Quinta do Noval Colheita Port 2012 (2024)

FAQs

What does Colheita mean in port? ›

Colheita is simply Portuguese for harvest, or more colloquially, vintage. It is often used by producers in reference to their regular (usually, non-reserve) table wines, too.

Colheita Port: For younger Colheita Ports (less than 15 years old) they can last up to two - three weeks after being open without any obvious deterioration of quality. Older ones (30 - 40 years of age) are best consumed within 3-4 days.

Tawny port and colheita ports are better cooler – take them from the fridge half an hour to an hour beforehand to achieve a 14C to 16C temperature. This makes the wine very smooth and refreshing. White port can be served chilled straight from the fridge.

Colheita Port is a single vintage-dated Tawny Port (all grapes are from one harvest) which is aged in wood. In Portuguese, the word Colheita means harvest and can be construed therefore, to mean vintage as well. Colheitas can offer excellent value as they're usually less expensive than similarly aged Vintage Ports.

Best served at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. The wine should be stored in a cool and dry place, sheltered from light and temperature fluctuations, and the bottle should remain in an upright position. Over time, it is natural that sediment will form at the bottom of a bottle of Port wine. Every wine tells a story.

In Portuguese, Colheita means harvest, or colloquially, vintage. Therefore, Colheita Port is produced from a single vintage – all the grapes are from one harvest.

Most sealed ports will survive well for decades. That said, unlike humans, not many will improve with age. Tawny, ruby and late-bottled vintage ports, the most popular styles, typically do not mature in bottle. They're effectively embalmed.

Coupled with the extra oxidative ageing, the result is that, for a 40-year old Port, the original fruit of these wines is intensified greatly so that the wines are marvellously concentrated and complex.

Colheita Port

This is a Tawny Port from a single vintage, with the year of the harvest on the label. By law, a Colheita Port must remain in cask for seven years prior to bottling. It does not require decanting.

By law, Colheitas should be matured in wooden casks for at least seven years, although in practice they tend to be aged for much longer - sometimes up to 50 years. They are bottled only when the producer decides that the Port is ready to drink, and should be drunk in the following year or so.

How do you drink port liqueur? ›

With Port, you don't need to take a big mouthful at a time. Those who want to know how to drink Port need to approach it like a fine Brandy: with small sips. You want just enough that you get those delicious fruity and berry flavours. It is best to serve Port in standard wine glasses.

A well-sealed bottle of port wine will have a long shelf life thanks to its fortified alcohol content and a slower oxidisation process. Generally, unopened port wine should last for many years, even decades, if stored in a cool, dark place.

In the summer, Rosé or White Port can be served over ice with a peel of lime and even a splash of tonic for a refreshing long drink. Port's intense flavours and high alcohol levels mean it is typically served in small measures in dessert wine or special Port wine glasses.

Port wine is very versatile and can be paired with many different kinds of food. It is most commonly served at the end of the meal with a selection of fine cheeses, dried fruits and walnuts. It can, however, be served chilled as a delicious aperitif such as Taylor Fladgate's Chip Dry and Tonic.

In Portuguese, Colheita means harvest, or colloquially, vintage. Therefore, Colheita Port is produced from a single vintage – all the grapes are from one harvest.

By law, Colheitas should be matured in wooden casks for at least seven years, although in practice they tend to be aged for much longer - sometimes up to 50 years. They are bottled only when the producer decides that the Port is ready to drink, and should be drunk in the following year or so.