Smith Woodhouse - 10 Year Tawny - Port

Description

Overview: Smith Woodhouse has earned a reputation as one of the finest Port producers in the Douro River Valley since its founding in 1784. The brand was originally owned by Christopher Smith, Lord Mayor of London, who created a small company to ship Port from the Douro Valley, and was later joined by the help of the Woodhouse brothers. 

The Symington family acquired Smith Woodhouse in 1970 and have since brought four generations of experience as growers and producers of fine Port wines. Under the family’s ownership, the company has produced a succession of outstanding Vintage Ports. As a niche name with limited production, Smith Woodhouse is not as well-known as most of its peers, but among Port connoisseurs it is eagerly sought. In major blind tastings of all the Ports declared in Vintage years, critics consistently pick out the Smith Woodhouse as an extraordinarily good value. 

The grapes, hailing from Quinta da Madalena & Quinta do Vale Coelho, are harvested in fall and are fermented for a short period of time before the addition of 100% grape spirit alcohol. This step stops the fermentation, preserves the wine's natural grape sugars, and gives it it's unique richness. The wine is then moved into oak casks for aging, where it spends at least 10 years. The sole aging occurs in oak, provides the characteristic nuttiness of a 'tawny' port. "10 Years" indicates an average age: it is a blend of older lots, which offer complexity and depth, and younger wine, which lend fresh fruit flavors and vibrancy.

Tasting Notes: Aromatically the wine shows a mixture of mature stone and citrus fruits, with notes of nuts and crystallized ginger. On the palate, the wine has notes of red and dark berries, dried rose petals, and spicy exotic teas.

Pairing: Chocolate desserts or firm cheeses like mature Cheddar and Manchego.

Points: 91, Wine Spectator

Format / ABV: 750 ml/20.0%

In certain circumstances, a specific vintage may not be available. If this is the case, a comparable vintage of the same wine will be substituted for online orders. If shopping in store, please check the bottle for the appropriate vintage. If you have a question about a specific vintage that is in stock, please email wine@kegnbottle.com