Warre's, Otima 10-Year "Tawny" Port, Oporto, Portugal

Brand History
The history of the Warre family in Portugal dates back to William Warre, who was born in India in 1706, where his parents and grandparents were long established members of the East India Company. In 1729, he arrived in Portugal and became a partner in the export company, Messrs. Clark, Thornton & Warre, which exported Portuguese wine among other goods. By the close of the 18th century, Warre’s had become one of the leading companies in the Port wine trade. His grandson, another William Warre, continued and grew the business while also maintaining an outstanding military career, contributing substantially towards the recovery of Portugal’s independence.

The Symington family’s ancestry in the Port trade spans a period of over 350 years, through 13 generations. They are descended from Andrew James Symington and Beatrice Atkinson who were married in Oporto in 1891. Andrew James arrived as a young man from Scotland in 1882 and was admitted to partnership in the firm of Warre & Co. in 1905 and in 1908 he became the soul owner of Warre & Co. Currently six members of the Symington family (five from the 13th generation in the Port trade) are actively involved in Warre’s day-to-day management, with the dedication and long-term commitment that are unique to a family-run business. From the vineyards through the winemaking, aging, and blending, a member of the family is directly responsible for every bottle of Warre’s Port produced. The family’s commitment to its wines is stronger than ever after 350 years, an unparalleled tradition in the Port trade.

Aged Tawny Ports are blended, high quality wines that are matured in wood for
extended periods, gradually shedding the deep ruby colour of youth and acquiring the amber-golden tawny hues from which their name derives. Following each harvest in the Douro Valley, the winemaker selects some of the finest wines with the potential for long-term ageing in the wine cellars, known as lodges, earmarking them to become Old Tawny Port with an indication of age. Warre’s offers two such wines, the Otima 10-YearOld and the Otima 20-Year-Old Tawnies. As the wines mature in seasoned oak casks of 600 litres, they are constantly tasted to check their progress, and when determining the final blend for bottling, the master blender will draw on wines from several harvests, brought together to maintain a consistent house style, unchanging over time. The age indication on the label therefore refers to the average age of the component wines. The art of blending to ensure consistency of quality and style is a fine craft, built on and perfected by generations of experience.

Winemaking
Warre’s OTIMA 10 Year Old undergoes fermentation with natural yeast at between 24 to 28ºC. Once the must has fermented to the desired degree of sweetness (usually within 48 hours), fortification takes place with grape brandy at 77% v/v (generally 80% must / 20% brandy)

Grape / Blend
Port

Origin
Portugal 

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Rich tawny colour, with an excellent nose of nuts and hints of mature fruit. On the palate light and delicate, beautifully rounded, with hints of dried fruits, and a long elegant finish.

93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 
The non-vintage Otima 10-Year Old Tawny Port reveals a medium ruby/amber/garnet color, loads of kirsch and cedar intermixed with a touch of brown sugar in the nose, rich, full-bodied flavors, a burgeoning complexity and big aromatics. This is a full-bodied, silky smooth Tawny Port that should age easily for 8-10+ years.

91 Points - Wine Spectator
Racy and fresh, with detailed green fig, dried cherry, incense and hazelnut notes. Offers a long, focused finish. Drink now.

Product size: 500ml