Hi all, I have joined this forum for some help in identifying a bottle of port I discovered which belonged to my late father.
Each and every Christmas I decant a bottle of vintage port for the family which we all enjoy enormously. This year I had seemingly run out of decent freebies from business gifts and so asked my mother did she have anything that my father had left,as he always loved a drop of good port.Well we found a few bottles to choose from,one of which looked very promising!
After some consideration I thought it might be a little too promising to be quaffed by us unknowledgeable types and so opened another bottle, very nice too I might add.
After doing some research online I decided to email an enquiry with pictures to J W Burmester to ask for there help,they have only just replied with some limited information re the seal on the bottle which is a bit meaningless to me.Next step I thought is to ask you guys on the forum for help , can I drink this bottle at Christmas or not , you decide.
Can try and send pictures and more info,just ask.Cheers.
Bottle Discovered..Help please.
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- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3709
- Joined: 13:22 Wed 15 Dec 2010
- Location: Near Cambridge, UK
Re: Bottle Discovered..Help please.
Hi Jonjoe, and welcome to
It's always interesting to try and identify unknown bottles of port, so happy to help; Please do post pictures if you can?

It's always interesting to try and identify unknown bottles of port, so happy to help; Please do post pictures if you can?
Re: Bottle Discovered..Help please.
J W Burmester is a well-known Port house, though not of the top rank. Post pictures (or email to me) and we’ll tell you what we can.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Croft 1945
- Posts: 16020
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: Bottle Discovered..Help please.
It might also help us if you can share the gist of the reply from Burmester.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
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- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3709
- Joined: 13:22 Wed 15 Dec 2010
- Location: Near Cambridge, UK
Re: Bottle Discovered..Help please.
The bottle appears to be a Burmester bottle from the embossed JWB on the glass, and the label indicates that it is a tawny (matured in cask) from red grapes (as standard, so not a white). From elsewhere, it seems that "Tordiz" is a name sometimes used by Burmester on their 40yr old tawny (which I'm surprised they didn't mention!), so it seems most likely that this is a 40yr tawny bottled in 1982+. Should be very tasty, I would think; and yes, you can absolutely drink this bottle at Xmas if you so choose.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Croft 1945
- Posts: 16020
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: Bottle Discovered..Help please.
It should be delicious and, if you keep it in the fridge once opened, it should happily last 3-4 weeks so no need to feel obliged to drink it all on one night — although it will probably be so nice that it will be gone in an evening!
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!