A Tasting of Port and Douro Wines – A Taste of Origin – Ritz Carlton

A vintage port is a port wine produced from a single harvest in a year of extremely favourable conditions. After the harvest, the wine matures in wood for two to three years before bottling.

A vintage port is charming at any stage of its life. Only top quality ports approved by the Port Wine Institute can be declared.

On Monday, we were invited by The Associação das Empresas de Vinho do Porto (The Association of Port Wine Companies) and the Consulate General of Portugal to a tasting of Port and Douro Wines – A Taste of Origin at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Taking over both floors of Ritz’ TOCA Bistro, the event showcased numerous top quality vintage ports as well as other red & white wines from Portugal’s Douro region.

Some of the popular wines among guests included the Ramos Pinto Porto Vintage 1983, the Quinta Do Noval Colheita Douro 2000, Sogevinus Fine Wines’ Kopke Porto Colheita 1941 and Kopke Porto Colheita 1965

Year 1983 was cold until September, making the harvest of the Ramos Pinto Porto Vintage 1983 late and perfect. The Ramos Pinto Porto Vintage 1983 is opaque and dense in colour, hot and powerful on the palate with hints of plum and cherry.

The Quinta Do Noval Colheita Douro 2000 has a fresh nose with hints of citrus and walnut. It is silky on the palate with a spicy finish.

Sogevinus‘ Kopke Porto Colheita 1941 has a light amber colour, a rich and polished nose with hints of vanilla, hazelnuts and wood. It is concentrated and soft in the taste and has a long and persistent finish.

The Kopke Porto Colheita 1965 has an intense brown colour with dried fruits and smoky notes. The taste is silky and delicate with a persistent finish.

After tasting an array of prestigious port wines, we joined the winemakers and the representatives from the Consulate General of Portugal in Toronto for the Confraria do Vinho do Porto Enthronement Ceremony, where they honoured top leaders in the wine industry for their contributions to port wine, followed by a private dinner in Ritz-Carlton’s Wellington Ballroom.

Gilberto J. Bojaca

(photos by Terrence)

A Tasting of Port and Douro Wines – A Taste of Origin – Ritz Carlton