Description
There are few more iconic images in the world of wine than the ‘Don’, the logo created for the Sandeman family in 1928 by George Massiot Brown. The cape was modelled on the attire worn by students at the University of Porto, while the sombrero was a nod to the family’s presence in Jerez.
Bought by the Guedes family in 2002, today Sandeman Ports are every bit as famous as the image of the Don. In the last two decades, significant investments have been made in both the vineyards and winery, ensuring Sandeman’s reputation as one of the world’s leading Port houses. The fact that their winemaker, Luís Sottomayor, was crowned Fortified Winemaker of the Year at the 2022 International Wine Challenge is a testament to this.
The state-of-the-art Sandeman winery, built in 2007, is at the beautiful Quinta do Seixo, situated on the south bank of the Douro, just downstream from Pinhão. The winery is perched on top of a hill, surrounded by vast terraces of vines, some of which are over 100 years old. Quinta do Seixo comprises 108 hectares, 71 of which are planted under vine. Many plots here boast the highest ‘A’ classification under the ‘Cadastro’ (or ‘vineyard register’) system, which ranks the quality of Douro vineyards based on 12 parameters, including locality, elevations, yield, soil type, grape variety, and vine training, age and density.
Reddish tawny in colour. On the nose, aromas of mellow red fruits combine with notes of raisins, roasted nuts, caramel and vanilla. On the palate, the sweetness is well balanced by a refreshing acidity which carries the complex flavours onto the lingering finish.