10 Year Old Tawny
A blend of wines that together should have the character of being around 10 years old. This means the wine consists of both younger vintages, which contribute freshness, and older vintages, which add complexity and depth.
- See a more detailed description at the bottom of the page...
Authentic Tawny
Authentic Tawnies are light, barrel-aged port wines with an age indication. All genuine tawny port wines are blends of several different vintages. A type of port that truly challenges the oenologist. Here, multiple vintages and different casks are blended, and the result is then sent to the Port Wine Institute for approval.
There are four categories: 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, and 40+ years. The number of years indicates the age the wine is supposed to resemble in character. Typically, the contents of the bottle are blended to match the average age of those mentioned. Some producers may use a minimum of the stated year, but the principle is that the wine must taste as though it is, for example, 10 or 20 years old before it is approved by the Port Wine Institute.
Winery's Signature
The challenge with authentic tawny is that the house must have a style that is recognizable across the different age categories. It's like a signature that runs through their wines, enabling buyers to identify them. Moreover, tawny wines should ideally taste the same each time a new blend is made. This means that, for example, the 10-year-old you drink now should taste the same as the one you buy in 10 years. The difficulty lies in the limited quantity of each vintage used in the blend, so it's up to the oenologist to create blends of different vintages that still maintain the same flavor profile.
It's often said that a wine of quality in this category is reliable because the producers can blend a harmonious wine with delightful flavors without being too dependent on the quality of individual vintages. Tawny wines are wonderful ports, emphasizing finesse and elegance over raw power. As you move up the age categories, the quality and complexity increase. These wines develop in the barrel but do not evolve further after bottling. Due to the prolonged oxidation process, they remain relatively well-preserved after opening.
Uses
Tawnies have a characteristic beautiful bronze-golden color that results from the red grapes' development during barrel aging. They are best paired with various cheeses and a wide range of desserts. The oldest wines in this category are often considered a dessert in themselves and can be enjoyed exclusively on their own. The blend of many vintages in older tawny wines contributes so much depth and complexity that it can sometimes be hard to find the perfect pairing, as the flavors in the wine are often rich enough to stand alone.
