A couple months ago, I was contacted by Kopke Port Wine about a tasting kit the Portuguese winery was offering some wine writers, and, as a novice to port tasting, I jumped on the opportunity to secure a samples kit.

When the kit arrived in its handsome wooden box, I wrapped it in bubble wrap and stuck it in my suitcase for a Greece trip I was leaving on the following day. I thought it’d be great to share the samples with my hubby and the friends we were traveling with.

This was the spot on our suite’s patio in Santorini where we did our wine sampling every evening. It was such a great place to enjoy some wines with our friends.

The samples kit offered the following ports and boy did they run the gamut from light and perfect as an apéritif to sweet, caramelly and perfect as after-dinner drinks.

2003 White Colheita: Golden in color. Faint and delicate aromas of dried fig. More dried fruit on the palate with layers of caramel/molasses. Rich mouthfeel and long finish. Serve as an after-dinner drink or with dessert.

20-Year-Old White Port: Golden amber in color. Dried fruit aromas with nutty notes on the nose. Mouth-coating richness with dried fruit flavors. Kopke suggests this be served as an aperitif, but I think it’d be great with dessert or a rich dish like seared foie gras.

2002 Tawny Colheita: Deep ruby in color. Big dried fruit/raisin aromas. Great acidity and long finish and I can understand why the winemaker suggests serving this port chilled with dessert.

10-Year-Old Tawny: Golden in the glass. Fantastic pour with dried fruit and honey on the nose and intense dried fruit flavors. It’d be great to sip out of a snifter in front of a fire.

20-Year-Old Tawny: Orange-amber in the glass. Dried fruit, little pumpkin pie spice on the nose and in the mouth with a rich, smooth, round, silky finish.

About Kopke Port Wine:

Kopke Port Wine (Portugal), est. 1638, is the oldest Port wine house. Located in the upper Douro DOC, a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage site since 2001, Kopke benefits from the imposing geography of the Douro Valley: the plunging valleys al low vines to be planted from altitudes of 1,900 feet on the upper ridges, down to 230 feet alongside the river, with immensely diverse terroirs. Kopke wines are sourced and produced in Quinta São Luiz, one of the most important estates in Douro region.

I didn’t realize before this tasting how much I really love and appreciate Port. These were incredible pours, served in the most amazing setting, with dear friends. A great combination.

Cheers,

Veronique