Dalva 40 years old Tawny Portugal Port Wine 75 cl 20%

Forty years in cask means the wine in the glass is older than many of those pouring it - a bottle that has quite literally been allowed to take its time.

Expert's Description

Dalva 40 Year Old Tawny is a Portuguese Aged Tawny Port with an average age of 40 years, bottled at 20%.

The age statement reflects the average age of the many casks in the final blend, a method overseen by Portugal's wine authority, the IVDP - this is the house's oldest commercially available Tawny category, and only a handful of casks ever reach an age that justifies the designation.

The wine is based on a traditional Douro field blend, including Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz, where four decades of oxidative ageing have concentrated the flavour to a point where the fruit has almost become a memory, while the wood's spice and nutty tones dominate completely.

Dalva is the Port brand of the house C. da Silva, founded in Vila Nova de Gaia in 1933, and the 40-year expression represents the pinnacle of the house's age-designated Tawny range.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Deep, complex aroma of tobacco, candied fruit, fruitcake, hazelnuts and coffee.

Palate

Full-bodied and developed, with a fresh acidity that gives a lingering, elegant balance to the concentrated sweetness.

Finish

Very long, complex finish of cinnamon, coffee and toasted nuts.

Specifications

Name: Dalva 40 Year Old Tawny
Winery: Dalva
Region-Country: Douro, Portugal
Type: Aged Tawny Port, 40 Years
Grape varieties: Traditional Douro field blend (incl. Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz)
ABV: 20%
Size: 75 CL
Ageing: Oak cask, average 40 years
EAN no.: 5603003110230

Flavour Profile

Complex · Deep · Spiced · Rare

Investment Potential

As the house's oldest commercially available Tawny category, the 40-year expression is a sought-after rarity among collectors - very few casks ever reach an age that can carry the designation, and the available supply is correspondingly limited.

Did You Know?

Some of the casks in a 40-year blend can date back to a time before even the house's oldest employees were born - Port is one of the few wine styles in the world where a single cask can genuinely outlive several generations of cellar masters.

See our full range of Dalva

Frequently Asked Questions about Dalva 40 Year Old Tawny

What does the 40-year age statement mean?

It is the average age of the many casks in the blend, a method approved by Portugal's wine authority, the IVDP.

What does Dalva 40 Year Old Tawny taste like?

It offers tobacco, candied fruit, fruitcake and hazelnuts, with a full, developed palate and a very long, complex finish.

Is Dalva 40 Year Old Tawny worth it?

As the house's oldest commercially available Tawny category, it is a rare and sought-after bottle where the available quantities are strictly limited.

Should Dalva 40 Year Old Tawny be decanted?

No, it is already filtered and ready to drink straight from the bottle, with no need for decanting.

What pairs well with Dalva 40 Year Old Tawny?

It is complex enough to enjoy on its own to close an evening, but also works with mature cheeses or a simple nut cake.

How long does an opened bottle keep?

Thanks to its extremely high concentration, an opened bottle can keep for several months when stored cool and well sealed.

What defines Dalva as a Port house?

Dalva, founded in Vila Nova de Gaia in 1933, has built one of the market's widest ranges of age-designated Tawny Ports, with the 40-year expression at the very top.