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Antonio Aguilar Tonico
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2024 3:36 pm
by A.S. Demka
- IMG_8545.jpeg (2.6 MiB) Viewed 555 times
We found this bottle in my late father-in-law’s wine cellar and I am puzzled.
The label text reads
1877
Vino del Porto Velhissimo
INVALIDO
Signature of Antonio Aguilar
And in the lower right corner: TONICO
The top of the capsule reads: Antonio Aguilar Limited
Can someone tell me more about this bottle? I once read that ‘tonic/quinine’ was added for the Brazil market.
Re: Antonio Aguilar Tonico
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2024 3:38 pm
by A.S. Demka
Plus another picture
- IMG_8544.jpeg (2.41 MiB) Viewed 554 times
Re: Antonio Aguilar Tonico
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2024 3:52 pm
by Glenn E.
What are the words in red on the "banners" on either side of the shields at the top of the label?
The word on the right looks like it might be "degustada"?
Port with quinine added is called quinado and - as far as I know - was a 20th century invention, so 1877 seems too early. Though maybe it was just the name "quinado" that started in the 20th century and this is the same thing from before that name became accepted?
Re: Antonio Aguilar Tonico
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2024 4:40 pm
by A.S. Demka
Glenn E. wrote: ↑Fri Feb 23, 2024 3:52 pm
What are the words in red on the "banners" on either side of the shields at the top of the label?
The word on the right looks like it might be "degustada"?
Port with quinine added is called quinado and - as far as I know - was a 20th century invention, so 1877 seems too early. Though maybe it was just the name "quinado" that started in the 20th century and this is the same thing from before that name became accepted?
Thanks Glenn,
It reads marca (left) registada (right), not much added value, unfortunately.
Best regards, Alle
Re: Antonio Aguilar Tonico
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:00 pm
by Andy Velebil
Google translate says “Invalido” is Italian. So possibly made for that market.
Based on the name and tonic I’d lean toward it being something with tonic and quinine in it. I’d guess it is rather old.
Re: Antonio Aguilar Tonico
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:32 pm
by Glenn E.
Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:00 pm
Google translate says “Invalido” is Italian. So possibly made for that market.
Based on the name and tonic I’d lean toward it being something with tonic and quinine in it. I’d guess it is rather old.
Unfortunately it is also Portuguese, as is Tonico. Or at least they both
can be Portuguese. Lots of commonality between all of those old romance languages!
Re: Antonio Aguilar Tonico
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:43 pm
by Andy Velebil
Glenn E. wrote:Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:00 pm
Google translate says “Invalido” is Italian. So possibly made for that market.
Based on the name and tonic I’d lean toward it being something with tonic and quinine in it. I’d guess it is rather old.
Unfortunately it is also Portuguese, as is Tonico. Or at least they both
can be Portuguese. Lots of commonality between all of those old romance languages!
Google is never wrong
Re: Antonio Aguilar Tonico
Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:47 pm
by Moses Botbol
Quinine added to the port for when you want booze, but feeling a little under the weather.
Re: Antonio Aguilar Tonico
Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:28 am
by A.S. Demka
The question is whether quinine was added or not. I presumed this as the label also reads 'TONICO'.
In the meantime I found on Vivino that Aguilar is a winehouse owned by the Symington Family Estates. Funny, as Google can't find any other connections between Aguilar and Symington.
Re: Antonio Aguilar Tonico
Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:44 am
by Frederick Blais
Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:00 pm
Google translate says “Invalido” is Italian. So possibly made for that market.
Based on the name and tonic I’d lean toward it being something with tonic and quinine in it. I’d guess it is rather old.
There were many producers releasing an "invalid" Port(Niepoort, Sandeman, Feist, Offley, Barros, Gilbey). I have sent a few emails and no one was ever able to really tell me why this term was used on the bottles. The most I got was Dirk Niepoort telling me it would be bottled as Tawny Reserve in nowadays standards. On Barros lavel it is written "Best Old Medium Tawny Port" which would confirm what Dirk is saying.