Vintage Port In Original Sandeman Gift Box, DOC Douro ***94 Points- Decanter 2023 Silver Award Winner***

2018 Sandeman Vintage Port. Sandeman did not produce a 2017 Classic Vintage Port in the knowledge that they had something better in the cask. The Single Quinta they produced in 2017 was in my top three Ports of the vintage so everything is looking good for the 2018. The price tag of the 2018 is hefty – well above other declared ports in this year. Early reviews appear to indicate that it merits it status.

Wine Makers Notes.
On the nose intense and precise aromas of blackberry and black cherry combine with herbal nuances, spice and cocoa. On the palate it has a powerful attack, with a lively acidity and firm but ripe tannins. A stony minerality combines with the brooding black fruit and spice flavours and culminates in a long finish. The structure and concentration of this fine wine give it the potential to age in bottle for up to 40 years.

Reviews:
Sarah Ahmed 30/6/2020 The Wine Detective. https://thewinedetective.co.uk/blog/first-taste-sandeman-vintage-port-2018
An incredibly uniform, inky dark purple – formidable. Though violet-scented, on day one its brooding dark fruits are tightly-coiled on nose and palate. But the concentration of fruit is palpable. In the mouth, the violets mingle with liquorice, bitter chocolate and, opening up, bergamot and dried rose nuances, which build, as do the tannins, layer by layer. Of the cumulative, ripe but fine, millefeuille variety, the tannins make for lovely mouthfeel, (graphite) minerality and spiciness. On days two to four, it reveals great intensity of ripe, bright ‘n buff fruits – black cherry, blackcurrant and blackberry. The perfume ratchets up a notch, with inky violets, bitter chocolate violet creams and orange blossom; pronounced liquorice spice too. The finish is dryish in flavour profile/texturally, with a strong sense of dry extract, but no grip or chew, all of which contribute to this splendid Vintage Port’s tremendous poise and length. Impressive and, for all its concentration, surprisingly detailed, with surely a long life ahead. Mission accomplished. 20% alcohol, 106g/l Residual Sugar, 4.6g/l Total Acidity, pH 3.6. 14, 500 bottles produced.

A blend of 50% Touriga Franca, 40% Touriga Nacional, 5% Sousão and 5% ‘other native red varietals’ from Quinta do Seixo and Quinta do Vau, both properties on the south side of the Douro in the Cima Corgo: very deep inky ‘black’ colour; demure and brooding on the nose, distinctly ripe, hot country fruit (kirsh) with a touch of liquorice and tar; big, ripe dark chocolate flavours, layered spicy depth, impressively structured with ripe tannins giving plenty of grip and leading to a big, expressive finish, perhaps lacking a little in freshness but very, very good. A definite keeper. 18.5
Rating: 18.5+
Richard Mayson, www.richardmayson.com (Jun 2020)