For The Love Of Port

I have been looking to try an older tawney style port and below are my two options.

I have the opportunity to buy a 1974 Quinta do Novasl Colheita, bottled in 2004, or a Neipoort 30 year old tawney.

Both wines are about the same price.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks.

Jon - When was the 30Y Niepoort bottled (which year) ??

I am new to tawney and colheita ports.

I did not know that the bottling date on tawney ports is on the label.

I thought that it would be bottled at 30years old hence the name?

The only reason that I know the date of the coheita is that I read about it on this web site.

Tawnies are regularly bottled. The year on the bottle represents the average age of the wines blended to make the product. So a 30 year could have a blend of 10, 20, 30, 40+ year tawnies that average out to at least 30 years.

I'd heard a rumour that the American market rules stated that the age was the minimum age for the blend, but I doubt that very much.

So while the 30y tawny will include tawnies of various ages, the Colheita will be entirely 30-years from the same vintage. I, personally, would go with the Colheita because they are difficult (for me) to find that old. Especially if the price is the same.

Mike.

Mike,

That rumor is not true. The Tawny Port style you mentioned is a blend with the label indicating the average age of the wine in the bottle, regardless of which market it is for. The only difference between the USA and other markets is that with the 40 year Tawny, in the USA it is like all the 10/20/30 year olds. In the UK market, the label on a 40 says: "over 40 years."


Jon,

Do go with the Colheita as I suspect the Noval will offer more for your palate than a straight 30 year old Tawny. Enjoy!

Thanks for clarifying that! When I heard it I thought it was a might dubious that one market would be different from the others for all tawnies.

Mike.

Thanks for the info and advice.

I will buy the colheita and when I drink it I will post a note.