Ramos Pinto 20 Year Old Tawny Port 50cl

Many things have changed since 1880: Britannia no longer rules the waves (apart from Ben Ainslie, that is), we are no longer illuminated by candlelight and we have proved that the man in the moon exists. But in Portugal’s sleepy Douro valley and in the inner depths of the great Port Houses, not much has changed. And thank heavens: Ramos Pinto make this 20 year old Tawny in much the same way they always have. So when you taste its harmonious layers of dried fruit, roasted hazelnut, cinnamon, caramel and coffee, you’ll want to hold back the sands of time ever more.

Founded in 1880 by Adriano Ramos-Pinto, this famous house was taken over in 1990 when the Champagne House Louis Roederer became the majority shareholder. Their four quintas (vineyards) provide the majority of grapes in order to have maximum control over the quality of the wines, thereby maintaining their philosophy of controlling all stages of production.

The House has carried out extensive research into vine varieties for Port production and their findings have been accepted as the official recommendations by the authorities. Ramos Pinto also pioneered the study and use of vertical planting - which has since led to mechanisation of the vineyards.

Winemaker Joao Nicolas de Almeida helped select the five established varieties for the Douro having joined Ramos Pinto in 1976.

Made by blending high quality wines from Quinta do Bom Retiro, with an average age of 20 years. The new wines give it vigour and freshness and the older wines, complexity and pedigree creating a sophisticated and complex tawny. It is aged in oak casks.

The colour is tawny, with chestnut hints that reflect its advanced age. You are greeted with lively aromas of grapefruit, apricot, almond, hazelnut and cocoa on the nose. Oaky aromas of vanilla, old Port casks laced with roasted aromas of spice, cinnamon, caramel and coffee abound. On the palate it is fine and elegant from start to finish. It is a harmonious, complex sequence of dry, mature fruits and is well-balanced with a fresh and luscious structure. The finish is smooth, generous and richly persistent.