Kopke Colheita 1998 Port

1998 was the year German goalkeeper Andreas Kopke retired from international football after an unceremonious World Cup exit, as a result of Quarter Final defeat to Croatia. He was the guy who saved Gareth Southgate's penalty, knocking England out of the Euros in 1996. Thankfully for Gareth Southgate, the name and date on this bottle have absolutely nothing to do with the German National Football Team. The wine is robust, intense, well-balanced and perfectly mature; the exact opposite of an Englishmen about to take a penalty, maybe if Gareth indulges in some Kopke this Christmas, English football might be rejuvenated.
Kopke, arguably the oldest Port house in the Douro, was founded in 1638 and continues today to use their unmistakable and unique hand painted bottle. Kopke has always specialised in Tawny Ports, which are an intrinsically Portuguese affair. Hand-harvest at their best moment, the grapes are destemmed, crushed and vinified in a careful maceration with extraction of colour, tannins and aromas of the pellicles, complemented by permanent pumping-over during fermentation. This process takes place in vats at a controlled temperature between 28-30ºC, until reaching the desired Baumé. At this phase grape brandy is added to make a fortified wine. Bottled in 2000 and matured in bottle until the present day. Bright brown colour with reddish hints. Nose marked by the presence of dried fruits where delicately stands-out the freshness of the red fruit, like cherry. Elegant and complex in the taste, full of rich flavours well combined by the exuberance of spices. Unctuous, persistent and desirable finish.