Vintage: NV
Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
NV | SA124BNV | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Available |
NV | SA124GNV | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Available |
Producer
There are few more iconic images in the world of wine than the ‘Don’, the logo created for the Sandeman family in 1928 by George Massiot Brown. The cape was modelled on the attire worn by students at the University of Porto, while the sombrero was a nod to the family’s presence in Jerez.
Today, Sandeman Ports are every bit as famous as the image of the Don. This hasn’t always been the case, but since the Guedes family bought Sandeman from Seagram in 2002, the significant investment that has taken place in both vineyards and winery has seen them rise to the top of the tree in the Port trade. The fact that their winemaker, Luís Sottomayor, was crowned Fortified Winemaker of the Year at the 2022 International Wine Challenge is a testament to this.
The state-of-the-art Sandeman winery, built in 2007, is at the breathtakingly beautiful Quinta do Seixo, situated on the south bank of the Douro, just downstream from Pinhão. The winery is perched on top of a hill, garlanded by terrace after terrace of vines, some of which are over 100 years old. Quinta do Seixo comprises 108 hectares, 71 hectares of which are planted under vine. Many plots here also boast an ‘A grade’ classification in the ‘Cadastro’ ranking system of Douro vineyards.
The Single Quinta Vintage Port from Quinta do Seixo is a beautiful expression of this estate’s unique sense of place. A quarter of the grapes in the blend come from a small field-blend plot of over 100-year-old vines, which are extremely low-yielding and produce intensely concentrated fruit. The 2019 vintage was characterised by cooler-than-usual conditions in the Douro, resulting in delicate floral notes, hints of mint, precise cherry and blackberry fruit, and a vibrant acidity that carries the intense flavours onto the long finish.
A Vintage Port is only produced in truly outstanding years. Luís described 2018 as “one of the best, if not the best, vintage years I have witnessed” and Sandeman’s example was awarded the Vintage Port Trophy at the 2021 International Wine Challenge. The 2018 Vintage Port comprises a blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Sousão and Tinto Cão sourced from the best plots on the Quinta do Seixo and Quinta do Vau estates and foottrodden in Quinta do Seixo’s granite lagares. It bears the Sandeman hallmarks of powerful structure and incredible depth of flavour.
The Sandeman Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage is one of the best LBVs currently on the market. A blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão, it boasts intense aromas of ripe black fruits with a chocolatey richness.
The Sandeman range of Aged Tawny Ports is the most highly awarded of any Port House. These intense and complex Ports undergo extended ageing periods in oak casks, in the Sandeman lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia. The 10-Year-Old Tawny marries mellow fruit flavours with nutty hints. The 20-Year-Old has intense flavours of dried fruits, caramel and roasted nuts balanced by a lovely freshness. Moving up the scale towards ever greater complexity, the intensity and sprightliness of the 30-Year-Old is remarkable given how long it has aged in cask. As proven by the many trophies and ‘Best In Show’ awards that it has been garlanded with over the years, the 40-Year-Old is a beauty. Only approved as a category of Aged Tawny by the Port Institute in 2021, Sandeman’s 50-Year-Old is the pinnacle of premium Tawny Port. A blend of Tawnies aged between 40 to 70 years in cask, it has staggering complexity and length.
Vineyards
The Malvasia Fina, Códega, Viosinho and Gouveio grapes that make up the Sandeman White Port blend are sourced from high altitude vineyard sites in the Cima Corgo. Grapes grown at higher altitudes undergo a slower ripening process, as cool nights counteract the heat of the Douro valley days and the grapes accumulate great intensity of flavour whilst retaining a crisp natural acidity – an essential component for White Port. Soils in the Douro valley are composed predominantly of schist – a slate-like metamorphic rock which fractures vertically, allowing the vine roots to delve deep to access water and nutrients to sustain them through the hot summers. Once they have reached optimum levels of ripeness, the grapes grown in these steep and terraced vineyard sites are carefully harvested by hand.
Vinification
Upon arrival at the winery, the hand-picked grapes are destemmed and gently crushed. A brief maceration on the skins ensures optimum extraction of aromatic compounds. The juice is then separated from the skins and racked into stainless-steel tanks for fermentation at cool temperatures to preserve maximum freshness. The ferment is closely monitored to determine the ideal moment to halt the fermentation by fortifying with grape spirit, leaving some of the grapes’ natural sugars. The wines remain in the Douro until the spring following the harvest when they are transported downstream to the historic Sandeman cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia for ageing in oak casks. The wines are regularly tasted and analysed and the final blend is assembled from a selection of the best casks and combines wines between two to five years of age. The final blend is filtered and cold-stabilised prior to bottling.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Golden in colour. On the nose, aromas of ripe citrus and tropical fruits such as lemon, melon and pineapple are complemented by subtle honeyed and nutty nuances. A crisp and refreshing acidity on the palate perfectly balances the sweetness and carries the juicy fruit flavours onto the lingering finish. Best served chilled, this White Port can be savoured on its own, or as a refreshing ‘Portonic’ with a splash of tonic water, a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint.
Alcohol (ABV)
19.5%
Acidity
3.4 g/l
Residual Sugar
60 g/l
pH
3.55
Awards
Silver
International Wine Challenge 2019
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sandeman | Imperial Tawny Port | SA107 | Sustainable | P Port | |
Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port | SA108 | Vegetarian Vegan | P Port | Factsheet | |
20-Year-Old Tawny Port | SA109 | Sustainable | P Port | Factsheet | |
Vintage Port | SA112 | Vegetarian Vegan Sustainable | P Port | Factsheet | |
Founder's Reserve Ruby Port | SA113 | Sustainable | P Port | Factsheet | |
Tawny Port | SA114 | Sustainable | P Port | Factsheet | |
10-Year-Old Tawny Port | SA116 | Sustainable | P Port | Factsheet | |
30-Year-Old Tawny Port In Gift Box | SA117 | Sustainable | P Port | Factsheet | |
40-Year-Old Tawny Port In Gift Box | SA118 | Sustainable | P Port | Factsheet | |
`Quinta do Seixo` Port | SA121 | Vegetarian Vegan Sustainable | P Port | Factsheet | |
Ruby Port | SA127 | Sustainable | P Port | Factsheet | |
50-Year-Old Tawny Port In Wooden Gift Box | SA142 | Vegetarian Vegan Sustainable | P Port | Factsheet |