Sandeman, Vau Vintage Port 1999, Douro

Sandeman Porto Vau Vintage 1999 has a deep, almost opaque, red hue. It has a truly intense and complex bouquet with a prevalence of red fruits such as strawberry. In the mouth, rich plummy flavours with hints of strawberry are supported by soft tannins which give a firm backbone and will allow it to age over several years.

There are few more iconic images in the world of wine than the ‘Don’, the logo created for the Sandeman family in 1928 by George Massiot Brown. The cape was modelled on the attire worn by students of the University of Porto, while the wide-brimmed hat was a nod to the family’s presence in Jerez.
Today, the Sandeman Ports are becoming every bit as famous as the image of the Don. This hasn’t always been the case, but since the Guedes family bought Sandeman from Seagram in 2002, the major investment that has taken place in the vineyards and the winemaking has seen them rise to the top of the tree in the Port trade. The production of Port – especially Tawny – requires patience, dedication and a long-term vision, something which explains why families like the Guedes and the Symingtons are the major players in the Port business today.

The grapes, hand-picked with optimal maturation, were vinified following Porto Wine’s traditional method. Fermentation took place in robotic lagars and stainless steel vats, with skin maceration under controlled temperature. It was halted through the addition of wine alcohol at the ideal point for each vine variety. These exceptional wines chosen to make up the final blend of the Sandeman Porto Vau Vintage 1999 were taken to the lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia where, after two years, the final blend was bottled with no prior treatment, in black glass sealed with a long natural cork closure for prolonged ageing.