PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Alves de Sousa is a family estate in the Douro, centered on the Quinta da Gaivosa near Régua, where Tiago Alves de Sousa, the family’s winemaker, is known for both his dry table wines and his old-vine Ports. The family has been farming in the Douro for generations, and its wines are often described as “the new Douro,” modern, precise, and rooted in old vineyards.
The 10 Year Old Tawny is made from very old vines, mostly Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (the local name for Tempranillo), and Tinto Cão. After a short fermentation of 3 to 4 days on the skins at 24-28°C, the fermentation is stopped by adding aguardente, a neutral wine brandy of 77% alcohol, and the Port is aged for ten years or more in seasoned French oak. It’s bottled at about 20% ABV, with roughly 107 g/L residual sugar, and less than 24,000 bottles are produced.
It’s a style that stands apart from the sweeter tawny norm. Julia Harding MW, writing for JancisRobinson.com, found it “deeply coloured and more brown than orange. Dark burnt umber. Distinctive savoury, wood aroma. Tastes drier than some and the sweet/sour complexity drives away all thoughts of the alcohol, almost a hint of yeast extract. Beautifully balanced. This is a bit more expensive than many 10 Year Old Tawnies but it is also vastly superior and worth the extra.” Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate scored it 89: “Notes of caramel and spice, with some red fruit still present. Beautiful development with aromas of maturation of Ports but with great elegance and discretion.” Other tasters describe “a huge concentration of nutty, toffee, almonds with depth, balance and great length,” with marzipan on the nose, and one notes “macerated raspberries, cedar, and caramel — what complexity!” Not every early review was as warm: a Decanter panel tasting of an earlier bottling found “very nutty, dry aromas” with “volatile and balsamic notes on the palate,” a reminder that this is a savory, balsamic, intentionally less-sweet style, which suits some palates more than others.
The 500ml bottle is the traditional size for aged Port, enough for about eight to ten small pours, and an easy gift. Serve it slightly chilled (about 12-14°C), in a small glass, after dinner. It pairs with blue cheese, aged hard cheeses, almonds and walnuts, coffee desserts, and crème brûlée, and once opened, it keeps for several weeks if stored cool.
Quinta da Gaivosa 10 Year Old Tawny Port is produced by Alves de Sousa (winemaker Tiago Alves de Sousa) in the Douro Valley, Portugal, from very old vines of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Tinto Cão. Fermented 3-4 days on the skins at 24-28°C, fortified with 77% aguardente, and aged 10+ years in seasoned French oak. About 20% ABV, ~107 g/L residual sugar, 500ml. Fewer than 24,000 bottles.
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com:
“Deeply coloured and more brown than orange. Dark burnt umber. Distinctive savoury, wood aroma. Tastes drier than some and the sweet/sour complexity drives away all thoughts of the alcohol, almost a hint of yeast extract. Beautifully balanced. This is a bit more expensive than many 10 Year Old Tawnies but it is also vastly superior and worth the extra.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate — 89 Points:
“Notes of caramel and spice, with some red fruit still present. Beautiful development with aromas of maturation of Ports but with great elegance and discretion.”
Decanter panel tasting (earlier bottling; score not shown):
“Mid orange-brown colour. Very nutty, dry aromas. Volatile and balsamic notes on the palate — somewhat sharp and discombobulated.”
Retailer tasting note:
“Huge concentration of nutty, toffee, almonds with depth, balance and great length.”
Nose
Dark amber with brown tones. Toffee, marzipan, and almonds, with caramel, fig, raisin, and a savory, woody character.
Palate
Silky and concentrated, with toasted nuts, caramel, spice, and a hint of red berry, drier-leaning, with sweet-and-sour complexity.
Finish
Long and elegant, with spice, toasted wood, and a savory edge.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Aged Tawny Port — 10 Years |
| Appellation | Porto, Douro Valley, Portugal |
| Varieties | Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão |
| Producer | Alves de Sousa — Tiago Alves de Sousa |
| Aging | 10+ years in seasoned French oak |
| ABV / Sugar | ~20% / ~107 g/L residual sugar |
| Production | Fewer than 24,000 bottles |
| Critics | Julia Harding MW (Jancis Robinson): “vastly superior” · Robert Parker 89 |
| Style / Identity | A savory, nutty, balanced, drier-leaning 10-year-old tawny from very old vines |
| Aromas & Flavors | Toffee, marzipan, almond, caramel, fig, raisin, orange peel, spice |
| Serving Temperature | 12–14°C |
| Bottle Size | 500ml |
Serve slightly chilled, at about 12-14°C, in a small tulip glass; an open bottle keeps for several weeks if stored cool.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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