Dalva 1982 Colheita Portugal Por Wine 75 cl 20%

In 1982 these grapes were harvested by the Douro river, and the wine has rested quietly in oak at Dalva's cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia ever since. Four decades have passed while the colour shifted from deep ruby to warm amber – ready to be opened right now.

Expert's Description

Dalva 1982 Colheita is a Portuguese Colheita Port – a single-harvest Tawny Port from the Douro Valley – bottled at 20%.

A Colheita differs from other Port styles in that it comes from a single harvest and must mature in cask for at least seven years before bottling – this release has spent considerably longer. The label therefore carries two dates: the harvest year and the bottling year, so anyone can calculate exactly how many years the wine spent in wood.

Behind the bottle stands Dalva, a brand of the Port house C. da Silva in Vila Nova de Gaia. The house dates back to 1862, when it was founded under the name Corrêa Ribeiro e Filhos, but took on its current identity in 1933, when Clemente da Silva arrived from Brazil and took over the firm – the name Dalva is a contraction of the surname da Silva, registered as a trademark the following year.

Dalva has since specialised in exactly this kind of long-aged Port, alongside white Port, and the 1982 vintage is among the oldest Colheitas the house currently offers.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is deep and layered, with dried fruit, toasted nuts and a trace of orange peel that hints at decades spent in wood.

Palate

The palate offers almonds and walnuts, cinnamon and a touch of quince paste, still carrying a fresh acidity that keeps the wine balanced despite its age.

Finish

The finish is long and powerful, closing on dark coffee and warm spice.

Specifications

Name: Dalva 1982 Colheita
Winery: Dalva
Region/Country: Douro, Portugal
Type: Colheita Port (Tawny)
ABV: 20%
Size: 75 CL
Ageing: Oak casks
Vintage: 1982
EAN no.: 5603003330829

Flavour Profile

Nutty · Spiced · Amber-gold · Complex

Investment Potential

As one of the oldest vintages the house currently offers, the 1982 Colheita is a genuinely scarce bottle – every Colheita comes from a single harvest that can never be repeated, and stocks of such old vintages shrink naturally as time passes. Among collectors of aged Port, early-1980s vintages are particularly sought after, since the combination of age and cask character cannot be recreated.

Did You Know?

Colheita is the only Port style whose label is legally required to show two dates – harvest year and bottling year – so anyone can work out exactly how many years the wine matured in cask before it was bottled.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Dalva 1982 Colheita

Is Dalva 1982 Colheita worth it?

Yes – it is one of the oldest Colheitas the house currently offers, from a single harvest that can never be repeated, with a cask journey of over four decades that only a handful of bottles in the world can match.

How rare is this vintage?

Very rare. Every Colheita comes from a single year's harvest, and as time passes the available quantity of the 1982 vintage shrinks naturally, since no more of this exact bottle is ever produced.

How does a 1982 Colheita taste compared with a younger Port?

It is more oxidative and complex than a young Ruby or LBV Port, with notes of nuts, dried fruit and spice built up through decades of contact with wood and air.

How should the bottle be stored, and how long does it keep once opened?

Store it upright in a cool place. Because the wine is already oxidatively matured in cask, it stays fresh for several weeks – often months – after opening, unlike younger Port styles.

At what temperature and in which glass should it be served?

Serve it at 14-16°C in a smaller Port glass, so the nutty and spiced notes come through clearly.

What is the story behind Dalva as a Port house?

Dalva is a brand under C. da Silva, a Port house founded in 1862 in Vila Nova de Gaia. It took on its current identity in 1933, when Clemente da Silva took over the firm, and the house has since specialised in aged Colheita and white Port.