Sogevinus Port Houses Kopke and Burmester prepare market launches for the last quarter of the year
The two Port Houses, which are part of Sogevinus Fine Wines group, announce the release of 2017 Vintage Ports, a year marked by an atypical vine growing cycle and harvest timings, which resulted in low yields of exceptional quality.
The low yield of 2017 and the thorough selection of grapes favoured the production of Kopke and Burmester classic Vintages.
Made with grapes from two different Douro subregions, Cima-Corgo and Douro Superior respectively, these Vintages reflect their terroir and the identity and character of each of the labels.
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Exclusive launch of eight new wines at Quinta de S. Luiz. These wines launched by Sogevinus are newly available on the market.
Reserva white wines from 2017, Reserva red wines from 2016 and two special editions. This was the list of new DOC Douro wines recently launched by Sogevinus Fine Wines at Quinta de S. Luiz. The aim of both the viticulture and winemaking teams was to translate the terroirs into the wines, in their rebranded bottles.
“It is essential to guarantee the balance between the character of each vineyard and each plot, and the character of the brand. That has been our biggest pursuit with the new DOC wines. If I was asked to describe these eight new wines in a generic way, I would say they are worthy representatives of the Douro. They reveal it calmly, elegantly and with finesse, ready to take on the challenge of time”, says Ricardo Macedo, Sogevinus’ DOC winemaker.
Two special editions can be singled out in this ensemble of new wines. Kopke Vinhas Velhas 2014 is made from the old vineyard of Quinta de S. Luiz (Cima Corgo), with its 80-year-old vines. An exclusive edition of 2,426 numbered bottles, this wine presents aromas of wild berries, notes of violet and hints of menthol and fine spices. With firm tannins and surprising acidity, it is elegant, expressive and shows great ageing potential. Made only in years when the old vines produce grapes of exceptional quality, this Kopke Vinhas Velhas 2014 succeeds the 2010 edition.
Sogevinus also presented Casa Burmester Touriga Nacional 2016, made from the vineyards of Quinta do Arnozelo (Douro Superior) and selected plots in Cima Corgo. On the nose, notes of rock-rose, violet and red fruit prevail. It is a wine with fine tannins, silky, and already showing much elegance, a sign of strong evolution to come.
DOC Douro wines recently launched by Sogevinus Fine Wines at Quinta de S. Luiz.
Kopke Reserva branco 2017 is made with the varieties Viosinho, Arinto and Folgazão. It is creamy, toasty, fresh and reveals a pleasant acidity, making it a great pairing with food. Casa Burmester Reserva branco 2017 is made with Gouveio, Rabiato and Viosinho grape varieties. It shows delicate notes from the barrel and aromas of white pulp stone fruit (apricot), and has a fresh and deep finish. Curva Reserva 2017 is a blend of Viosinho and Fernão Pires. It balances notes of silex and delicate white pulp fruit, revealing a versatile structure and complex finish, which will make it a good pairing for food.
As for the three 2016 red Reserva wines, Márcio Nóbrega says: “The harvest year began with a dry winter, at first, that ended up rainy and warm; a cold and very rainy spring, and an extremely hot and dry summer. The harvest took place during September and the first half of October, with hot and dry weather, which made it possible to do the picking before the Autumn rain.”
Kopke Reserva tinto 2016 is a blend of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz grapes, from Quinta de S. Luiz. Firm, balanced and appealing, it presents a perfect balance between notes of spice and red berries, and has good ageing potential. Casa Burmester Reserva tinto 2016 follows the most traditional of Douro blends – Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. It is an elegant and fresh wine, combining aromas of spice, cherry and blueberry right to its long finish. It promises good ageing. Curva Reserva tinto 2016 is a blend of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, from the Douro Superior. It shows notes of violet and blackberry, and reveals freshness and versatility, which makes it a good pairing for red meat dishes.
“A cold and dry winter, followed by a hot and dry spring, culminating in an extremely dry summer. These conditions remained throughout harvest, so our biggest worry was to make sure the white grape varieties were picked at the right moment to avoid over ripeness. We used mainly Viosinho, Gouveio and Rabigato”
Márcio Nóbrega
The oldest Port Wine House honours its founder, Cristiano Nicolau Kopke, with rare and exclusive wine from the beginning of the 20th century
A rare and exclusive wine – a blend of nectars that have rested in the cellars of the oldest Port Wine House for a nearly a hundred years. Very old tawnies from the 1920s and 1930s and the remarkable Colheita 1900 make up this Kopke CNK Very Old Tawny Port.
Limited to 380 numbered bottles, Kopke CNK is an homage to the House’s founder, Cristiano Nicolau Kopke, symbolising endeavour, care, dedication, passion, foresight and expertise of the generations of people who have striven to preserve a living legacy, which we share with the world today. It also reminds us of the everyday duty we have to safeguard this legacy for future generations.
Most of the wines that make up this blend have been maturing in casks of 650 litres. The only exception is the oldest – Colheita 1900 – which has aged in a large oak vat of 2500 litres. Kopke CNK Very Old Tawny Port has a mahogany colour streaked by greenish hues. The nose reveals notes of spice, fig, almond, walnut, coffee, chocolate and a hint of snuff… And then, on the palate, flavours of jelly, cinnamon, resin, curry and balsamic. The balance between sweetness and acidity is perfect, its finish is powerful but fresh, and lengthy.
I am lucky to be able to work with unique wines, some of them extremely old. This is truly special. I am very proud of this blend and I thank all the Kopke winemakers and blenders before me for preserving these remarkable wines, which are a living legacy. My daily mission is exactly the same: to look after the wines that will make the next generation’s future”
Carlos Alves, Sogevinus Fine Wines' Port winemaker.
To reinforce the exclusivity of this wine, Kopke has developed a special bottle in Marinha Grande, the heart of the glass industry in Portugal, that shows the beautiful colour of the wine. The packaging has been developed by OM Design and includes a Portuguese walnut wooden box and leather trims.
The wine was officially presented on 21st June, during a party to celebrate Kopke’s 380th anniversary that took place in Vila Nova de Gaia, gathering more than eighty guests – amongst them importers, distributors, Portuguese and International press, government officials and wine institutions.
The gold medals were attributed to the wines of Port Kopke Harvest Tawny 1958, Kopke Harvest White 2008, Kopke Tawny 10 Years, Burmester Harvest Tawny 1952, Tawny Caine 10 Years, Barros Harvest Tawny 1980 and Barros Tawny 10 Years.
Seven gold and three silver medals. It is the balance of the classifications obtained by Sogevinus wines in one of the oldest and most prestigious international competitions, the IWC – International Wine Challenge, which recently took place in London, gathering jurors from dozens of nationalities. Note that the Burmester Colheita Tawny 1952 was also distinguished with the trophy “Harvest Port Trophy, Port Trophy” and the Tawny Caeman 10 Years with “10 Years Olds Tawny Port Trophy”. Silver was achieved by the Kopke Harvest Tawny 1987, Burmester Tawny 10 Years and Calem Harvest Tawny 2002. The awards will be presented on July 10 at a ceremony dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel – Park Lane, London. In another international competition, the IWSC – International Wine & Spirit Competition, also held in London, Kopke Harvest Tawny 1981 (Gold Outstanding 2018), Kopke Tawny 40 Years, Barros Tawny 10 Years, Caham Harvest Tawny 1983 and Barros Harvest Tawny 1980 reached the gold. Kopke White Harvest 2008 (Silver Outstanding 2018), Kopke White 10 Years, Kopke Harvest Tawny 1978, Kopke Harvest Tawny 2002, Burmester Tawny 10 Years, Cawn Tawny 10 Years, Calem Harvest Tawny 2002, Barros Harvest Tawny 1998 (Silver Outsanding 2018) have obtained silver. Finally, the Kopke Harvest Tawny 1987 was honored with bronze. The awards ceremony is scheduled for November 14 in London.
Sogevinus Fine Wines Port Houses prepares market launches for the last quarter of the year
In keeping with each brand’s identity and the profile established throughout their history, Kopke, Burmester, Cálem and Barros are launching Vintage Ports loaded with character and enormous ageing potential, translating secure values.
It was a particularly challenging year. We really had to make use of our profound knowledge of the grapes and vines, as each variety and each plot of vineyard developed at a different pace.
Generally speaking, the 2016 Vintage Ports are brimming with colour and full of structure, with a profile that is more concentrated, robust and intense when compared to the 2015 Vintages. A classic style for a Vintage.
Being patient and waiting for the right time was worth it, as demonstrated by the exceptional results we achieved with our various wines”
Carlos Alves, Port winemaker at Sogevinus.
November and December 2015 were dry months, but the remaining Winter saw high levels of rainfall, especially during January and February 2016. Temperatures in December and January were above the average of the last 30 years.
Spring came with lots of rain and cold, which delayed the vine growth cycle. With higher temperatures and humidity in late Spring, it was necessary to increase the maintenance and care of the vineyards, acting at precisely the right time. Summer was very hot and dry, with thunder and hale occurring in July, which resulted in substantial yield losses in some specific locations.
Harvesting began around 10 days later than in 2015, a consequence of the delay in the vine growth cycle – a cold early Spring followed by a very hot Summer. Most of the grape bunches were smaller than normal, but that was offset by a good pulp/skin ratio and by a richer and more complex fruit.
Different ripening paces in different vineyard plots made it necessary to plan the harvest meticulously, something our viticulture team, lead by Márcio Nóbrega, did to perfection. The picking was done according to the optimum ripening point of each variety, plot by plot. The harvest of the white Port wine varieties began on September 12th and the red Port wine varieties a day later, with grapes from the Douro Superior.
The best performing variety was Touriga Franca, followed very closely by Touriga Nacional.
Grape varieties: Old vines (60%) [more than 50 years old from Quinta de S. Luiz, subregion of Cima Corgo] and Touriga Nacional (40%)
A deep black colour. An intense and complex nose, laden with very ripe black fruit – plums, blackberries and cherries. Notes of cocoa, black pepper and a soft hint of violet. Unctuous and vigorous, it has several layers of flavours, firm tannins and excellent balance between sweetness and acidity. A long, deep and fresh finish.
Grape Varieties: Touriga Nacional (50%) and Touriga Franca (50%), from vines more than 25 years old from Quinta do Arnozelo, Douro Superior.
Ruby colour. Exuberant aromas of red fruit, black currants, rock-rose and light peppermint notes. Extremely elegant and delicate, keeping with the profile of the house, it has firm structure, excellent flavours of ripe fruit and excellent acidity. A long and harmonious finish.
Grape Varieties: Touriga Nacional (30%), Touriga Franca (30%), Tinta Roriz (30%) and Sousão (10%), subregion of Douro Superior.
Purple colour. Subtle on the nose, with notes of very ripe black fruit, dark chocolate and spice. With a powerful and intense structure, it shows a balance between acidity and sweetness that confers creaminess and sophistication. A long finish, with lingering fruit.
Grape Varieties: Touriga Franca (40%), Tinta Roriz (30%), Touriga Nacional (20%) and Tinta Barroca (10%) from Quinta da Galeira, subregion of Cima Corgo.
Dark ruby colour. A fragrant nose, combining notes of fresh fruit, notes of peppermint and hints of balsamic. Succulent, with a firm structure and delicious fruity character. An incredibly long finish.
Three exceptional Vintage Port wines, produced in a year that presented big challenges for Douro wine makers
The launch of these wines follows the tradition of these Port wine Houses delivering balanced and intense wines with particularly elegant tannins.
These 2015 Vintages by Sogevinus combine impressive technique with master blending while preserving the particular style of each House. The Quintas Vintage Ports are wines of unique character, style and quality, reflecting the excellence of the Demarcated Region of Douro: the singular richness of the terroir and the perfection of the vines in our quintas.
Made with the finest grapes from the best plots of Quinta de S. Luiz and Quinta do Arnozelo.
Kopke Quinta de S. Luiz Vintage 2015 brings in its bottle the character of a unique legacy. Dense in colour, it reveals an exuberant and complex nose with prevailing aromas of very ripe black wild berries wrapped in subtle notes of balsamic and light hints of black pepper. Refined and intense in the mouth, it displays excellent balance between its acidity and very expressive tannins, typical of Kopke’s Single Quinta Vintages. A lengthy and powerful finish, with flavours of ripe black fruit and striking acidity, suggesting a Single Quinta with extraordinary ageing potential.
Our years of experience brings knowledge and thoughtfulness. Kopke’s Quinta Vintages are a demonstration of unique character.. 2015 wasn’t a year for a Kopke classic vintage, as the grapes ripened rather irregularly, producing wines thinner on the palate and less intense in colour, thus lacking the essential requirements of a Kopke Classic Vintage.
In line with the sophisticated and elegant profile that defines its name, Burmester Quinta de Arnozelo Vintage 2015 presents a deep ruby colour with streaks of violet. With an intensely perfumed nose, it shows prevailing aromas of ripe fruit wrapped in notes of mint and hints of black pepper and cassis. On the palate it is intense and vigorous, displaying powerful tannins that fill the mouth. The ripeness of the fruit is well established, delivering a refreshing sensation conveyed by its excellent acidity. A fantastic vintage from a unique quinta – the grapes were carefully selected from the oldest plot in the vineyard. The wine was made in “robotic treading lagares” at a controlled temperature..
Cálem declares a Classic Vintage. In doing so, Cálem reinforces the path of consistency and quality of its wines – a path that has enabled it to achieve and sustain the trust not only of its Portuguese clientele but also of the more than 50 markets to which it exports. Cálem 2015 Vintage Port is made from grapes from the Upper Douro, which result in wines that are more intense, laden with black fruit aromas and balanced. The wine was made in stainless steel “robotic treading lagares” and fermented with 50% of stems. This Cálem Vintage is dark red in colour and slightly closed on the nose. The wine nevertheless displays aromas of very ripe black fruit and hints of spice and cocoa. In the mouth it is robust and intense, with elegant and well-established tannins that linger, revealing a good balance between acidity and sweetness. It finishes with jammy fruit flavours, making this Vintage easy and sweet, with a long and intense finish. It has great ageing potential.
Recognized as the oldest port wine brand, Kopke presents a new image for the range of its Douro wines.
A renewed image, more appealing and with detailed finishes, upgrades the still wines category in line with the category of Port Wines.
The Douro of Kopke reflect the excellence of the wines of this region, the respect for nature and terroir and the dedication in the art of blending.
