Without a doubt, we can call the Andresen Port House unique. It's one of the few estates in Porto still entirely owned by the same family. And that's not often seen in Portugal. They operate traditionally and remain true to the Port House's origins. A stark contrast to the more commercial port houses. The adventure began in 1845 when the then 14-year-old Jann Hinrich Andresen emigrated to Portugal. He started as a port merchant and eventually became a major player in the wine world.
Andresen owns 40 hectares of vineyards in the Douro region. Here, the various grape varieties for the 10-Year-Old Tawny Port are planted. The grapes are carefully and selectively harvested. This makes all the difference in the final port. In the winery, the grapes are gently crushed by foot. The grapes are deliberately left undestemmed and macerated in stainless steel tanks for 24 hours. Once this is complete, fermentation follows, which lasts two days and is interrupted halfway through when wine alcohol is added. Until bottling, the wine is aged in 600-liter old wooden barrels. This process does not impart any woody flavors, but allows the aging process to unfold naturally. The final blend, consisting of various wines, has an average age of 10 years.
But the long wait is rewarded with this pale red 10-Year-Old Tawny Port. The aromas consist of various nuts, such as walnuts and almonds. This is complemented by subtle notes of orange peel, bringing balance to the bouquet. The taste is delightfully fruity with soft, yet not overpowering, woody notes. The sweet character is balanced by pleasant acidity.
