Ferreira Port Wine Dona Antónia Reserva Tawny, 0.75l

The Ferreira Dona Antónia Reserva Tawny is a highly esteemed reserve Port wine from the renowned house of Ferreira, an icon of Portuguese viticulture. It is named after the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira ("Ferreirinha"), who modernized and consolidated the winery in the 19th century.

This Port wine represents a quality level above a simple Tawny and is valued for its balance and complexity.

General Characteristics

• Product Type: Reserva Tawny Port (fortified wine)

• Producer: Sogrape Vinhos (Porto Ferreira)

• Volume: $0,75\text{ Litres}$ (often offered in a gift box)

• Alcohol Content: Typically $20\%$ Vol.

• Aging: The wine is blended from selected, older Port wines (typically $4$ to $12$ years old) from various vintages to ensure a consistent style. The average age of the blend is approximately $7\text{ years}$. Aging takes place in traditional oak barrels in the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia.

• Grape Varieties: Traditional red Douro grapes, including Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Amarela.

Sensory Profile and Taste

The Dona Antónia Reserva Tawny is the epitome of an elegant, balanced Tawny Port.

• Color: Red with intense tawny hues and slightly amber edges, a sign of long aging in oak barrels.

• Aroma (Nose): Intense and rich bouquet. The initial fruit notes (apricot, plum, jam) are still present but are complemented by complex, spicy notes such as dried fruits (nuts, almonds), vanilla, and spices, due to barrel aging.

• Taste (Palate): Full-bodied, rich, and flavorful. It is extremely well-balanced between the initial sweetness and the spicy, nutty tones that develop through oxidation in the wood. It combines elegance with structure.

• Finish: Delicate but long-lasting and persistent, with lingering notes of dried fruit and spices.

Serving Recommendation

This Reserva Tawny is extremely versatile and should be enjoyed lightly chilled:

• Serving Temperature: Lightly chilled at 12∘Cto16∘C (slightly cooler than a Ruby).

• Food Pairing: Ideal with a wide range of dishes, especially:

  • Cheese: Mature cheese or blue cheese.

  • Desserts: Desserts with nuts and dried fruits, caramel, vanilla, or classic Portuguese sweets.

  • Aperitif: Also excellent as an elegant aperitif when chilled.

It is ready to drink and will not further improve in quality with long bottle aging. After opening, it retains its fine aromas for about two months.