Tasty Colheita from 2013
Colheita [cool-jæ-ta] is the Portuguese word for “autumn”. This type is a cask-aged Tawny from a specific year. That is to say, that the port wine reflects a specific harvest – in contrast to e.g. 10 and 20 year port, which so to speak indicates the average age of the port wine. Colheita is thus Tawny’erne’s pendant to Ruby’erne’s Vintage Port.
After two very dry years, the winter of 2013 gave lots of water to the earth’s reservoirs. The spring was cool, which delayed flowering and shortened the ripening period. But an increasingly hot and dry summer (4.6 mm of rain in June-July-August) caught up with what was lost, and the grapes were very healthy at harvest despite the stressful heat. The big difference in 2013 came on September 5, when a day-long rainstorm hit the Douro Valley. It gave just the amount of water that was needed for the grapes to be fully ripe. Autumn started a little week later than usual, but the whole harvest took place in brilliant sunshine with masses of healthy grapes in perfect condition.
Grapes from the Douro
Druerne til Otima Colheita comes from Warre’s parcels of land at Quinta da Cavadinha in Pinhão – one of the best growing areas in the Douro Valley – and Quinta do Retiro in the Rio Torto Valley. The port wine is produced at Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz, aged individually before blending and bottling.
Otima Colheita 2013 has a deep, dark caramel/amber color, and the scent has delicate hints of toasted, oriental spices, dates, orange peel and roasted almonds.
You immediately sense the classic, elegant and charming style, which is Warre’s hallmark. The port wine has both raisin, fig, barrel and vanilla notes, and although there is plenty of weight here, you will also find notes of red cherries and ripe strawberries. The aftertaste is nicely concentrated, great mouthfeel and well-dosed sweetness.
Perfect match for dessert
Otima Colheita can be enjoyed on its own, but is also an excellent companion to strong cheeses or to sweet desserts with chocolate. The port wine should be served slightly chilled, and after opening it should be able to keep for up to a month.
