Tasting Notes
From my lovely friends at Churchill's comes this beautiful tawny port. Churchill’s is the last remaining independent British port house though they are proud to describe themselves as an Anglo-Portuguese port and Douro wine producer. The grapes for this beautiful tawny port come from Churchill’s old vineyards in the Cima Corgo sub-region of the Douro wine region; it is a field blend of many indigenous black grapes including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca.
As tawny ports are wood ports, i.e. they are matured in barrel or cask for several years, they have more exposure to oxygen which contributes to the array of aromas and flavours. The colour also fades from its initial red colour and this port, a blend of 10 year old ports, is a garnet colour. Its flavours are complex – bramble fruits, dried fruits, nuts and spice with hints of caramel and vanilla. These latter flavours will develop further as the port ages in bottle. For now the fresh bramble fruits and decent acidity in the wine manage to prevent it from being very rich. The texture though is very smooth; an elegant port.
You can read more about how tawny port is produced and what you can expect to taste in my tawny port blogpost.
Food Pairing
Recommended on its own chilled before dinner, with rich nutty desserts including Christmas pudding or with Stilton and hard cheeses
Producer's Notes
"Churchill’s 10 Year Old Tawny starts its life as a young Vintage Port. It is partly aged in large oak vats before finishing its maturation in traditional port pipes. Although fully aged in wood, it retains the freshness of youth, which is reflected in its darker brick red colour and lively finish. A rich brick red colour with flashes of amber, elegant and subtle, complex on the nose, with expressive notes of dry fruits combined with hints of Orange peel, full on the mouth, this 10 years Old Tawny Port shows an excellent vinosity and freshness, allowing it to finish long and persistent."
Awards
94 points Decanter Jan 2021
"Sourced from old vines in Churchill's Cima Corgo estates. Made in the drier, robust, spicy house style, this is a characterful 10-year-old with peppery, liquorice-laced dried plum, roast hazlenuts, salted caramel praline and pan-singed marmalade. The long, involving finish is clean and dry."
91 points Wine Spectator
