Kopke Colheita 1976 Bottled In 2026

Kopke Colheita 1976 Bottled In 2026

Sometimes we cannot believe how lucky we are. Here we are in 2026 celebrating our 50 years of wedded bliss having just had our golden wedding anniversary. We pop into Sarah's Cellar in Battle to pick up our port order and what do we find? Sarah has been an absolute angel and got in some bottles of 50 year old Kopke colheita. Well we just had to have one didn't we? She wasn't charging over the odds for it either considering what a rare and special offering this is.

The colour in the glass was a deep brown clear amber while the nose was a complex mixture of citrus fruits and old wood. The first striking thing about the taste was how sweet it was. The sweetness carried a complex, rich and full bodied mixture of flavours, which were well balanced so none were too predominant. There was a good dollop of burnt orange, sweet dried plums, and a dry nuttiness from the wood.

With the hints of gold in the colour this was a fitting way of marking our anniversary. 

Taylor's LBV 2020

Taylor's LBV 2020

 Dark inky ruby colour with a plummy and sweet nose. Tasting revealed a spicy and rich port with a soft flavour of plummy fruits behind the spiciness. There was a noticeable tannic freshness giving this a youthfulness which I can't remember experiencing in a Taylor's LBV previously. I used to complain that it always tasted the same whatever year it was; this time I am pleasantly surprised at how different this offering is.

Kopke Fine Tawny

Kopke Fine Tawny

Deep brownish red colour with quite a fruity nose. This rich port had soft plummy fruit flavours combined with a gentle peppery spiciness. There was really nothing not to like about this offering for consideration as an every day port.

Taylor's Select Tawny

Taylor's Select Tawny

There was a deep reddish brown colour with a subtly fruity nose. Tasting revealed a subtly rich port with a pleasant combination of plummy fruits and peppery spice. Not bad at all.

Ferreira Dona Antonia White Port 10 Year Old

 Ferreira Dona Antonia White Port 10 Year Old

This port had a deep amber colour with a nose that conveyed sweet honey scents with a hint of oak. Tasting revealed a fairly complex combination of fresh berry flavours, an almost treacly sweetness and dry oak. It was excellent served chilled as an aperitif.

Quinta do Infantado Vintage 2004

 Quinta do Infantado Vintage 2004

The colour was a really dark ruby with just a touch of fruit on the nose. There was little sign of oxidation which probably reflects on the quality of the cork that was used. Wines made from the Douro grape varieties vary from some which are spicy through to those where fruit flavours are more predominant. To start with this port was very much in of the spicy variety. However this mellowed as the hours went by to allow the underlying fruit flavours to come through. So to conclude we ended up with a rich spicy port with subtle underlying jammy fruit flavours.

Sandeman 20 Year Old Tawny Bottled In 2025

 Sandeman 20 Year Old Tawny Bottled In 2025

Clear rich amber colour with a slight red tinge. Alcohol was predominant on the nose with hints of citrus and oak.This wasn't a particularly rich example of this style having the finesse that I usually associate with colheitas. That being said it has a lovely harmony of subtle flavours with a dry oakiness being predominant over sweet dried fruits and nuts with a hint of citrus. Being approachable it won't be long before you have to pour yourself a second glass.