Marthas 20 years old Tawny Port Wine 75 cl 20%

Only a small share of what is laid down in Baixo Corgo ever makes it all the way to a 20 Year Old Tawny. The rest is sold along the way or blended into younger bottles. What remains after two decades is one of the house's most ambitious wines.

Expert's Description

Martha's 20 Year Old Tawny Port is a Portuguese age-declared Tawny Port from the Douro Valley, matured in oak casks for an average of 20 years and bottled at 20%.

After two decades in wood, the wine has lost most of its original fruit sweetness and instead developed deep complexity of dried fruit, nuts and spice. A significant portion of the volume has also evaporated through the wood along the way, concentrating the flavour further.

Martha's Wine & Spirits traces back to 1727 in the Baixo Corgo district, where the family has grown grapes for six generations and later built its name on precisely these age-declared Tawny series. 20 years is one of the levels the house has won the most awards for.

The designation is approved by the Portuguese regulator IVDP after an official tasting that confirms the character in the glass lives up to the 20 years on the label.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich aromas of honey, fig and toasted walnuts, with a hint of cigar box.

Palate

Complex and elegant, with ripe dried fruit, caramel and a fine spiciness.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering notes of nuts and dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Martha's 20 Year Old Tawny Port
Winery: Martha's Wine & Spirits
Region/Country: Douro, Portugal
Type: Age-declared Tawny Port
Grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão
ABV: 20%
Size: 75 CL
Ageing: Oak cask (average 20 years)

Flavour Profile

Complex · Nutty · Elegant · Spiced

Investment Potential

A 20 Year Old Tawny is a recognised category among Port collectors, since it requires official age approval and is typically produced in smaller volumes than the house's younger series. The bottle suits anyone looking for a Port with a degree of rarity beyond the drinking experience itself.

Did You Know?

During those 20 years in wood, a significant part of the wine evaporates through the cask, what cellar masters call the angels' share. It is one of the reasons an old Tawny becomes more concentrated year after year, but it also means only a fraction of the original volume ends up in the bottle.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Martha's 20 Year Old Tawny Port

What does Martha's 20 Year Old Tawny Port taste like?

It tastes complex and elegant, with rich honey, dried figs, toasted walnuts and a long, warm finish of nuts and spice.

What makes a 20 Year Old Tawny rarer than a 10 Year Old?

Only a smaller share of what is laid down reaches the older categories, and part of the volume evaporates over the years. That makes a 20 Year Old Tawny more limited in number than the house's younger series.

Is Martha's 20 Year Old Tawny Port worth cellaring?

Yes, an age-declared Tawny of this calibre is sought after among collectors and hosts, precisely because the character is already fully developed and confirmed by an official tasting panel.

At what temperature should a 20 Year Old Tawny be served?

Best at 14-16°C, where the complex notes of dried fruit and nuts come through most clearly without being dulled by warmth.

How long does an opened bottle of 20 Year Old Tawny keep?

Thanks to the long cask ageing and high concentration, an opened bottle keeps for several months if stored cool and dark.

What does "20 Year Old" officially mean on the label?

It is an age statement approved by the Portuguese regulator IVDP after an official tasting, not simply a term the producer has chosen alone.