Colheita Port 93 Points – Mark Squires Silver Medal Decanter 2022

Barros translates the Portuguese character into wine, combining tradition, authenticity and modern values. Having just celebrated their 100th year trading in 2013 Barros Port is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious companies producing and trading in Port. Much of their success comes from Colheita ports – old tawnies from a single year matured in cask for a minimum period of seven years. Their expertise in Colheita port wine has established them as a multi-awarded, stand out producer of this style.

The 1974 Barros colheita is a port bottled to signify the historic carnation revolution, which name arose from the fact that almost no shots were fired, and Celeste Caeiro offered carnations to the soldiers when the population took to the streets to celebrate the end of the Portugal’s dictatorship regime.

Tasting notes:
Amber colour and very intense aroma, slightly woody, a result of long ageing in cask. Full-bodied, soft and velvety with distinctive flavours of dried fruit, which persist forever.

Reviews:
93 Points Mark Squires – Wine Advocate 2016
The 1974 Colheita Tawny Port “Special Edition” was bottled in 2015 with 117.9 grams per liter of residual sugar. This “Special Edition” is so-called because it “celebrates the Portuguese revolution of 25th April 1974. The launch was in 2014 but we are keeping it on the market, bottling on demand,” PR Director Tânia Oliveira said. Consistent with what I’ve seen from Barros, this is a very elegant Tawny, not flaunting concentration in the mid-palate, but showing off increasing intensity of flavor as it sits in the glass. It is amazingly graceful for a wine this old, but it is still reasonably gripping on the finish, showing fine tension and some pure power as well. Its bright and sunny demeanor gives it a feeling of liveliness that many do not have at this age. It is exceptionally easy to drink, if perhaps a bit too understated for its age, but it is more interesting as you sit with it.

Colheita Port Storage and Serving Advice:
Colheita Port should be stored in a cool and dry place, sheltered from light and temperature fluctuations, and the bottle should remain in an upright position. If stored correctly, Colheita Ports will keep for decades in the bottle. Over time, it is natural that a little sediment will form at the bottom of a bottle of colheita Port wine. Once opened colheita Port should be stored in a fridge and should be consumed within 3 months. Colheita Ports do not require decanting and are best served at a temperature between 14 and 16°C.

Learn more about Colheita Port