1966 Moreira Colheita Port -- (Bottled in 2000)

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 5:25 pm

Can't say I'd ever heard of this producer before, but the price was right so I took the plunge on a few.

On opening:
A big dose of VA, with tons of carmel and nuts, and some green pepper on the back palate. Rather lean and one dementional at the moment, however there is still some noticable tannins. A medium finish rounds this out. 84 at this stage.

48 Hours later:
Its come around a bit. No more green pepper notes, a touch more carmel and oak, and its picked up some body. The finish has lengthened. By no means a great colheita, it still offers a pleasant drink none the less. 86-87 points overall.

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:25 pm

Andy,

Can you (or someone else perhaps) tell me what the difference is between an Aged Tawny and a Colheita? Your 1966 Colheita was bottled in 2000. Does that not then mean that it sat in cask for 34 years and therefore would be a 30(+) Yr Old Tawny?

Or am I missing something here?

Someone stop the confusion!!!

:?

Todd

Jay Powers · Post by **Jay Powers** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:12 pm

I have had this recently, and came up with the following:

The Moreira is a strange one, in that its not that good at first, but gets better, and was maybe best at 1-2 weeks, which seems like an awfully long time to me, despite the fact that I am a firm believer that many ports get considerably better with time in decanter.

To start with there's lots of sediment (for a colheita), and although I decanted cleanly off the visible sediment the result was cloudy. This was into a crystal decanter (think the bourbon type).

The first taste is not that good. In fact the first bottle I opened I was very dissapointed, and then ignored it for a week (being too lazy to empty it down the sink). I tried it again about one week later and it was much better (and I was glad I had not tossed it!).

I have tried two bottles so far, and my experience was the same both times. The second time I followed it over two weeks, and it kept getting better every day, but was not really good until ~7 days. During that time it changes color dramatically as well (going from pale to quite dark).

For the ~$20/bottle we probably both paid for it, it's good value, but only if you can wait some time after decanting it. It should be very interesting to hear your thoughts on it over time!

Jay

Jay

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:34 pm

This producer is way under the radar. Their 1937 and other vintages in that area... maybe 1940 are under $200 and a heck of a gamble. I only have read notes from a friend that I trust and I would not venture my own money on anything this producer has made in the old days. That is harsh considering I've never personally tasted their oldies and solely based on heresay. Fortunately this is someone I've consumed A LOT of Port with and am willing to go way out on the limb based on his impressions which is something I don't do often, if at all.

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:50 am

tpettinger wrote:Andy,

Can you (or someone else perhaps) tell me what the difference is between an Aged Tawny and a Colheita? Your 1966 Colheita was bottled in 2000. Does that not then mean that it sat in cask for 34 years and therefore would be a 30(+) Yr Old Tawny?

Or am I missing something here?

Someone stop the confusion!!! :?

Todd

Todd an aged tawney is a blend of several years with an AVERAGE age of 10/20/30/over 40 years. A colheita is from only one year (Hence the year on the label). Both will have a bottled date on them. However, some Colheita's will continue to develop in the bottle over time. Aged tawnys are not ment to age any further and are ment to drink close to the bottle date.

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:52 am

Jay is right, over the course of 2 days this got quite a bit darker. But it is no more...all gone. Maybe the next bottle I will try to make last longer, but it's hard for me to resist that liquid Port temptation 8)

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:59 am

Andy V. wrote:Todd an aged tawney is a blend of several years with an AVERAGE age of 10/20/30/over 40 years. A colheita is from only one year (Hence the year on the label). Both will have a bottled date on them. However, some Colheita's will continue to develop in the bottle over time. Aged tawnys are not ment to age any further and are ment to drink close to the bottle date.

Thanks Andy! After reading around a bit more after that post I kinda figured that was the answer, but good to confirm it.

Todd

Eric Duprey · Post by **Eric Duprey** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:44 pm

I did buy two bottles of the Moreira and have tried one. This is definitely a weird one. I drank it over the course of two weeks, and I'd have to agree that it seemed to taste a bit better after it had been open for an extended period of time. It was a bit cloudy, and in my notes I wrote things like "smells like an old wood pile" and "smells like raking fallen leaves". After a few days I began to pick up notes of pumpkin-pie spices and maple. It definitely grew on me, in a strange sort of way, but I wouldn't necessarily seek it out, unless the price was right again.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:15 pm

Eric? As in Eric Duprey? I kind of remember that name from somewhere!

Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

WELCOME back E.D.