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.
