Sandeman 20 Years Old Tawny Port 2 x 0.75L 2 Bottles Port Wine WINEMAKER: Luis Sottomayor. AWARDS/RECOMMENDATIONS 95 Points, Wine Enthusiast 95 Points, Tastings.com 93 Points, Falstaff 93 Points, Decanter World Wine Awards 93 Points, Wine & Spirits Magazine 93 Points, Gismondi On Wine 93 Points, Tom Cannavan 93 Points, Andreas Larsson - Tasted 92 Points, Wine Spectator 18 Points, Vinho Grandes Escolhas 17 Points, Jancis Robinson WINE VARIETIES: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca & Tinto Cão. VINIFICATION Sandeman Porto Tawny 20 Years Old is produced by the traditional Porto Wine method. The hand-picked grapes undergo stalk-removal and crushing before fermentation, under controlled temperature, with skin maceration so as to extract the best components. The addition of wine alcohol at the ideal moment sets the balance between the wine´s body and bouquet. This moment is chosen by the winemaker following strict control of fermentation temperatures and densities, the later depending on the vine variety, maturation stage and the final sweetness required. The wines remain in the Douro until the following Spring, when they are taken to V.N.Gaia and enter Sandeman´s centuries-old lodges for ageing in oak wood casks, as required by Porto Wine traditional ageing system. Along the years, the outstanding wines selected for this Sandeman Porto Tawny 20 Years Old are carefully tasted and analysed, racked from lees and all corrections deemed necessary by the tasters are carried out. The final blend results from a strict selection of wines aged between 15 and 40 years, masterfully combined so as to maintain Sandeman Porto Tawny´s 20 Years Old unique identity, style and consistency. TASTING NOTES A rich yet elegant combination of flavours - dried apricots, honey, nuts, spices, vanilla - creates an endlessly complex wine that unfolds smoothly and develops in the mouth. SERVING Sandeman Porto Tawny 20 Years Old is delightful served slightly chilled as a stylish accompaniment to a rich appetiser such as foie-gras, a strong cheese quiche, salty vol-au-vents or a seafood gratin. Perfect with selected desserts such as a crème brûlée or a tarte tatin, dried fruits or simply a fresh peach. An elegant aperitif when served chilled. Sandeman Porto Tawny 20 Years Old is ready for drinking and does not require decanting but benefits from aeration. Once open, it should be consumed within 2-3 months. Serve between 12ºC-16ºC. HISTORY It all started in 1790 when the 25-year-old son of a Scottish prosperous cabinetmaker asked for a 300£ loan from his father to set up as a wine merchant in London. This ambitious young man was George Sandeman, the founder of Sandeman, who ended up establishing one of the world’s leading Port and Sherry wine businesses. From early on Sandeman specialised in these two great Iberian fortified wines and, following a usual practice in those days, began trading not from own offices but from Tom’s Coffee house, on Birchin Lane, London. Business was agreed on a ‘gentleman’s word’ and George soon gained an impeccable reputation, characteristic of The House of Sandeman to today. In 1877, just one year following the creation of the first ‘Trade Marks Registration Act’ in England, the brand name ‘GSC George Sandeman & Co.’ (in Sandeman casks since 1805) was officially listed, being one the world’s oldest registered trademarks still in use. Sandeman is since 2002 under the ownership of Sogrape, a leading family-owned fine wine company, founded in 1942 in Portugal, and operating in five continents. Sandeman has profited from its know-how, investments and footprint, namely in the Douro, where Sogrape is a prime land owner and leading player in the industry. The many prizes and awards received by Sandeman Vintage Ports are a reflection of the excellent work done in the recent years. Sandeman was in the founding family from 1790 until 1952, when it became a public company, before Seagram took possession in 1980. In 2000, when Seagram beverage business was sold, Sandeman briefly passed to Pernod Ricard prior to its acquisition by Sogrape in 2002. PLEASE NOTE: This is a recurring auction. The seal number(s) you see on the photos might differ from the one(s) on your bottle(s).