Sandeman 'Vau Vintage' 1999, Douro, Portugal - 1.5l

There’s no beverage quite as classy as a vintage Port. This 1999 from Sandeman has a deep red colour, almost opaque at this point. Take a whiff, and you’ll be blown away by a complex bouquet, rich in red fruits with a lot of strawberries. In the mouth, it’s full-on, with rich plum and strawberry flavours and a firm backbone of soft tannins. Treat this with the respect it deserves and decant it before serving to separate out its sediment.

YEAR

1999

GRAPE

• Tinta Roriz
• Touriga Nacional
• Touriga Franca

WHAT IT GOES WITH

A glass of this and a slice of chocolate pudding just might be the key to eternal happiness. (and of course cheese)!

ABOUT THE VINEYARD

Scotsman George Sandeman founded the House of Sandeman in London in 1790 after borrowing £300 from his father. Sandeman’s vision was to specialize in Port and Sherry wines, and a couple of centuries later it’s still going strong. Grapes are hand-picked from the rolling hillside vineyards of the Douro Valley, and the wine is made according to local methods. Fermentation is halted and the wine “fortified” with the addition of wine alcohol. The barrels are then brought to the riverside Sandeman Port lodge at Villa Nova de Gaia, where the wine is aged, bottled, and then aged some more.