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Has it been that long?
Over ten years ago, I was in college, and for some course, had to write a paper on port wine. What I had always considered to be a stuffy old-fashioned product all of a sudden became an interesting subject I couldn't help but want to learn more about.
Later that year, actually during the summer holidays, I went off to Portugal, and spent some days in Porto, visiting some of the houses, and liberally indulging.
In honour of that year and that holiday I decided to have a ten year old Tawny today.
Regular tawny needs to have spent at least 2 years in wooden barrels, which are not completely filled, so that there is some air, allowing for oxidation of the wine (This is the difference with late bottled vintage and vintage port, which are aged in full barrels, producing no oxidation.)
There are also age statement tawny's, 10, 20, 30 and 40 years old, although this does not mean that every drop in the bottle needs to be at least that age.
Prices rise steeply with age, but a 10 year old is easily affordable for, most. If you've never had a decent Port before, and find yourself having 1 bottle in the cellar, brought out twice a year for use in a sauce, treat yourself to a 10yo tawny, or a late bottles vintage, and open your palate to a new world!