One of the most appreciated Port Wine styles. The different degrees of ageing, in casks or casks, of the wine lots that compose it is the characteristic that differentiates it from the Ruby style and makes it extremely captivating. Their potential for ageing and evolution is enormous.
Tawny has several categories: Tawny Colheita, Tawny Reserva and Tawny with an indication of age. Tawny Ports with an indication of age: Tawny 10 years, Tawny 20 years, Tawny 30 years and Tawny 40 years, indicate the average age of the wines that make them up.
The colour of these Ports denounces their maturity as a result of ageing in wood. Dark red when young, they evolve to an amber tone known as "tawny". Its attractive chromatic palette ranges from golden brown to golden. They develop delicious flavours of nuts, spices and oak wood but many aromatic nuances depend on their age. They are rich, complex, opulent and velvety wines. The older they get, the more accentuated these characteristics are, the greater their complexity and the more expensive are.
They should be served between 10º and 14º. After opening, Tawny Colheita and Tawny Reserva should be drunk within 3 to 4 weeks as they will lose their sensory characteristics. Tawny with an indication of age should be consumed between 1 and 4 months. After opening, keep them in the refrigerator, preferably closed with a vacuum system.
Tawny Harvest Port
These are wines from a specific year's harvest and aged for a minimum of seven years. Their aromas and flavours depend on the wine's age.
Reserve Tawny Port
They have an interesting balance between the fruit of youth and maturity given by the ageing in oak casks or barrels. The wines that make up this blend have an average age of fewer than ten years.
10-Year-Old Tawny Port
It has a profile similar to the Tawny Reserve but with more evolution. Red and black fruit flavours, cinnamon, clove and caramel.
20-Year-Old Tawny Port
Evolved and intense due to ageing in small oak casks with aromas and flavours of dried fruits, orange zest, cinnamon, caramel, smoked vanilla and hints of wood.
30-Year-Old Tawny Port
With long ageing, it is an opulent, concentrated and complex wine. Its fruity flavours when young acquire notes of honey and spices, dried apricots, hazelnuts and vanilla.
40-Years-Old Tawny Port
Sumptuous and venerable, it fills the palate with complex and persistent flavours. Flavours and aromas of apricot, orange zest, caramel and toffee.
Pairing with Tawny Port
Traditionally they are served at the end of the meal to accompany cheeses, desserts or nuts but depending on their age there are several sensational pairings.
With its fruity flavours, a Tawny Reserve or a 10-year-old Tawny is a great match with chocolate desserts with red berries or cheeses with nutty flavours such as German Emmentaler or Italian Pecorino.
A 20-year-old Tawny with more complexity and aromas of dried fruits and wood is excellent with Apple Pie, Orange Pie, Caramel Pie, Fig Pie, Tarte Tatin or an engaging Coconut Pie. A Créme Brûlée, a Honey Cake, a Tiramisù, the famous German Black Forest cake, or cheeses such as aged Manchego, Cheddar, Parmesan, aged Gouda or Ilha de São Jorge cheese are also wonderful choices. And if you are not a fan of desserts, you should know that the acidity of a 20 year old Tawny goes very well with toast and Fois Grais or other pâtés and to combine with Portuguese or Iberian ham. There are also those who choose to pair it with game dishes, such as venison or duck, with intense berry or dark cherry sauces.
The tasting of a glass of a 30 or 40-year-old Tawny takes us on a journey so involving that they can just be tasted and enjoyed on their own or with two slices of artisan cheese.
Enjoy a Tawny Port
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