Views from Burmester
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Atmospheric shaft of light in Cálem cellars
Tasting of Colheitas at the Cálem cellars
Yesterday we were treated to a remarkable tasting of colheitas starting at 2000 and going back to 1941. We were told about the need
to air these wines from time to time and to add a little more spirit just before the wines are bottled. All of these wines had been recently bottled.
Brief notes of the tasting of colheitas – Barros, Burmester, Cálem and Kopke – from the Sogevinus Fine Wines Group:
Cálem
2000
Quite
deep walnut colour, dense, richly textured, quite noticeable spirit some spice
here., length, fig and raisin character. Spicy character said to come from from mahogany used in a proportion of the bottles.
Burmester
1989
Slightly
less dense colour, softer less powerful than Calem attractive complexity and
length.
Barros
1974
Again
paler, very attractive texture, spice, nuts, light rainsiny character, length.
Very fine, stylish wine.
Kopke
1966
Quite
dense colour, power and wood spice, texture - mouthfeel, power and length, less
complex than 1974 but more colour. CRM - a butch number.
Cálem
1961
Walnut
colour, aged wood spice, concentration and spice, length and power, still needs
time. Less
expressive than some. Long spicy finish. Dried fruits.
Kopke
1957
Deep
walnut colour, richly textured, mouthfeel, power, spice in the finish, length.
Still youthful but great complexity. Great length although wood spice becoming
dominant in finish. Along with the 1974 this was my favourite of the tasting.
Burmester
1952
Mid-walnut
colour, wood spice on nose, quite sweetly textured, power and length, spicy
power
Kopke
1941
Deep
walnut colour, wood spice nose, very richly textured, power, still big
potential but wood spice becoming more dominant in the finish.
Characteristics as viewed by Sogevinus group:
Cálem:
spicy and powerful rustic
Kopke:
more balanced integrated
Burmester:
more complex
Barros:
easy, rounder, a little sweeter more residual sugar
