Andresen 10-Year-Old White Port is a refined white port from a historic family estate established in Vila Nova de Gaia in 1845. As a specialist in tawny and aged ports, Andresen has extensive reserves of vintage wines from which this blend, which averages 10 years old, is carefully crafted. What makes Andresen 10-Year-Old White Port so special? The combination of classic foot-pressing in lagares, extended aging in old wooden barrels, and a style that is delicate, smooth, yet distinctly complex.
The grapes for Andresen 10-Year-Old White Port come from Portugal, from the Douro region, specifically the Cima Corgo subregion. Here, the vineyards are situated on steep terraces along the river, where the warm summers, cold winters, and large temperature variations between day and night produce concentrated, aromatic white grapes. Each of the different plots contributes its own distinct character to the final blend, which is aged in the Andresen cellar to create a harmonious, average-aged 10-year-old White Port. The wine is made at Quinta das Aranhas in the Douro and then matured in Vila Nova de Gaia, where the cool, humid cellars allow for slow and even aging.
At Andresen, the grapes are still gently crushed by foot in traditional granite vats, known as lagares. The bunches are left undestemmed and first macerated for about a day in stainless steel vats, allowing the color and aromas to develop from the skins before fermentation begins. Fermentation then lasts for about two days and is stopped halfway through by the addition of wine alcohol, leaving residual sugar in the wine and creating the characteristic Port profile. The wine is then aged in 600-liter old wooden barrels until bottling. These barrels retain almost no woody aromas, but allow for a natural, slow oxidative aging that gives the White Port its nutty complexity and soft structure. The final wine is a blend of several vintages, with an average age of 10 years and an alcohol content of 19.5%.
Arinto – Douro, Cima Corgo
Arinto contributes with fresh acidity and a citrusy character that gives the wine tension and length, even after extended barrel aging.
Códega – Douro, Cima Corgo
Códega provides ripe white fruit and a round texture, making the blend feel softer and fuller on the palate.
Malvasia – Douro, Cima Corgo
Malvasia adds floral notes, a slightly aromatic spiciness and extra richness to the aroma and taste.
Rabigato – Douro, Cima Corgo
Rabigato brings structure and a fine minerality, with a subtle, fresh backbone that nicely balances the sweetness.
