NV Calem Tawny 10YO (bottled 2019)

Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
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Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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NV Calem Tawny 10YO (bottled 2019)

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Bottled 2019. Warm mahogany, attractive red-brown colour; 30% opaque. Spiced baked forest fruit, marzipan and a surprising touch of pine needles on the nose. Thick texture compared to most 10 year old tawnies; smooth and very well balanced. Rich and complex palate with fruit, a touch of fine grained tannins, and a wonderful honey sweetness. The apple acidity shows on the palate although it avoids generating any heat, just serving to highlight the delightful honey and lemon finish - a finish which lasts at least two minutes, unless you given in to temptation and take another sip!
91/100. Tasted 10-Apr-21.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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JacobH
Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
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Re: NV Calem 10YO Tawny (bottled 2019)

Post by JacobH »

Sounds like you think this is one of the better 10 year old tawnies? Especially from a larger brand (as opposed to an independent Quinta).
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Re: NV Calem 10YO Tawny (bottled 2019)

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

It was a very well deserved winner of a gold medal at the last Decanter World Wine Awards. It is one of the better "big brand" 10YOs and thoroughly enjoyable.

If I was eating in a restaurant and saw this on the wine list, I would have a big smile on my face.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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JacobH
Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
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Re: NV Calem 10YO Tawny (bottled 2019)

Post by JacobH »

Alex Bridgeman wrote: 16:10 Thu 20 May 2021 It was a very well deserved winner of a gold medal at the last Decanter World Wine Awards. It is one of the better "big brand" 10YOs and thoroughly enjoyable.

If I was eating in a restaurant and saw this on the wine list, I would have a big smile on my face.
That’s really interesting. Whilst the market is awash with decent 20-year-olds (and older), I’ve struggled to find a 10-year-old which I really like. It’s especially frustrating since I finally found a reserve tawny that I think is quite good (the Croft). I’ll make sure to buy one to try when I next see one.
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Re: NV Calem 10YO Tawny (bottled 2019)

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Finding one will be the challenge. I don't recall ever seeing one available at retail in the UK, but it must be somewhere.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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JacobH
Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
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Re: NV Calem 10YO Tawny (bottled 2019)

Post by JacobH »

Alex Bridgeman wrote: 16:14 Thu 20 May 2021 Finding one will be the challenge. I don't recall ever seeing one available at retail in the UK, but it must be somewhere.
Whisky and Wines (who I don’t know) are selling it for £23.99 which isn’t the most attractive price for a 10-year-old when it seems to go for about €17.49 in Portugal. I do occasionally see other Sogevinus brands in independent wine merchants (and VW&P is selling the recent Cálem VP vintages) so I guess some must be making it over here.
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MigSU
Warre’s Otima 10 year old Tawny
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Re: NV Calem 10YO Tawny (bottled 2019)

Post by MigSU »

MigSU
Warre’s Otima 10 year old Tawny
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Joined: 13:22 Wed 17 Feb 2021
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Re: NV Calem 10YO Tawny (bottled 2019)

Post by MigSU »

JacobH wrote: 16:29 Thu 20 May 2021
Alex Bridgeman wrote: 16:14 Thu 20 May 2021 Finding one will be the challenge. I don't recall ever seeing one available at retail in the UK, but it must be somewhere.
Whisky and Wines (who I don’t know) are selling it for £23.99 which isn’t the most attractive price for a 10-year-old when it seems to go for about €17.49 in Portugal. I do occasionally see other Sogevinus brands in independent wine merchants (and VW&P is selling the recent Cálem VP vintages) so I guess some must be making it over here.
Don't complain! You lot get vintage Ports at prices that sometimes make me want to cry (due to how low they sometimes are).
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JacobH
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Re: NV Calem 10YO Tawny (bottled 2019)

Post by JacobH »

MigSU wrote: 16:39 Thu 20 May 2021Don't complain! You lot get vintage Ports at prices that sometimes make me want to cry (due to how low they sometimes are).
This is a very fair point! Although, perhaps unconventionally, I like to explore lesser-known shippers and Ports where the prices here can be sky-high compared to Portugal. And the non-availability of decent pastéis de nata makes me want to cry on a regular basis, too :wink:
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MigSU
Warre’s Otima 10 year old Tawny
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Joined: 13:22 Wed 17 Feb 2021
Location: Douro Valley

Re: NV Calem 10YO Tawny (bottled 2019)

Post by MigSU »

JacobH wrote: 10:23 Fri 21 May 2021 And the non-availability of decent pastéis de nata
I see you're a man of culture.
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