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The August 2024 Auction: Part 4
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Lot 1090
Estimate: $950
Very lightly scuffed labels. "Some Douro farmers have hidden treasures. Old Ports that lay in cask, undisturbed in family cellars throughout generations, sometimes crossing several centuries. In 1999 we discovered this rare Port in an old private cellar. Family records date it as far back as the latter part of the 19th century. This great Port shows its age with extraordinary elegance and finesse, a unique structure and incredibly intense aromas. Crossing three centuries, the time has come for this Port to be bottled and enjoyed in the new Millennium. The wine finally made its way down the Douro in the Autumn of 2001 and was bottled by Niepoort in their Vila Nova de Gaia lodges."
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Collection name
Reviews
JR
"Donated by Tim Littler who used to run Whitwhams. Cristiano van Zeller (formerly of Quinta do Noval) discovered this 1880 port in 1999 at a winery in Regua that was closing following the death of the owner. Cristiano was interested in acquiring stone lagares (foot-treading tanks) for his new winery but they also asked if he was interested in any old stock. Most was uninteresting but at the rear of the winery were three 20,000-litre casks, two empty but one containing 10,000 litres of 1880 port, 10,000 litres having evaporated during the intervening 119 years. The intention was to bottle the wine as 100 years old (for the millennium) but that was not possible. According to the Port Wine Institute it could only be called 'over 40 years', so the name 'Millennium Port' was chosen and the wording on the back label was agreed with the PWI. The wine was bottled in 2002 by Niepoort after adding 5% of their 1945 vintage."
Region
Sweet Red
Country
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Best known for fortified Port from the Douro Valley, Portugal also produces distinctive dry reds from native grapes such as Touriga Nacional. Its dramatic terraced vineyards and blending traditions give the wines a singular identity.
One of the world's oldest demarcated wine regions, famed for fortified Port and, increasingly, powerful dry reds. Its terraced schist vineyards and native grapes yield wines of concentration and character.
Covers powerful dry reds and fortified Port from native varieties grown on the valley's terraced schist slopes.
Spain's noble red grape, producing structured, savory wines of red fruit and leather that respond beautifully to oak aging in Rioja and Ribera del Duero.
Portugal's finest red grape, giving deeply colored, floral and structured wines central to both Port and the Douro's dry reds.
