Tawny with age indication are Port wines bearing the specific handwriting of individual master blenders, whose art has been inherited for several generations. Each winery protects its recipe for these Port wines for the consistent consistency required by their customers. Age-indicated Tawny often provide them with a high price-quality ratio, which allows the buyer to obtain an older Tawny port wine at an affordable price.
Thus, those years are not the minimum number of years allowed to be aged in a barrel, but the average age of Tawny wines in the blend. Theoretically, a Tawny 30 Years Old can contain more parts of a 5-year-old Tawny and is supplemented by fewer parts of a 50-year-old Tawny, or you can have several different vintages mixed into one batch. This is the art and ingenuity of blender masters.
On the label, in addition to the age, you can also find the year of bottling at some manufacturers. It is best to buy this wine as soon as possible after bottling, as a longer stay in the shops loses the individual characteristics of a dated tawny.
The color of younger wines is red, over time it changes to a slight reddish-brown, aged Tawny abounds in cognac to finally amber.
In the taste, let’s look for dried fruits, later oranges, tangerines and nutty undertones. The scents of orange and lemon peel with exotic spices remain in the nose. It is usually complex and velvety, with a full body and a long-lasting finish.
Dated Tawny can be served slightly chilled, ideally around 14 – 15 °C, in summer calmly with a few ice cubes. At room temperature, the alcohol coming out of them can overshadow their true aromas and tastes.
Tawny port wines with an indication of age can be paired with various dried fruits, especially with apricots, pears, strawberries. Treat yourself to hot cheeses, vanilla pudding, crème brulée, caramel or bittersweet chocolate.
