Does anyone know when the regulations changed to ban ruby reserve Port from being called Vintage Character? I have a bottle I'm trying to (roughly) date.
Thanks.
Vintage Character Port
- Alex Bridgeman
- Graham’s 1948
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Vintage Character Port
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Re: Vintage Character Port
I have a bottle of Vintage Character from 1977.
I can also find images of Churchill’s Vintage Character port, which suggests the rule change was after 1982. When I get a chance I will look through some books later to see if I can find the date.
I can also find images of Churchill’s Vintage Character port, which suggests the rule change was after 1982. When I get a chance I will look through some books later to see if I can find the date.
Re: Vintage Character Port
From the archive of www.infoportwine.com
"With Portaria no. 1484/2002 of November 22nd , 2002 a step was taken in the regulation of types and indications. The most important changes in this law were the replacement of the Vintage Character by the Reserva/Reserve (Ruby), the introduction of the Reserva Tawny/Tawny Reserve and the Reserva Branco/White Reserve and the demands for the Garrafeira."
"With Portaria no. 1484/2002 of November 22nd , 2002 a step was taken in the regulation of types and indications. The most important changes in this law were the replacement of the Vintage Character by the Reserva/Reserve (Ruby), the introduction of the Reserva Tawny/Tawny Reserve and the Reserva Branco/White Reserve and the demands for the Garrafeira."
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- JacobH
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
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Re: Vintage Character Port
Thanks, DRT!
I’m often surprised at how recent this change was, although I’m pretty sure I’ve seen El Vino’s “Vintage Character” for sale much more recently and I doubt that was reserve stocks (perhaps they were labeling it in the UK?).
I’m often surprised at how recent this change was, although I’m pretty sure I’ve seen El Vino’s “Vintage Character” for sale much more recently and I doubt that was reserve stocks (perhaps they were labeling it in the UK?).
- uncle tom
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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Re: Vintage Character Port
I don't dispute DRT's post.
I am preserving, for posterity, a couple of good examples of VC.
The lesser styles of port do not survive the test of time. I have a half (and sadly empty) bottle of 'Invalid Port', but despite sales running into many millions, and from more than one producer, I have never been able to secure a full bottle in good order.
If anyone spots one, a safe home awaits!
I am preserving, for posterity, a couple of good examples of VC.
The lesser styles of port do not survive the test of time. I have a half (and sadly empty) bottle of 'Invalid Port', but despite sales running into many millions, and from more than one producer, I have never been able to secure a full bottle in good order.
If anyone spots one, a safe home awaits!
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
- JacobH
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
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Re: Vintage Character Port
It’s interesting that there is little of this when there is a healthy secondary market for antique bottles of quite normal spirits (and many posh cocktail bars in London will happily sell you a £100 negroni containing 50-year-old gin, vermouth and campari). I suppose people were more likely to open the cheaper bottles of Port, only preserving the Vintage Ports (and sometimes the LBVs) for special occasions which might never come.
- JacobH
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
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Re: Vintage Character Port
There’s a nice short article on Port to Port Wine about Vintage Character Port which includes a few photographs of old labels. I’d not come across one of the shippers: Hunt, Roope & Co. before. I am also interested that the Quinta do Infantado is described as “meio-seco”: “medium dry”. I wonder what that was like?