Fortified Wine

Hand-picked at the optimum time, the grapes are then destemmed, crushed and converted into wine through a process of careful maceration to extract their colour, tannins and aromas, enhanced by constant churning during fermentation. This takes place in vats (lagares) at a controlled temperature (between 28-30?C) until the right degree of sweetness (baum?) is achieved. At this point, grape brandy is added to create the final fortified wine. A wine of high quality, made from one single harvest. A Colheita wine matures in oak barrels for periods of time that can vary, but never less than 7 years.

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Graham?s Late Bottled Vintage Port (LBV) is a superb wine, selected from the finest production of what was a spectacular year. Whereas Vintage Port spends two years in casks and then matures in bottle, LBV is matured in seasoned oak and then bottled at between four and six years of age; hence the term, ?late bottled?. Its ageing process encourages the wine?s development, and as such, at the time of bottling it is ready to drink without the need for decanting.

The translucent copper coloured tone of the wine is matched by the beautiful soft nutty aromas gained by a full twenty years ageing in seasoned oak casks. Otima 20 years is rich and delicate, but never cloying; the tannins and acidity ensure balance and perfect length.

This is an aromatic, sweet whit port with excellent acidity and depth. Expect notes of apricot, dried fruit, nuttiness and orange. This fortified wine sits at 20% ABV, which is very well balanced. Match with hard cheeses or sip by itself. 

Madeira is a wine and the name of the Portuguese island it comes from, 1000 kilometres south west of Portugal, off the coast of Africa. The soils here are volcanic and the climate has a high rainfall. Wines made here were historically shipped in barrels in the hills of ships where the heat baked (maderised) them, hence the name Madeira came into being. Today the wines are baked in the wineries to emulate the style. This one is medium sweet with rich flavours of caramel, dried apricots, walnuts and spice. Fresh acidity adds balance and this is an ideal Madeira for cooking with or sipping lightly chilled.

Madeira comes from the island of the same name which is part of Portugal, despite being situated 1000 kilometres south west, off the coast of Africa. Its grapes grown on volcanic soils in a warm, relatively high rainfall climate and the wines were traditionally transported in barrels on ships, where the wine warmed up and baked in the heat, so that it maderised, hence the name. Today, Madeira comes in a wider range of defined styles than ever before. This wine is a sweet style and would typically contain between 78 and 100 grams of residual sugar per litre of wine, putting it firmly in the sweet/ luscious style. Drink it chilled as a beautifully complex dessert wine or use in cooking - it works well in both sweet and savoury dishes.

Niepoort have been producing world-class port since 1842. This excellent 10 year old is full of deep, nutty flavours, hints of dried apricots and a wonderful richness. It spent 10 years ageing in small oak casks before being skilfully blended by the master blender.

Niepoort family were Port shippers of Dutch origin that have been making Port in the Douro Valley since 1842. It is a relatively small Port house but with a big reputation.

Aged in oak casks for 3.5 years. Amazingly smooth, fresh nutty and rounded on the palate.

Old Masters is modelled on a cream sherry style and made in New Zealand by Villa Maria. It's a straightforward fortified wine made in a sweet style with flavours of caramel, dried fruit and walnuts. 

Kopke has been making port since 1638 making it the oldest port house in Portugal.

Deep dark purple in colour. On the nose it shows complexity and exuberance, with the aromas of ripe red berries combining notes of cocoa, eucalyptus leaf, pepper and liquorice, and some floral hints. In the mouth it reveals good volume and intensity. Its vibrant acidity binds well with the flavour of ripe fruit enveloped by refined tannins. A long and harmonious finish.

Here's your perfect excuse to eat salted chocolate caramels - one of the world's great fortified wines; Amontillado from a top producer. Bodegas Hildago Amontillado Napoleon is a complex full bodied amber coloured sherry with flavours of caramelised almonds, sandalwood and vanilla. It's a blend made up of Oloroso Faraon, Cream Alameda and PX Triana, all between six and 20 years old, which add to the taste of cedar and sandalwood.

It is excellent served lightly chilled with a platter of aged cheddar and nuts or simply on its own as a late night cap with salted caramel. 

Bodegas Hidalgo - a rare sherry producer, six successive generations...

Bodegas Hidalgo is one of the few independent sherry producers remaining in Andalucia in the south of Spain - the home of sherry. All of its grapes come from its own vineyards, another rarity these days and one that definitely supports the universally high quality of its wines, which are made at Sanl?car de Barrameda near the Guadalquivir River, at sea level. The continuous exposure to sea breezes bears a strong influence on the quality of the wines and their long aging process, helping to keep barrels moist in the solera system, which creates a slow and steady aging. 

Bodegas Hidalgo produces about 200,000 cases of sherry and brandy every year.

La Gitana is Spanish for the gypsy and is one of the most complex dry sherries in the world, a top notch Manzanilla best enjoyed in its youth. Which is a little bit of an oxymoron for such a complex dry wine made from aged sherry components. 

This is full bodied, fully dry and super complex with salted almond, tangy green olive and notes of cedar all vying for first place in this beautifully integrated fortified wine. 

Bodegas Hidalgo - a rare sherry producer, six successive generations...

Bodegas Hidalgo is one of the few independent sherry producers remaining in Andalucia in the south of Spain - the home of sherry. All of its grapes come from its own vineyards, another rarity these days and one that definitely supports the universally high quality of its wines, which are made at Sanl?car de Barrameda near the Guadalquivir River, at sea level. The continuous exposure to sea breezes bears a strong influence on the quality of the wines and their long aging process, helping to keep barrels moist in the solera system, which creates a slow and steady aging. 

Bodegas Hidalgo produces about 200,000 cases of sherry and brandy every year.