Dalva 2015 Colheita Portugal Portvin 75 cl 20%

White grapes change colour when given decades to do it in a cask - from pale to amber, as a single 2015 harvest quietly finds its own identity.

Expert's Description

Dalva 2015 Colheita White is a Portuguese white Colheita Port from the single vintage 2015, bottled at 20%.

While most White Ports are sold young and fresh, a Colheita White is a rarity - a dated, single-vintage white wine fortified and left to rest in oak for years, slowly shifting from straw to amber and developing a completely different register of flavours than its youthful counterpart.

The grapes, including Malvasia Fina, Viosinho and Gouveio from older vines, undergo the same fortification process as red Port but without skin contact, preserving a lighter colour and a more delicate fruit even after years of oxidative ageing.

Dalva, the Port brand of the house C. da Silva founded in Vila Nova de Gaia in 1933, has become especially known for its wide range of White Colheita Ports - a discipline only a handful of houses pursue to the same extent.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apricot and orange blossom mingle with sweet spice, toasted hazelnut and a touch of orange peel.

Palate

Still youthful in its fruit, but with a distinct nutty character and a juicy, fresh core, where the first hints of the wood's spiced tones are just beginning to show.

Finish

Medium-length finish of hazelnut with a dry, faintly saline close.

Specifications

Name: Dalva 2015 Colheita White
Winery: Dalva
Region-Country: Douro, Portugal
Type: Colheita White Port
Grape varieties: Malvasia Fina, Viosinho, Gouveio (old vines)
ABV: 20%
Size: 75 CL
Ageing: Oak cask, approx. 10 years (single vintage 2015)
Vintage: 2015
Serving suggestion: Serve lightly chilled at 10-12°C in a white wine glass, ideally as an aperitif or with a hazelnut-based dessert

Flavour Profile

Nutty · Floral · Fresh · Amber-hued

Investment Potential

Dated White Colheita is a far rarer style than the red Colheita Ports, as only a handful of houses bottle white wine with a vintage year on the label at all - making the bottle of interest to collectors with an eye for the less common styles.

Did You Know?

While a red Colheita gets its deep colour from skin contact, the grapes for a White Colheita are pressed for juice alone - yet after a decade in cask, the wine ends up a colour closer to amber jewellery than the pale white it started out as.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Dalva 2015 Colheita White

What is a Colheita White Port?

It is a white Port from a single, named vintage, fortified and aged in oak for a number of years, unlike standard White Port, which blends several vintages and is typically aged for less time.

How rare is this style?

Dated White Colheita is markedly rarer than red Colheita, as only a handful of Port houses produce the style in any meaningful volume.

What does Dalva 2015 Colheita White taste like?

It offers ripe apricot, orange blossom and toasted hazelnut, with a juicy, fresh core and a medium-length, faintly saline finish.

At what temperature should it be served?

Best lightly chilled at 10-12°C, ideally in a white wine glass.

What pairs well with Dalva 2015 Colheita White?

It works well as an aperitif, but also with a hazelnut-based dessert or a light cheese board of harder cheeses.

Can it be served with tonic?

Yes, White Port with tonic - known as Portonic - is a popular way to serve it in Porto, though a vintage-dated Colheita is often enjoyed neat to bring out its complexity.

How long does an opened bottle keep?

An opened bottle should be stored cool and typically keeps for a couple of weeks without losing too much character.

What defines Dalva as a producer of White Port?

Dalva has specialised in White Colheita Ports to an extent few other houses match, with a long tradition of dating and ageing its white vintage wines.