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Wine Details
Price:
Description:
Our Tawny is being released after four years of barrel aging, the minimum in Portugal for a Tawny. Of the four barrels we made, only one barrel is truly a Tawny at this stage, the other three are still turning, so we only bottled the single barrel. The difference between a Tawny and a Ruby or a Vintage Port, is that when aging a Tawny, a significant amount of air is introduced by under filling the barrels, allowing an air gap, which allows the wine to oxidize somewhat. The brick color and the nutty nose are a result of this treatment. Our Tawny is made from the traditional port varietals of Touriega Nacional, Tinto Cao, Saozoa, and Ardevelho from the vineyards of Richard Ripken in Lodi. The color is pure Tawny, deep brick. The nose has nuts, butter, maple and figs, elements that often show up in old Vintage Ports. The tannins are soft and mellow. We like this with pears and bleu cheese, pecans or walnuts, or good chocolate. We bottled these in 375 ml bottles so that they, as Fran Replogle says, "conveniently fit on the bed stand."
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Varietal Definition
Tinto Cao:
Portuguese red grape variety which is used for port wine. Grows in small bunches, the grapes are medium sized with a thick skin. The difference with the other port grapes is that it produces wines with a lower alcohol concentration. Just like the Touriga Nacional it is less productive with regard to total crop size turnover. It is especially used in the port blends for its flowery aroma and fruity taste. Smallest of all port varieties, but growing in popularity.
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