www.infoportwine.com
News archives 2004.
All articles older
than 1 to 3 months are entered in
News archives. We start with a title list with accompanying
dates. You will find the full articles by linking the titles.
04/12/04. The Douro region and Oporto in November 2004.
04/12/04. Dutch Graham's Port Trophy 2005.
04/12/04. Mayson: finest 20 years old Tawnies equal to the best Vintages.
04/12/04. Extraordinary Vintage tasting Warre's and
Dow's.
04/12/04. Christmas offer
Krohn: personified labels.
04/12/04. Tourist profile Oporto and the
Douro.
04/12/04. A Souza tasting by Roy Hersh.
04/12/04. The Symington Family bought two
quintas.
04/12/04. Link of the month December 2004.
04/12/04. IVDP events calendar as of December 2004.
04/12/04. Revista de Vinhos no. 180 November 2004.
30/10/04.
The Symington Family: 2004: A very unusual Vintage.
30/10/04. International Wine Challenge 2004.
30/10/04. Links page: change in November 2004.
30/10/04. Entry for Graham's Trophy 2004.
30/10/04. Link of the Month November 2004.
30/10/04. Vintage years Quinta do
Vesuvio.
30/10/04. Decanter World Wine Awards 2004 (2).
30/10/04. IVDP events calendar as of November 2004.
30/10/04. Revista de Vinhos no. 179 October 2004.
02/10/04.
Investing in tourism by Cálem.
02/10/04. Personal September 2004.
02/10/04. Restart Poças Newsletter.
02/10/04. My trip to Portugal by
Nicos Neocleous.
02/10/04. Decanter World Wine Awards 2004.
02/10/04. IVDP
book O Vinho do Porto now also in English and French.
02/10/04. Link of the month October 2004.
02/10/04. Henrik Oldenburg: Port.
02/10/04. Wine Spectator Auction
Index: Port down.
02/10/04. Private individual sales
old Ports (2).
02/10/04. IVDP events calendar as of
October 2004.
02/10/04. Revista de Vinhos no. 178 September
2004.
04/09/04.
Single Quintas in Wine
International.
04/09/04.
Additions
to Round trip September 2004.
04/09/04. Wine Cluster Co
launches Port Solene Reserves.
04/09/04. International Wine Challenge
2004.
04/09/04. Links
page: additions in September 2004.
04/09/04. New Barco Rabelo sails the Douro.
04/09/04. News from Quinta do Passadouro.
04/09/04. Link of the month September 2004.
04/09/04. Warre’s Otima20.
04/09/04. Private
individual sales old Ports. 11/09/04.
04/09/04. IVDP events
calendar as
of September 2004.
04/09/04. Revista
de Vinhos no. 177 August 2004.
07/08/04.
Symington Family Port Award 2003.
07/08/04. Production quota 2004 up.
07/08/04. Roy Hersh: a Niepoort tasting.
07/08/04. Report IVDP tasting in San
Francisco.
07/08/04. Douro region in
chain European Unesco wine regions.
07/08/04. Concurso
Internacional de Vinhos Cidade do Porto 2004.
07/08/04. Wine Spectator Auction
Index: Port Up.
07/08/04. Sales figures January to May
2004.
07/08/04. Link of the month August 2004.
07/08/04. International
Wine and Spirit Competition 2004 - Harpers.
07/08/04. Cockburn's still no. 1 in UK.
07/08/04. Good article at BBC Online.
07/08/04. River tourism increases again.
07/08/04. San Francisco
International Wine Competition 2004.
07/08/04. IVDP events calendar as of
August 2004.
07/08/04. Revista deVinhos no. 176 July 2004.
03/07/04.
Real Companhia Velha and Sogrape.
03/07/04. The 6 Vintages 2002 of
Symington.
03/07/04. Tasting note Casa do Douro 1963.
03/07/04. Link of the month July 2004.
03/07/04. Sélections mondiales des vins 2004.
03/07/04. New logo and publicity campaign of
Cálem.
03/07/04. Links page: changes in July 2004.
03/07/04. Cooperation Rozès and
CroisiEurope.
03/07/04. Heavy weather around Murça and S. João da
Pesqueira.
03/07/04. Transfer premises Museu do
Douro.
03/07/04. Revista de Vinhos no. 175 June 2004.
05/06/04. Godfrey Spence launches website.
05/06/04. Showroom of the Rota do Vinho do Porto.
05/06/04. Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha Vintages.
05/06/04. Looking for a Port from 1973.
05/06/04. A new life for the Rabelos.
05/06/04. Annual Port tasting of Roy
Hersh.
02/05/04. Link of the months May and June 2004.
05/06/04. Symington launches 6 Vintages 2002.
05/06/04. Various tourist news items.
05/06/04. Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2004.
05/06/04. Revista de Vinhos no. 174 May 2004.
02/05/04.
Infoportwine sponsored
by the IVDP.
02/05/04. Wine Spectator's 2003 Top 100.
02/05/04. New IVDP logo.
02/05/04. Wine Masters Challenge -
Estoril, Portugal.
02/05/04. Roy Hersh: Newsletter
and Fladgate tasting.
02/05/04. Link of the months May and
June 2004.
02/05/04. Vinitaly 2004 - Verona, Italy.
02/05/04. Revista de Vinhos no. 173 April 2004.
03/04/04. Taylor's
Vintage 1977: How you should not do it.
03/04/04. News from the Casa do Douro.
03/04/04. Vinalies Internationales 2004
Paris.
03/04/04. Port versus its Australian
counterpart.
03/04/04. Link of the month April 2004.
03/04/04. Sales figures 2003.
03/04/04. Essência do
Vinho/Taylor's parallel tasting.
03/04/04. Bacchus Awards in Madrid.
03/04/04. Revista de Vinhos nr. 172 March 2004.
13/03/04. Quinta do Grifo purchased by SPR
Vinhos.
13/03/04. Exceptional Quinta do Noval Vintage
tasting.
13/03/04. Revista de
Vinhos: the "Best of the Year 2003".
13/03/04. Roy Hersh starts Port
newsletter.
13/03/04. Link of the month March 2004.
13/03/04. Good article about Tawnies in the Washington Post.
13/03/04. Links page: changes in March 2004.
13/03/04. Port Museum in Oporto.
13/03/04. Revista de Vinhos no. 171, February 2004.
07/02/04. Graham's
Trophy Contest in Amsterdam.
07/02/04. Unique parallel
tasting Taylor's Quinta Vintages.
07/02/04. Link of the month February 2004.
07/02/04. Column
about Reserves/Vintage Characters in The Detroit News.
07/02/04. Wine tourist
centre in Santa Marta de Penaguião.
07/02/04. TAP gives discount
in Solares do Vinho do Porto.
07/02/04. Fake Ports in 4 countries.
07/02/04. Links page: changes in
February 2004.
07/02/04. Stock sales Casa do Douro
at an impasse.
07/02/04. Definitive growth
numbers river tourism.
07/02/04. Revista de Vinhos no. 170 January 2004.
03/01/04.
Sogrape:
Port strategy.
03/01/04. Richard Mayson: Port In A Storm.
03/01/04. President IVDP: continuity.
03/01/04. Link of the month January 2004.
03/01/04. The Port Lover's Library
of Isaac Oelgart.
03/01/04. Sabrosa: another tourist project.
03/01/04. Links page: additions in
January 2004.
03/01/04. Growth train tourism in
the Douro region.
03/01/04. Revista de Vinhos no. 169 December
2003.
The Douro region and Oporto in November 2004.
04/12/04. After two earlier visits during the harvest period of 1999 and 2002 we had now
chosen for the first half of November, because everybody would have more time
then for guided tours and information.
The pruning of the vines had just started and the plumes of smoke of the burning
twigs were very characteristic. The autumn colours in the vineyards were great.
We were very happy with the weather, no rain and very much sun although
sometimes with a cold wind. The two years ago everywhere visible cultivation or
replant activities had almost been completed.
The great difference between the clean properties and farmlands and the trash at
sites which do not seem to belong to anybody sadly still catch the eye. It is
positive that many small roads have been improved in the past years, but without
the dominating sight of the asphalt.
During our visit we have renewed earlier contacts and made new. It again
broadened our horizon. It was fascinating further to discover the similarities
and differences. Like every man, every quinta and every company has its own
story, not only in the past but also today:
the story of ambition and intention, possibilities and impossibilities,
old and new money, Portuguese and other nationalities and the position of women.
Our experiences with Ports not made for the market but for private use were
again overwhelming. Every wine farmer, not recognized by the IDVP as a producer,
is allowed to make half a pipe of Port every year. These around 275 litres give,
after adding aguardente, some 350 litres of Port for private use and not for
sale. The taste is not adapted to the market, but is completely aggravated to
personal preference. This creates, if possible, still greater differences than
at the commercial markets. Ports with an enormous personality which you only can
discover by visiting the region, the quintas and the people themselves.
Because Port tourism is the chief purpose
of our visits, we especially see smaller quintas and wineries. That’s why it
was particularly educational to be able to participate in an excursion to Quinta
do Sol of The Symington Family. This huge winery has been equiped with the most
modern technics we had already read much about. But it is something else to
stand next, above and under it and lay down on your knees to feel the “feet”
of the robotic lagares.
Maartje Koning, winner of the Dutch Graham’s Trophy 2004, will soon report on
it on this page.
Not everything went well before and during this trip. It was especially
difficult to get written information and e-mails were not or hardly answered.
One of the quintas we have visited was Q. da Timpeira near Lamego, a magnificent
accomodation with very friendly people. This quinta is mentioned as Port Wine
and table wine producer with wine information/animation in the publications of
the Rota do Vinho do Porto. This appeared not to be correct, Q. da Timpeira is
situated even outside the demarcated Douro region. The Rota membership of this
quinta is incomprehensible for us.
We will incorporate the result of all new information next time in our chapter
Round trip and probably publish it early Januari 2005.
Dutch
Graham’s Port Trophy 2005.
04/12/03.
The semifinal of this extraordinary contest did not occur on November 29th, but
will now take place on December 6th in the Portuguese embassy in The Hague. This
event will only be open to candidates and organizers.
The questions and answers of the theoretical qualifying round were as follows (see
also our News item of 30/10/04):
The
following participants have been selected for the semifinal:
- Steven Kooy.
- Ronald Wortel.
- Luis Nunes Viconte.
- Wieger Roelevink.
- Arno Aartsen.
- Ingrid Larmoyeur.
- Jeroen Boom.
- Henk Romp.
- Jeroen Dullemen.
- Anne-wies Gransjean.
The final will be held during the Wine Professional in the Rai in Amsterdam on
Monday January 10th, 2005.
Mayson: finest 20
years old Tawnies equal to the best Vintages.
04/12/04. Richard Mayson says in an article on Tawny Port in the December issue of the
English magazine Decanter: “I am not alone in ranking the finest 20 years old
(Tawnies) just as highly as the best Vintage Ports.” David Guimaraens (winemaker
of the Fladgate Partnership) and Charles Symington (winemaker of The Symington
Family) speak in the same way in his article. Mayson gives a good 2 pages-survey
of all Tawnies in the article.
The second, fully revised and updated edition of Mayson’s book “Port and the
Douro” is published this month by Mitchell Beazley, priced 20 English pounds.
Extraordinary
Vintage tasting Warre’s and Dow’s.
04/12/04. The Symington Family and importer Oud Reuchlin & Boelen organized a very
particular Vintage tasting in the Grand Hotel in Amsterdam on November 15th.
About 20 sommeliers and journalists participated in it. More special of this
tasting was that nobody had a direct commercial interest in it. It was a rare,
pure informative and educational event excellently guided by winemaker Charles Symington and export director
Euan Mackay. The tasting enclosed the following Vintages:
-
the Dow’s
1945,
-
the Warre’s
1955 and 1963,
-
the Dow’s
1966 and 1970,
-
the Warre’s
1977 and 1980,
-
the Dow’s
1985 and 1994,
-
the Warre’s
2000.
The colour differences were very striking. The 2000 being dark is normal, but
the 1994 and even the Warre’s 1980 being almost equally dark in colour
surprised many. You could almost drown in all smells, how different they might
be. It is difficult to say which one was appreciated
most, it was not asked explicitly. The Dow’s 1945 was much praised, but we are
always afraid that this is especially because it was the oldest. Our personal
favourite was the Warre’s 1980, because it showed, in our opinion, the perfect
balance between fruit and maturity.
The tasting was closed with two cask samples from 2003, both from Quinta do
Bomfim. The first one has been made of the Touriga Francesa and the second one
mainly of the Touriga Naçional. Both they are promising.
Christmas
offer Krohn: personified labels.
04/12/04. The Portuguese company Casta Nobre which cares for, among other things, the
tourist activities in the lodges of (Wiese &) Krohn in Vila Nova de Gaia has
a Christmas offer with personified labels. The offer concerns single bottles as
well as a lot. The company uses all available Ports of Krohn including many
Colheitas and Vintages. Sending is possible within entire Europe. More
information can be get through castanobre@hotmail.com
Tourist profile
Oporto and the Douro.
04/12/04. Susana Silva of the Escola de Negócios e AdministraVão
has done a study of the visitors profile to Oporto and the Douro region.
Her report entitled “O perfil do Porto e do Grande Porto” gives the
following picture:
Source:
Diário de Notícias of 30/09/04.
A Souza tasting by
Roy Hersh.
04/12/04. Barros, Almeida & Ca. Vinhos, S.A. is especially known for its brand Kopke,
somewhat less for its brand Barros and also for its many less known brands.
Souza is one of these and Roy Hersh had the opportunity to organize an extensive
tasting of this brand and reports on it.
In 1925 Alcino Vieira de Souza started a Port trade. After a while Manuel Barros
became his partner. In 1941 de Souza passed away, leaving Barros as the sole
owner of the company.
The tasting included the Vintages 1985, 87, 95 and 96; the Colheitas 1967, 81,
82, 83 and 89; the LBV 1994 and two “pirates” the Quinta do Noval LBV 1994
and the Rochas Colheita 1966 (also of Barros, Almeida).
The article can be found at www.wineloverspage.com/port/souza.phtml
The Symington
Family bought two quintas.
04/12/04. The Symington Family has recently bought two quintas from Castelinho
Vinhos.
It
is not yet known, or and with which Syminton brands these quintas will be placed.
Link of the month
December 2004.
04/12/04. For this special month we have chosen a special website: www.dourowine.com
Although the name presumes otherwise, this site is completely dedicated to Port.
It is a Port encyclopedia that gives the best information on all facets of Port
we know on the net.
Dourowine.com is part of Amorim/Natureza/Burmester/Gilbert’s and contains the
following chapters: History, From the Vine to the Glass, Tasting, Traditions,
Sector Bodies and Glossaries.
Just the paragraph Wine Tasting Course with the parts Taster, Preparation of the
Tasting Session, How to Taste and Organoleptic Tasting makes a visit to this
site a special event.
(See also our News item of 04/10/03).
IVDP events
calendar as of December 2004.
04/12/04.
The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto has planned the following events in
Belgium and Luxemburg:
Courses
in Belgium and Luxemburg.
Catering Colleges:
6th December- Stella Maris of Antwerp
November/December, to be confrrmed, - Brussels at Ceria.
December to be confirmed - Fleurus.
Sommelier Associations:
13th December - L'air du Temps Restaurant, Eghezée.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=696
Revista de Vinhos
no. 180 November 2004.
04/12/04. The November issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos contains the
following information on Port Wine:
New products:
The Cálem LBV 1998 gets 17 points from the editorial staff on a score chart of
0-20. The Quinta de São Domingos 10 Years Old Tawny also gets 17 points.
Casa da Q. Sta Eufémia and Q. da Gricha:
Much information about Casa da Q. Santa Eufémia and Q. da Gricha of
Churchill’s is given in an article dedicated to this year’s harvest.
Score charts:
The editorial staff uses at this moment the 20 points system as well as the 100
points system.
Readers choice:
The annual readers choice is published for the sixth time. The list for Port is
as follows (between brackets the score in 2003):
Cálem
and Warre’s have disappeared from the top ten.
The website www.revistadevinhos.pt
where these articles could be found before is still under construction.
The Symington Family: 2004: A very unusual Vintage.
30/10/04.
"The
2004 harvest followed an extraordinary viticultural year. The last three months
of 2003 were very wet but then we had an incredibly dry start to 2004. Only 147
mm of rain fell at Quinta do Bomfim from January to the end of April. This is
less than half the ten year average, a dramatic lack of rainfall at a very
crucial period.
We were very concerned as to how the vines would cope with a normal hot Douro
summer, given the low reserves of water in the soil.
Charles Symington reported slighty less than normal fruit set due to very rapid
shoot growth that was encouraged by the unusually dry, warm and sunny conditions
in May.
Our concern grew as August approached, normally the hottest month of the year.
The vines were in excellent condition, but excessive hydric stress was clearly
going to occur. In the event the almost impossible occured: rain in August.
Rain fell on the 9th, 10th and 11th August and again on the 16th and 17th. In
total 77 mm fell during the month, the highest August rainfall for 104 years.
This was accompanied by relatively lower temperatures. As a result ripening
slowed dramatically. Early September started with unsettled weather that could
easily have caused considerable damage to the grapes. Charles commented that we
faced a major dilemma: start the vintage with un-ripe grapes before any rot set
in as a result of the rain, or wait and hope for better weather. However the
forecast swung in our favour and we took the risk of starting our harvest some
10 days later than usual at most of our Quintas. The risk paid off as we then
had 25 days of uninterrupted sunshine with temperatures around 30° C everyday.
The entire harvest was completed without a drop of rain falling. On 9th and 10th
October the weather finally broke with heavy rain and strong winds, but by then
our grapes were all safely in our wineries.
Peter Symington commented that in his 40th Vintage, a unique achievement in
today's Port community, he had never seen a vintage that could have so easily
swung between near disaster or success.
As a direct result of the very unusual weather pattern, we had an
exceptional vintage that surpassed all expectations. Yields were lower than
average due to the very warm weather, but the colour of the musts in the lagares
and the fementation tanks was excellent. Cooling equipment was essential as our
grapes were coming into our wineries on some afternoons at 24° C and the
fermentations would have been much too fast and too hot if we did not have
equipment with which to cool the must. The grapes were in excellent conditions:
Baumés were well above average at 13° and higher. The Barroca seemed to
perform particularly well, suffering the least from the hot September weather.
It should be remembered that we always have very low yields in the Douro, about
1.68 kgs per vine for Touriga Franca and as low as 0.49 kgs for the old vines.
Charles commented that the young wines, still only a few days old, show good
colour, power and structure.
There is no doubt that we have made some very good wines this year. It will be
interesting to see how they develop over the next few months."
The Symington Family, Oporto, 14th October 2004.
International Wine
Challenge 2004.
30/10/04. The results of this competition by the English magazine Wine International have
been published in their November issue.
The Fortified Trophy - Port went to the Taylor’s 40 Years Old Tawny.
The Vintage Port Trophy went to the Smith Woodhouse Vintage 2000.
The Great Value Trophy - Fortified went to Graham’s Late Bottled Vintage
1999.
Winemaker of the year - Fortified was awarded to David Guimaraens of Taylor’s
(The Fladgate Partnership).
The silver and bronze medal winners and the Seals of Approval can also be found
at: www.wineint.com/winesearch.asp
Links page: change in November 2004.
30/10/04. Ports Paradise, the site with daily unofficial news in Portuguese, has made a
restart with a completely renewed website. The address has changed in http://portsparadise.blogs.sapo.pt
Entry for
Graham’s Trophy 2004.
30/10/04. It is possible to sign up for the Dutch Graham’s Trophy 2004 contest till
November 19th. The organizers celebrate the fifth anniversary of this
competition this year. Only professionals from the catering industry and the
trade, active with wine and Port, are allowed to enter. (See also our News item
of 07/02/04.) The event is organized by The Symington Family, Verbunt Wijnkopers
and The Wine & Food Association / Proefkrant / Proefschrift.
Interested people can present themselves for the theoretical qualifying round by
means of a registration form (see below). After acceptation they will receive a
list with 7 questions.
The best 10 of the qualifying round will go through to the semifinal and receive
the book “Port and the Douro” by Richard Mayson.
The semifinal (theoretical/practical) is organized on November 29th
during the “Nacht der Lekkernijen” in Amsterdam and contains:
-
a blind tasting
with 10 Ports of the Symington Family and 1 “pirate”.
-
the writing of
an essay on the basis of the received book “Port and the Douro” (choice from
3 subjects).
The best 5 from this round are entered into the final.
The final (practical) will be organized on a still to be determined date during
the fair “Wine Professional” from January 10th to 12th
in the Rai in Amsterdam and contains:
-
a blind tasting
with 5 Ports.
-
the making of a
character description of a blind tasted Port.
-
a blending
contest: to determine the blend of an Aged Tawny made up of 3 components.
The winner will of course receive The Graham’s Trophy 2004 and will be invited
to a 4-days trip to Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos in the heart of the Douro
region.
After the prize-giving ceremony a festive Masterclass Port-Food will be
organized in cooperation with a prominent Chef.
Entry for this magnificent competition is still possible:
-
at Verbunt Wijnkopers, Tilburg, c.v.nispen@verbunt.nl
-
during the
Horecavak from November 1st to 3rd in the IJsselhallen in Zwolle and during
Culinair Friesland 2004 on November 14th from 11-17 o’clock in
Hotel Landgoed Lauswolt in Beetsterzwaag in both cases at The Wine & Food
Association.
At present over 50 entries have already been received.
Link of the month
November 2004.
30/10/04. For this month we have chosen www.ramospinto.pt
Ramos Pinto, owned by the French Champagne Roederer since 1990, has a rich
history as a Port house but also in the field of art and culture (see our News
items of 06/01/02 and 10/01/02).
One facet of this other history is the basis of the RP website; namely the
splendid, designed by artists , series posters from the early 20th
century. The theme of these posters is also the theme of the website: “A tale
of Seduction”.
The site is magnificent to see. The information in Portuguese, English and
French is extensive on all aspects of the company, but too brief on Port in
general and the Port products.
The RP site also has a News page but, just as for many other Port firms, has
sadly been totally ignored already for years.
Vintage years
Quinta do Vesuvio.
30/10/04. One of our visitors has drawn our attention to the fact that we have wrongly
indicated 1993 and 1999 as years that Quinta do Vesuvio of The Symington Family
did not produce a Vintage. This is incorrect. This is only the case in 1993. In
1999 a Vintage was really made.
We have corrected this in our News item “Link of the month October 2004” of
02/10/04 and in our article “Types” (5d. Vintage).
Decanter World Wine
Awards 2004 (2).
30/10/04. The remaining results of this competition have been published in the November
issue of the English magazine Decanter. (See also our News item of 02/10/04.)
The totals of entries and awards for Port are as follows: 118 entries; 1
Regional Trophy; 79 medals of which 4 gold, 27 silver, 35 bronze and 13
commended.
No gold medal was awarded in the category less than 10 English pounds (14.50
Euros). Silver medals went to the:
-
Quinta do Tedo
Ruby.
-
Taylor’s
Finest Reserve, Marks & Spencer.
-
Croft Late
Bottled Vintage 1998.
-
Dow’s LBV
1998.
-
Rozès LBV 1995
Unfiltered.
The other results can be found by choosing Port under Countries at: www.decanter.com/worldwineawards/results.php
IVDP events calendar as of
November 2004.
30/10/04.
The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto has planned the following events in
Belgium and Luxemburg, Portugal, Scandinavia, and the USA:
Courses
in Belgium and Luxemburg.
Catering Colleges:
26th November - Liège.
29th November - Stella Matutina of Michelbeke.
2nd December- Ter duiden Koksijde.
6th December- Stella Maris of Antwerp
November /December, to be confrrmed, - Brussels at Ceria.
December to be confirmed - Fleurus.
Sommelier Associations:
15th November - Restaurant de Eike Restaurant, Antwerp (to be confirmed).
13th December - L'air du Temps Restaurant, Eghezée.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=696
Special tasting in Portugal.
6th and 7th October during the Encontro com o Vinho e Sabores in o Centro de
Congressos de Lisboa.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=704
Port
Wine Tastings in Scandinavia.
31st October: Copenhagen dinner with Port and Douro.
1st November: Port tasting in Borsen Palace, Copenhagen - Denmark.
3rd November: Port tasting at the Oslo Militære Samfund, in Oslo – Norway.
4th November: Port tasting in Helsinki – Finland.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=686
Port and Douro Wine
Tasting in the USA.
1st November: Morrells Restaurant, 900 Broadway @ 20th Street, New York.
Revista de Vinhos
no. 179 October 2004.
30/10/04. We have sadly not
received the October issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos.
Investing in tourism by Cálem.
02/10/04. Cálem of the Spanish Caixanova/Sogevinus will invest 6 million Euros
in the tourist activities in its lodges at the Douro bank in Vila Nova de Gaia.
On average 120,000 visitors are annually given a guided tour in 7 languages in
these lodges.
Building activities will last 7 months and comprise over 4,000 metres square in
which the following will be realized: a museum, an auditorium for 120 persons, a
multifunctional room, 3 meeting rooms and a restaurant.
Historic objects including bottles of the 1875 and 1920 Vintages will be
exhibited in the museum. Sculptures, paintings, graphic art and photographs from
the art collection of Caixanova will be showed in the multifunctional room.
Cálem possesses another site close to the D. Luis 1 bridge with a capacity for
groups up to 200 people. This site, named “Caves do Ponte” has 2 terraces
along the river.
In 2003 Cálem sold over 3.5 million bottles of Port and has invoiced some 14
million Euros. Present stocks comprise 8 million litres. The company has 72
employees, exports to 30 countries and is market leader in Portugal and
Scandinavia.
Cálem will purchase a quinta of 250 hectares in the Douro region to be less
dependent and to utilize the tourist possibilities.
(Source: ICEP Empresas of 07/09/04, ICEP Revista de Imprensa Estrangeira of
10/09/04 and Correio da Manhã of 13/09/04.)
Personal September
2004. 02/10/04.
-
The American
magazine Wine and Spirits has chosen João Nicolau de Almeida of Ramos Pinto as
1 of the 50 most influential winemakers in the world.
-
The English
magazine Wine International has chosen David Guimaraens of The Fladgate
Partnership (Taylor’s, Fonseca, Croft and Delaforce) as Winemaker of the Year
for fortified wine.
-
The same Wine
International has nominated Peter Symington of
The Symington Family (Dow’s, Graham’s, Warre’s and so on) Wine
Personality of the Year together with 49 others.
Restart Poças
Newsletter.
02/10/04. After over a year Manoel D. Poças Júnior - Vinhos S.A. has put new
life into its newsletter. The glossy publication in A4-size (2 pages) is
entitled “Poças Porto & Douro”. The company gives brief information
about gained prizes, new products, weather and vine evolution and statistical
data on trade. New are: a column “Editorial” each time on a different
subject and written by well-known people from the Port trade and a section
“Little hole” for everybody who wants to send a contribution with news from
his company or market, events or curiosities.
The September issue contains the following information on Port:
-
the
announcement of an article in the next edition on the 9 gold and 12 silver
medals Poças has lately won in competitions.
-
the
presentation of 4 new gift sets.
-
a preview on
the good prospects for the coming harvest.
-
some figures on
the world Port trade in the first half year.
This newsletter is an excellent way to inform professionals and Port lovers on
the Poças activities.
My trip to Portugal
by Nicos Neocleous.
02/10/04. A travel report by the in England living Greek Nicos Neocleous has
been published at the Wine Lovers Page of Robin Garr. It is readable, but offers
little that is new except the paragraph about the tasting panel of the Instituto
dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto, which is excellent. Appendixes with many tasting
notes have been added to the report. The article can be found at: www.wineloverspage.com/port/douro.phtml
Decanter World Wine Awards 2004.
02/10/04. The results of the category over 10 English pounds (14.75 Euros) of
the first version of this competition of the English magazine Decanter have now
been published in print and online. Gold medals went to:
-
Graham’s Vintage
1980.
-
SPR Vinhos São Pedro
das Águias Vintage 2000.
-
Taylor’s Quinta de
Vargellas Vintage 1996.
-
Taylor’s 20
Years Old Tawny.
The Regional Trophy Best of the Golds went to the Taylor’s 20 Years Old Tawny.
The other results in this price range can be found by choosing Port under
Countries at: www.decanter.com/worldwineawards/results.php
It is annoying that the type indications are lacking in this list.
The jury had been made up as follows: Richard Mayson, writer (regional chairman);
Adrian Bridge, managing director The Fladgate Partnership (Taylor’s, Fonseca,
Croft, Delaforce); Peter Cobb, writer; Godfrey Spence, writer and wine educator;
Charles Symington, production director The Symington Family (Dow’s, Graham’s,
Warre’s, Q. do Vesuvio, and so on).
The results of the category under 10 English pounds will be publihed in the
magazine and online on November 3rd , 2004.
For more information on this competition see our News item of
02/08/03.
IVDP book O Vinho
do Porto now also in English and French.
02/10/04. At the end of 2003 the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto has
published the book O Vinho do Porto in Portuguese. This book is now also
available in English and French. O Vinho do Porto deals with the region, the
history, the production and the markets of Port among other things.
The book is available in all IVDP establishments (offices, solares and shops).
Link of the month
October 2004.
02/10/04. For this month we have chosen www.quinta-do-vesuvio.com
When The Symington Family bought this quinta of 408 hectares in 1989 they made
it into an independent shipper, not brought under one of their other houses (Dow’s,
Graham’s, Warre’s, Smith Woodhouse, Quarles Harris and Gould Campbell).
Since then The Symington Family have made a Vintage of every harvest, unless the
quality did not allow this at all (1993 and 1999).
The website of this quinta is nicely designed with good information and
magnificent photographs.
Henrik Oldenburg: Port.
02/10/04. To day we have
published a review of Port by Henrik Oldenburg. It is a magnificent book with
excellent information. Because it was published in 1999, some points have
obviously changed in the meantime. It is a pity that the information on
unfiltered Ports is not entirely correct. More at: Files/Library.
Wine Spectator
Auction Index: Port down.
02/10/04. Peter D. Meltzer comments the last Wine Spectator Auction Index in the
September 30th issue of this American magazine as follows:
“Demand for Vintage Port usually drops as the weather warms up and this (second)
quarter was no exceptation. As a category, Vintage Port fell 3%. The 1997
Vintage was down 13% and the !970 Vintage dipped 11%. However, the 1994 Vintage,
which is inching toward maturity, rose 15%. The biggest gainers were Graham’s
1994 at U$ 76 per bottle (up 95%) and Warre’s 1994 which averaged U$ 47 per
bottle (up 47%).”
The Vintages 1963, 70, 77, 94 and 97 of Fonseca, Graham’s, Taylor’s and
Warre’s have been entered in the index tabel.
Private
individual sales old Ports (2).
02/10/04. We have to draw attention to those who have read the first item with
this headline between September 4th and 11th to the fact
that the list of offered Ports has been changed as follows:
-
1 Garrafeira
1834,
-
one box with 2
Garrafeiras 1847, 1 Vintage 1927 and 1 Vintage 1935,
-
one box with 3
Garrafeiras 1847 and 2 Vintages 1927.
More information can be received through: galhanoalves@yahoo.fr
IVDP events calendar as of October 2004.
02/10/04.
The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto has planned the following events in
Belgium and Luxemburg, Canada, The Netherlands, Scandinavia,
Spain, Switzerland and the USA:
Courses
in Belgium and Luxemburg.
Catering Colleges:
26th November - Liège.
29th November - Stella Matutina of Michelbeke.
2nd December- Ter duiden Koksijde.
6th December- Stella Maris of Antwerp
November /December, to be confrrmed, - Brussels at Ceria.
December to be confirmed - Fleurus.
Sommelier Associations:
15th November - Restaurant de Eike Restaurant, Antwerp (to be confirmed).
13th December - L'air du Temps Restaurant, Eghezée.
Port Wine Shows in Canada.
19th October: in the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver.
21st October: in the King Edward Hotel in Toronto.
25th October: in the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.
27th October: in Montreal.
Portuguese Wine Fair in The Netherlands.
18th October: in the NH Utrecht Hotel.
Port
Wine Tastings in Scandinavia.
31st October: Copenhagen dinner with Port and Douro.
1st November: Port tasting in Borsen Palace, Copenhagen - Denmark.
3rd November: Port tasting at the Oslo Militære Samfund, in Oslo – Norway.
4th November: Port tasting in Helsinki – Finland.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=686
Port
Wine and Desserts Week, Madrid - Spain.
In the week between the 18th and 24th October.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=666
Very Special Port Wine Tasting in Switzerland.
5th October 2004:
Au Premier, Hauptbahnhoff, Zurich – Switzerland.
Port and Douro Wine Tastings In the USA.
4th October: Bob Chinn's Crabhouse Chicago, 315 North La Salle Street,
Chicago.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=700
27th October: Hampshire House, 84 Beacon Street, Boston.
1st November: Morrells Restaurant, 900 Broadway @ 20th Street, New York.
Revista
de Vinhos no. 178 September 2004.
02/10/04. The September issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos
contains the following information on Port Wine:
New products:
The Quinta das Heredias (Senhora do Covento) 10 Years Old Tawny gets 16.5 Points
from the editorial staff on a score chart of 0-20. The Q. de São Domingos (Castelinho)
20 Years Old Tawny gets 17.5 points.
LBV tasting:
João Afonso reports a tasting with 35 Late Bottled Vintages of which 3
Unfiltered. The tasting panel established large differences in style, but almost
all were of great quality. This is also proved by the high average score of 16.8
points. The highest score of 17.5 points went to:
-
Dow’s 1998.
-
Noval
Unfiltered 1998.
-
Poças 1999.
-
Poças Q. de Santa
Barbara 1999.
-
Q. do Vale D.
Maria (Olazabal & Filhos) Unfiltered 1999.
At the bottom of the list we find the Dalva (C. da Silva) 1999 with 15.5 points.
Viniculture Barros, Almeida:
João Afonso describes the viniculture at the quintas of Barros, Almeida (Q. da
Dona Matilde and Q. São Luís) which is more and more carried out with
biological techniques. Tasting notes have been printed along with the article.
The Barros Colheita 1965 gets 18 points, the Barros Q. da Dona Matilde Vintage
2002 gets 17 points.
Port at Sotheby’s:
Luís Lopes presents a survey of tens of lots as recently auctioned at
Sotheby’s in London.
The website www.revistadevinhos.pt
where these articles could before been found is still under reconstruction.
Single Quintas in Wine International.
04/09/04. In the September issue of the English magazine Wine International an
article by David Cobbold was published on single quintas in the Douro region.
The article entitled “Single Solutions” is historically well documented.
Many spokesmen of the large shippers are extensively quoted and 2 of the 3
single quinta types receive excellent descriptions.
The text about the quintas of the large shippers and the exceptions amongst them
– Q. do Vesuvio of the Symington Family and Q. do Noval – is above reproach.
But the text part about the independent quintas is plain weak. Here the emphasis
lays on quintas of foreigners and descendants of large shippers – often with
limited activities – while the quintas of the often well educated Portuguese
farmer’s families are ignored.
Consider Q. do Portal, Q. da Seara d’Ordens, Q. do Maurão, Q. de Casa Santa
Eufémia, Q. de Marrocos, Q. do Estanho, Q. do Bucheiro and others, all quintas
with a large range of Port products. Not one spokesman of these quintas, or of
the in fact mentioned Q. do Infantado, or of the organization of independent
quintas AVEPOD have evidently been heard or at least are not quoted. Exactly
this group of independent quintas forms in our opinion the core of recent
development, which still continues. Young, university educated winemakers are
often the great stimulators in the transformation of family companies.
Of course small producers have more dificulties with the production process,
marketing and sales. But as long as they earn more on every self-sold bottle
than by selling grapes or young Port, this development will continue.
Considering the ever better and sometimes excellent results of these independent
quintas in international competitions we will continue to follow this
development with great interest.
Additions to Round
trip September 2004.
04/09/04. We have made several additions in our Round
trip article. The most important are:
-
the Port Wine
museum in Oporto in paragraph 3.
-
trips with
traditional Barcos Rabelos in paragraph 7.
-
extension of
activities at Quinta do Passadouro in paragraph 14.1d.
Wine Cluster Co
launches Port Solene Reserves.
04/09/04. The new Portuguese company Wine Cluster Co (WCC) has only recently
launched a Ruby Reserve and a Tawny Reserve of the brand Porto Solene. WCC
itself has the following to say about these products:
“Porto Solene … was created and developed by WCC in association with … Poças
Junior. Goal is to differentiate Port Wine through package (and) creating a
recognizable taste and consistent quality … Porto Solene is an exclusive
product, with numbered and limited edition …”
Both wines are marketed in half a litre bottles of clear glass. Bottles, labels
and boxes have been designed in taut lines.
WCC activities are wine marketing, promotion and sales. The company is not a
producer. WCC is looking for interested importers.
See also: www.portosolene.com
International Wine
Challenge 2004.
04/09/04. During the International Wine Challenge 2004 of the English magazine
Wine International 2 Trophies were awarded to Port:
- a Top Trophy in the category The Fortified Trophy, Port Trophy went to
Taylor's 40 Years Old Tawny.
- a Regional & Varietal Trophy in the category Vintage Port Trophy went to
the 2000 Vintage of Smith Woodhouse.
Gold medals were awarded to:
-
Poças LBV
1998.
-
Quinta do
Vallado 10 Years Old Tawny.
-
Ramos Pinto Q.
da Ervamoira 10 Years Old Tawny.
-
Warre’s Otima
10 Years Old Tawny.
-
Dow’s 20
Years Old Tawny.
-
Graham’s 20
Years Old Tawny.
-
(Wiese &)
Krohn 20 Years Old Tawny.
-
Taylor’s 40
Years Old Tawny.
-
Churchill’s
Vintage 1991.
-
Smith Woodhouse
Vintage 2000.
-
Q. do Vale Meão
Vintage 2001.
The many silver and bronze medals and the Seals of Approval can be found at www.wineint.com/winesearch.asp
Links page: additions in September 2004. 04/09/04.
-
www.quinta-do-passadouro.com/producten
-
www.portosolene.com
the products of the Portuguese Company Wine Cluster Co.
-
www.greatwinecapitals.com
the collaboration of 8 wine capitals including Oporto, with extensive
information.
-
www.quinta-do-passadouro.com/douropass
with walking tours, tastings and classes.
New Barco Rabelo sails the
Douro.
04/09/04. The cruise company Douro Azul has build a Barco Rabelo in association
with Caves Ferreirinha. These open boats were formerly used for the transport of
Port casks from the Douro region to Vila Nova de Gaia. The new boat, named
“Barão de Forrester”, costs 100,000 Euros. The construction of the boat is
completely traditional, without keel and with the classic quadrangular sail.
The “Barão de Forrester” will make one-hour trips between the Luiz 1 and
the Arrábida bridges (from Oporto to Vila Nova de Gaia) and will call in at
both banks. The trips have started on August 7th . The boat has a
capacity of 12 passengers. The fare will amount to 8 Euros a person. It will, of
course, make stops at the Ferreira lodges for a guided tour and a tasting.
(Source: O Primeiro de Janeiro of 08/08/04.)
News from
Quinta do Passadouro. 04/09/04.
Link of the
month September 2004.
04/09/04. For this month we have chosen the website of Wiese & Krohn: www.krohn.pt
The typeface on the Homepage of this site is hardly legible. This is much better
on the other pages.
The product information of the company is excellent. All available years of the
Colheitas, Vintages and LBV’s are given.
Warre’s Otima20.
04/09/04. After the Otima10 some years ago, Warre’s has now launched the
Otima20, a 20 years old Tawny. Warre’s states these Tawnies are lighter and
more contemporary.
The Otima20 is marketed in the same half a litre bottle of clear glass in which
the Otima10 is also supplied. The label of the Otima20 has the same form as of
the Otima10, but the background colour has been changed into black/blue and
minor changes have been made in the layout.
The Otima20 will be available in all countries Warre’s is represented. The
newcomer got 94 points on a scale to 100 in the September issue of Wine
International.
Private individual
sales old Ports.
04/09/04. The Portuguese J.P. Galhano Alves is selling a stock of old Ports (and
old French and Spanish table wines). It concerns 2 boxes Ferreirinha each with 6
bottles from 1847, 1 bottle from 1917, 4 bottles from 1927 and 1 bottle from
1935.
11/09/04. On September 9th we heared that the list is now as follows after
carefully studying of all bottles and labels and elimination of all not filled
bottles:
- 1 Garrafeira 1834,
- one box with 2 Garrafeira's 1847, 1 Vintage 1927 and 1 Vintage 1935,
- one box with 3 Garrafeira's 1847 and 2 Vintages 1927.
A specialized expert will determine the prices after offerings. More information
can be received through galhanoalves@yahoo.fr
IVDP events calendar as of September 2004:
04/09/04. The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto has planned the following
events in Brazil, Canada, Scandinavia, Holland, Switzerland and Spain:
Tastings in Brazil.
14th September: Port Wine and Desserts Tasting in the Carême Restaurant in
Rio de Janeiro. Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=681
and http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=683
21st September: Port and Douro Wine Tasting in the Portuguese Embassy in
Brasilia.
Port Wine Shows in Canada.
19th October: in the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver.
21st October: in the King Edward Hotel in Toronto.
25th October: in the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.
27th October: in Montreal.
Port
Wine Tastings in Scandinavia.
29th September: Port tasting at the Vinkallaren Grappa, in Stockholm – Sweden.
31st October: Copenhagen dinner with Port and Douro.
1st November: Port tasting in Borsen Palace, Copenhagen - Denmark.
3rd November: Port tasting at the Oslo Militære Samfund, in Oslo – Norway.
4th November: Port tasting in Helsinki – Finland.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=686
IVDP Promotional Events in Holland.
10 year-old Tawny tasting for the Dutch Wine Brotherhood: September.
10 year-old Tawny tasting for Perswijn trade magazine: 1 October.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=617
Very Special Port Wine Tasting in Switzerland.
5th October 2004:
Au Premier, Hauptbahnhoff, Zurich – Switzerland.
Port
Wine and Desserts Week, Madrid - Spain.
In the week between the 18th and 24th October.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=666
Revista
de Vinhos no. 177 August 2004.
04/09/04. The only Port news in the August issue of the Portuguese magazine
Revista de Vinhos concerns a short item on the launch of Porto Solene. See more
on this: Wine Cluster Co launches Porto Solene Reserves.
Symington Family Port Award 2003.
07/08/04. The second version of this award for the best, about Port written,
piece published in the UK (see also our News
item of 01/11/03) has jointly been granted to:
-
Neil Beckett
for his article “Cleaning out the closet” in the Port Supplement of Harpers
Wine & Spirit (October 2003) and
-
Robyn Lewis for
her article “Post-Prandial Promotions” in The Drinks Business (September
2003).
These articles are not available on the internet as far as we know.
Last year’s winner (“Iberian Express” by Andrew Jefford in Waitrose Food
Illustrated) was a lyrical travel report about the Douro region. This year it
concerns 2 more technical subjects. Neil Beckett writes on viniculture including
vineyard classification, Robyn Lewis reviews Port consumption in the catering
industry in the UK.
Both winners received a cheque for 1,250 pounds and a case of Graham’s 2000
Vintage Port.
The members of the jury were Allan Cheesman, Steve Daniels, Sebastian Payne,
Jancis Robinson en Marcia Walters.
The Symington Family is looking forward to the entries of this year’s award.
Production quota 2004 up.
The interprofessional counsel of the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP)
has determined the production quota for the next harvest at 126,000 pipes (casks
of 550 litres) must (before adding aguardente). This is a rise of 18,100 pipes
or almost 16.8% compared to last year (107,900 pipes) and the first increase
since 2001 when 154,000 pipes had been allowed (2002: 135,000 pipes). The
increase is possible because sales have risen.
At the assignment to the vineyards classes A – F a swing has been used to the
better classes for the first time for years. The figures are now as follows (successively
we mention the quota in 2003, the quota for 2004 if they all would be increased
with the above-mentioned 16.8%, the definitive quota for 2004 – all in litres/hectare
– and the increase percentages compared to 2003):
A: 2188; 2556; 2570; +17.46%.
B: 2188; 2556; 2529; +15.59%.
C: 1997; 2332; 2339; +17.13%.
D: 1997; 2332; 2287; +14.52%.
E: 1738; 2030; 1979; +13.87%.
F: 784;
916; 861;
+9.82%.
For the full communiqué see: www.ivdp.pt/pt/noticias/cv2004.pdf
Roy
Hersh: a Niepoort tasting.
The American Port guru Roy Hersh has published an excellent and extensive report
on a tasting of Niepoort Colheitas, Garrafeiras and Vintages. He was able to
judge the Colheita’s 1863, 1900, 1934, 1962, 1979, 1987, 1988 and 1994, the
Garrafeira’s 1952 and 1977 and the Vintages 1970, 1987, 2000, 2000Secundum,
2001Secundum and 2 cask samples of 2003.
The article can be found at http://wineloverspage.com/port/niepoort.phtml
Report IVDP tasting
in San Francisco.
07/08/04. On June, 10th , San Francisco was witness to a successful
Port and Douro Wine event. Over 83 Ports and 21 Douro wines were provided to
both a trade and consumer audience.
Many people commented on the educational and fun element of the event and asked
when the next one will be.
The full article can be found at www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=641
Douro region in
chain European Unesco wine regions.
07/08/04. Seven wine regions, which have been designated as Cultural Heritage by
Unesco, are going to form a chain with the aim to vary the tourist offer. The
associated regions are the Rhine valley in Germany, Cinqueterra in Italy, Ferdo/Neusiedlersee
and Wachau in Austria, the wine area of Tokaj in Hungary, Saint Émilion and the
Loire valley in France and the Douro region.
Representatives of the Loire valley are in charge of the chain. The Gabinete Técnico
Intermunicipal, the Liga dos Amigos do Douro Património Mundial and the
Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro and do Porto are involved in the project on behalf
of the Douro region.
(Source: Jornal de Notícias of 11/07/04.)
Concurso Internacional de
Vinhos Cidade do Porto 2004.
07/08/04. During the fourth Cidade do Porto 1 Great Golden Medal was awarded. It
went to the 10 Years Old Tawny of Ramos Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira.
The many golden and silver medals can be found at www.portugalnews.pt/imgupload/vinhos.doc
Wine Spectator
Auction Index: Port Up.
07/08/04. The last Wine Spectator Auction Index has been published in the June
30th issue of this American magazine. Peter Meltzer comments on the
results:
“The first quarter of the auction season is usually a quiet period, with fewer
sales than during the Christmas crush. … The index dropped from 197 to 195.
… Vintage Port rose dramatically with 17%. … Warre’s proved to be the most
popular label, with the 1997 Vintage averaging U$ 49 per bottle, up 104%.
Warre’s was also the strongest performer in the 1963 Vintage, averaging U$ 183
per bottle, up 69%.”
The Vintages 1963, 1970, 1977, 1994 and 1997 of Fonseca, Graham’s, Taylor’s
and Warre’s have been entered in the index table.
Sales figures
January to May 2004.
07/08/04. The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto has published the sales
figures of the first 4 months of the year.
The top 8 in volume were:
The
top 8 in revenue were:
The
full information can be found at www.ivp.pt/pt/Estatistica/estatistica3.shtm
Link of the month
August 2004.
07/08/04. For this month we have chosen www.taylor.pt
Taylor’s is part of The Fladgate Partnership which also includes the brands
Fonseca, Croft and Delaforce.
Taylor’s pleasantly designed website offers good and extensive information in
English, Portuguese and French.
The chapter “Port Professor” deserves special attention. Especially the
paragraphs “Judging a Port’s Age” and “Matching Port and Food” are
very instructive.
International Wine
and Spirit Competition 2004 – Harpers.
07/08/04. The 2004 IWSC president was Paul Symington of The Symington Family.
Gold medals were awarded to:
-
Warre’s
Warrior Special Reserve.
-
Dow’s Crusted
1999.
-
“Marks and
Spencer” LBV 1998.
-
Ferreira 20
Years Old Tawny.
-
Dow’s 30
Years Old Tawny.
-
Andresen Colheita 1968.
-
Graham’s Malvedos Vintage 1996.
-
Quinta do
Vesuvio Vintage 2001.
The many silver and bronze medals and the “Commendations” can be found at www.iwsc.net/searchFortified.cfm?Page=awardsFW
Cockburn’s
still no. 1 in UK.
07/08/04. After some confusion earlier this year Cockburn’s proves still to be
the largest Port brand in the United Kingdom. Taylor’s, mistakenly been
pointed out as such, is second best.
More on this can be found at www.harpers-wine.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=1494&i=1
Good article at BBC
Online.
07/08/04. BBC Online has published a good article by Will Smale entitled “Port
still tickling taste buds”. Smale discusses the issue within the scope of the
special relationship between England and the Port industry. There are still 4
English Port firms:
-
The Fladgate
Partnership (Taylor’s, Fonseca, Croft and Delaforce).
-
The Symington
Family (Dow’s, Warre’s, Graham’s, Smith Woodhouse, Gould Campbell, Quarles
Harris and Quinta do Vesuvio).
-
Cockburn’s (Allied
Domecq).
-
Churchill’s.
However, the first 2 belong to the 3 largest companies and have a marketshare of
30 – 35% together. The third company in the top 3 is Sogrape (Sandeman,
Ferreira and Offley).
The article can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/business/3818175.stm
River tourism
increases again.
07/08/04. In the first 6 months of 2004, 40,202 passengers were carried by the
23 cruise ships on the Douro. In 2003 this was 32,360, an increase of 24%. For
the entire year an increase is expected from 168,000 to 200,000 passengers. The
majority of these tourists are Portuguese, French, North-American and English.
The 5 hotel boats amongst the 23 ships carried 5,087 passengers of whom 95% were
foreigners mainly from France.
(Source: PúblicOnline of 07/07/04.)
San Francisco
International Wine Competition 2004.
07/08/04. During the 23rd SF International Wine Competition 2 gold
medals were awarded to the following Ports:
-
the Dow’s
Reserve and
-
the Ramos Pinto
30 Years Old Tawny.
The silver and bronze medals can be found at www.sfwinecomp.com/results/2004_results_winery.pdf
IVDP events
calendar as of August 2004:
07/08/04. The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto has planned the following
events in Scandinavia, Holland, Switzerland and Spain:
Port
Wine Tastings in Scandinavia.
29th September: Port tasting at the Vinkallaren Grappa, in Stockholm – Sweden.
31st October: Copenhagen dinner with Port and Douro.
On the 1st November, the Great Port Tasting Copenhagen will take place as usual
in Borsen Palace.
3rd November: Port tasting at the Oslo Militære Samfund, in Oslo – Norway.
4th November: Port tasting in Helsinki – Finland.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=644
IVDP Promotional Events in Holland.
10 year-old Tawny tasting for the Dutch Wine Brotherhood: September.
10 year-old Tawny tasting for Perswijn trade magazine: 1 October.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=617
Very Special Port Wine Tasting in Switzerland.
5th October 2004:
Au Premier, Hauptbahnhoff, Zurich – Switzerland.
Port
Wine and Desserts Week, Madrid.
In the week between the 18th and 24th October.
Read more at: http://www.ivp.pt/uk/noticias/noticia.asp?id=666
Revista de Vinhos
no. 176 July 2004.
07/08/04. The July issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos contains
the following information on Port Wine:
New product:
The Quinta do Javali Ruby Reserva gets 17 points from the editorial staff on a
score chart of 0 – 20.
Quinta de Ventozelo:
This quinta, owned by the Spanish group Proinsa, is described in an article by
António Falcão. Q. de Ventozelo is the largest quinta in the Douro region with
600 hectares, of which 160 hectares vineyards at the end of this year – all of
class A. The surface of vineyards will increase to 250 – 300 hectares in the
future. The editorial staff values the Reserva with 16 points, the LBV 1999 with
16.5, the 10 and 20 Years Old Tawnies with 17 each and the Vintage 2001 with
17.5 points.
Cockburn’s:
João Afonso reports in his article on Cockburn’s extensive and long-term
experiences with grape types and viniculture at its 4 own quintas with
collectively some 300 hectares vineyards. Tasting notes of Cockburn’s Quinta
dos Canais Vintages have been printed along with the article. The 1992 is valued
with 16.5 points, the 1995 with 17.5, the 1998 with 17, the 1999 with 17.5, the
2000 with 18 and the 2001 with 17.5 points.
Ferreira and Sandeman:
Fernando Melo reviews the tourist activities in the lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia
of these 2 Sogrape brands. He values Ferreira with 17 points and Sandeman with
18.5 points.
Gran Cruz:
Jean Cayard, the founder of Cran Cruz, has died. The start and the expansion of
this French Port house is described in an In Memoriam.
The website www.revistadevinhos.pt
where these articles can normally be found is still under reconstruction.
Real Companhia Velha and Sogrape (Sandeman/Ferreira/Offley).
03/07/04.
1. Well-informed sources have told the newspaper Diário Económico that Sogrape
is studying the purchase of Real Companhia Velha (RCV – Royal Oporto).
RCV was founded in 1756 and is the oldest Port company. The business of the
Silva Reis family was occupied and nationalized during the Portuguese revolution
of 1974. Although this nationalization was rectified later, financial problems
have always remained afterwards. Large blocks of shares changed of owner and in
1990 a block of 40% ended up in possession of the Casa do Douro which, because
of that, got into dire straits itself. As the large shippers continued to trade
with RCV during the period of nationalization a deep gap was created between
them and the Silva Reis family. RCV is still the only large Port producer not
associated with the organization of large shippers (AEVP).
The annual sales of RCV amount to 30 million Euros, the sales of Sogrape are 170
million Euros. There is a possibility that Sogrape will sell its brand Offley
after purchasing RCV.
(Source: Diário Económico of 01/06/04.)
2.
Sogrape has sold the Sherry activities of Sandeman to the Spanish company Garvey.
The selling price might be 38 million Euros. The sale includes all except the
brand name Sandeman that has been preserved for the Port products.
(Source: Diário Económico of 08/06/04.)
The 6 Vintages 2002
of Symington.
03/07/04. Euan Mackay, director of the Symington Family Port Shippers, has informed us
that of the 6 Vintages 2002 (see our News item of 05/06/04) only the Quinta de
Roriz will be sold promptly. The other 5 will not be released onto the market
for another 7 to 10 years.
Tasting note Casa do Douro 1963.
03/07/04. Much to our pleasure a tasting note is available of the Colheita 1963 marketed
by the Casa do Douro (see our News items of 06/09/03 and
03/04/04). The Dutch
connoisseur and enthusiast “Stevie Cage” made the note. It can be found in
one of the Wine Spectator Forums at http://forums.winespectator.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=9306023451&f=3146091161&m=44860515
Link of the month
July 2004.
03/07/04. For this month we have chosen www.realcompanhiavelha.pt
RCV is the oldest Port house with, at times, a stormy history (see also our News
item Real Companhia Velha and Sogrape).
The site of RCV is nicely designed with good information in Portuguese and
English. The description of the company’s 6 quintas is extensive.
The sections Ports and Chocolates and Ports and Cigars behind the link Harmonies
are the best we know on these subjects.
Sélections mondiales des
vins 2004.
03/07/04. During the 13th Sélections mondiales des vins from June 3rd to 7th
in Montreal, Canada 2 Grand gold medals were awarded to:
-
the Gran Cruz
Special Reserve and
-
the Barros
Colheita 1996.
The many gold and silver medals can be found at http://smsaq.saq.com/htm/en/gagnants2004.html#Ptgl
New logo and
publicity campaign of Cálem.
03/07/04. Cálem of the Rogério Silva family has renewed its logo. The sailing ship from
the old logo has been maintained, though the image has been somewhat enlarged.
The word Porto and the year of foundation 1859 have been added.
In June Cálem has started a publicity campaign in the national and
international press as a result of this new logo.
The old logo: