ThePortForum.com

We've often poked fun at wine writers who write a review of a new port vintage with recommendations along the lines of "drink in the next 2-5 years" or the supermarket who insists on a "best before" date to be printed on the label of a bottle of port.

Well finally the message seems to have hit home. Sogevinus sent me some marketing literature for their 2015 vintage ports (Kopke Sao Luiz and Calem) which includes the instructions "The wine should be stored in a cool and dry place, sheltered from light and temperature fluctuations. The bottle should remain in a horizontal position. This wine can be stored in this manner indefinitely without any damage to its quality or character. Once opened it should be decanted and drunk within 2-3 days. Best served at a temperature between 12 and 14C."

Kudos to Sogevinus for being the first port firm to give such a clear and accurate statement.

Finally!! Well done on their part.

About time! Pet hate drinking windows from merchants that finish before 20 years!

The “indefinitely” is a good choice of word: not forever, but there is no definite year by when it should be drunk.

This wine can be stored in this manner indefinitely without any damage to its quality or character.

They rather spoilt the message with that last word, as the wine will of course age and mature and change it's character as a result.

Did they also caution that the wine will throw a deposit?

Be fair. They did not say the character would remain unchanged, only that the character would not be damaged.