Port Classifications

Some closer examination of Port classifications is also in order. We are aware of the most common levels; let’s see what they really mean: 

Vintage
The production of a single harvest that is removed form cask after 2 years, but no more than 3 years to finish maturing in the bottle. These wines need 15 or more years in bottle before they ready to drink. 

Vintage, Single Quinta
The production of a single harvest and one property. These are wines that are bottled in the same manner as Vintage Ports in non-declared years. They are released after no less than 8 years after the harvest. These are sometimes referred as “Off Vintage” ports and are ready to drink upon release. 

Colheita Ports  Pronounced (call YAY ta) meaning Harvest
These ports are allowed to mature in cask for at least 7 years before release and are vintage dated. The wine is meant to show the delicate balance between the power of youthful fruit and the warmth of maturity. Ready to drink upon release, some vintages are held back longer than 7 years due to special characteristics of the vintage. They do not mirror Vintage declarations of a Port house. 

Late Bottled Vintage
These wines are from a single harvest that are aged in cask for 4 to 6 years and then bottled. They are ready to drink upon release and are often unfiltered. 

Crusted Port
Crusted port are made from a blend of vintages, bottled from cask at a young (still over 3 years) stage of development. This wine requires decanting due to the “crust” of sediment and is ready upon release. 

Tawny Port
These have spent considerable time in cask, usually 10 or more years and the ruby color and fresh plum taste of young port has developed into a brown robe and nut flavor of mature, oxidized Port wine. Ready to drink upon release, wines less than 10 years of age will not carry an age statement and have probably been artificially oxidized. 

Vintage Character
Vintage character ports are made from a blend of wines that have been left in cask to mature. The VC of  a Port house is meant to exhibit the “style” of the producer.

Ruby
These wines are young, vibrant examples of “raw” port power and fruit. These are bottled after 3 years in cask and are usually blends of various harvests.

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