is no difference.
I think Roy once stated that there is no difference.
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Re: Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
There is only the single classification: Over 40 Years.
Altogether (currently) there are four classifications of Tawny With Indication Of Age: 10, 20, 30, and Over 40.
Altogether (currently) there are four classifications of Tawny With Indication Of Age: 10, 20, 30, and Over 40.
--Pete
(Sesquipedalian Man)
(Sesquipedalian Man)
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Re: Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
To clarify further. The USA doesn't allow the term "over" to be used. So the term is simply left off labels here in the States.Peter W. Meek wrote:There is only the single classification: Over 40 Years.
Altogether (currently) there are four classifications of Tawny With Indication Of Age: 10, 20, 30, and Over 40.
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
Re: Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
Like the use of the word Porto vs. Port, the US marketplace has some really odd labeling requirements. All other markets utilize the word "Port" and also "Over 40 Years Old" ... whereas here, the designations, "Porto" and "40 Year(s) Old" are used on the label.
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
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Re: Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
Roy,
Then why not 'Over 10', 'Over 20', etc?
Then why not 'Over 10', 'Over 20', etc?
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Re: Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
Not positive, but I believe it has to do with the requirement to have an exact age on the label. Even though we all know that isn't the case with these Ports. I'm guessing, but I would assume it's based off a very old law that hasn't been updated.Barry Sunderland wrote:Roy,
Then why not 'Over 10', 'Over 20', etc?
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
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Re: Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
I don't think it would be logical to use "Over" in front of the 10, 20 and 30 yr designations. The concept of these styles is that a 10 Year Tawny should be a wine with the flavour and vinous qualities of a port that has been aged in wood for 10, 20, 30 or over 40 years. If it was "Over 10 Years" the wine in the bottle could have the qualities of a 60 year old wine and still pass the test, which would be illogical as the same wine could also be labelled with each of the other three designations.
As to the validity of these designations, that is a completely different story.
As to the validity of these designations, that is a completely different story.
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Re: Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
Sorry, I should have clarified a bit more...This applies only to the USA as far as I know.Andy Velebil wrote:Not positive, but I believe it has to do with the requirement to have an exact age on the label. Even though we all know that isn't the case with these Ports. I'm guessing, but I would assume it's based off a very old law that hasn't been updated.Barry Sunderland wrote:Roy,
Then why not 'Over 10', 'Over 20', etc?
+1 to what Derek said.
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
Re: Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
Yes, it applies to the USA only ... as I previously mentioned.
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
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Re: Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
Here's an interesting one. This weekend I opened a Quinta do Noval 40 Over Year old Tawny. The label clearly read "OVER 40 YEARS OLD" and this was imported and bought here in the States. it was bottled in 2006, so I assume it was imported by the importer sometime within the year or so after that. I wonder if the reg's have changed here in the States?
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
Re: Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
I have a similarly labeled bottled of Noval 40, from 2007 ... also imported by Vintus. I think we'd have heard of a regulation to change the nomenclature of 40 year old Tawnies in the USA if they were relaxing that old rule. Could have been just a minor shipping error that went unnoticed, but that is purely speculation too.
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
- Shawn Denkler
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Re: Definitive Difference Between '40 Years' and 'Over 40 Years' Porto?
When I imported wines I was required to have federal label approval for each wine (COLA - Certificate of Label Approval). It is then up to US Customs to check what is in the container to the paperwork. Customs does not check every container and checking wine containers is probably very low priority. Even if they checked they probably would not catch or care about a minor wording difference.
Shawn Denkler, "Portmaker" Quinta California Cellars