Colheitas seem to be an aquired taste - most appear to be consumed on the Portuguese domestic market, and I've yet to meet anyone who thought the ancient ones were worth the money.
I have never forgotten this quote that was posted on this website, quite a while ago.
After a number of FTLOP folks recently tried many old ones, it would be interesting to see what they and others think of this quote/topic.
I think that the "acquired taste" remark might be better expressed as the result of marketing (or lack thereof) and perhaps availablity in the US. From some of the comments on this forum, it appears that in markets where colheitas are available, they sell well. I've also read that Americans will tend to buy expensive wine with a vintage date rather than wine without one (such as 10-year or 20-year), so I would think that the marketing challenge would not be that great. They seem to disappear from the shelves quickly when I see them locally, and do not get restocked. I have been in four stores recently and have seen only 1990 Burmester.
For myself, I prefer colheitas to VP and will buy them when I see them, but they both compete with madeira for my wine money.
Would the people who thought so, find old VP (or any old wine of a certain quality and hence -- often -- price) to be worth the money?
Isn't it more that Colheitas are not as famous as VPs, and you often buy VPs young, so they don't appear to be quite as expensive for that reason?
FWIW, I haven't tasted that many really old VPs myself, so probably the two most remarkable old ports I've tasted are the 1934 and 1937 Niepoort Colheitas. The former is still available over here. I'd buy a bottle if I could get somebody to share the cost.
Having had the opportunity to taste so many top quality colheitas recently I am not sure that I would agree with the theory that colheitas are an acquired taste.
I think that they are a particular style of wine that will apeal to some and not to others.
I tasted some colheitas that have the reputation of being amongst the best ever made and I was very impressed. Some of these are truly stunningly good wines. I believe that Colheitas are undervalued and underpriced when compared to VP from the same year.
But if I was given $400 and told to buy a single bottle of port with it then would I go and buy a bottle of the 1853 Don Pedro Reserve Colheita? Probably not, I would probably choose to spend the same amount of money on a bottle of Fonseca 1963.
But that's just me. Today, with my newly gained experience I would probably say something along the lines of
Colheitas are an individual taste - most appear to be consumed by a relatively small number of people around the world, and they probably represent one of the wine world's current best values for money.
(but I don't think the quote was mine originally!)
That is an interesting assertion. I can't really agree or disagree with the acquired taste part as so much of wine appreciation is subjective.
I can speak to my own experience though and state that I have thoroughly enjoyed several Colheita's from the early 1900's. I also think that compared to a Vintage Port of similar age, Colheita's are often much cheaper and represent a good value.
Over the last year and a half or so, I have really gained an appreciation for tawny styled Ports. It would be very difficult for me to say I prefer Colheita over Vintage or vise-versa.
I also think its more about availability than anything else. It's much easier to find a 1963 vintage port than a 1937 Colheita. Although certainly tastes vary, to me the older Colheitas are in some ways similar to what I would love all of my Vintage Port to be like (in particular the complexity).
I think that the average person has probably had a VP at some point in their life, but never had a Colheita, and probably does not even know they exist. Before the FTLOP harvest trip of last year I had almost no experience with Colheitas, and the trip was a real eye opener. Now I seek out Colheitas at every chance.
Better availability, coupled with some in store tastings to spread the word, would certainly help in marketing these wines in the US.
While I don't think they are an "aquired taste", they are just a different type of Port that few people have much experience with, especially the older ones. I would hedge my bet that the reason for this is they are not easily found in the average wine store here in the States. Coupled with the fact a large number of older colheita's on the market are from non-declared VP years, confusing a consumer that has only a vague interest or knowledge about Port. IMO, a simple lack of exposure to Colheita's is to blame for a percieved "aquired taste."
For the value, I do think they are worth the money, especially the older ones. Compare a top notch VP from 70 years ago and a top notch Colheita from 70 years ago, and the Colheita typically is much cheaper per bottle.
Colheitas are a rarity in Québec . The SAQ has a few .
Unless your into Port or wine , you probably never heard the word . Until I joined , a Colheita could have been related to a fahita . . .
Vintage avant jeunesse/or the other way around . . .
Luc Gauthier wrote:Colheitas are a rarity in Québec .
Probably a rarity just about anywhere in Canada. I have seen very few examples of Colheitas out in Alberta, with most of them being no older than 15 years. The odd '76, '77 and the more rare '67 does pop up in one store or another once in a blue moon.
Lack of availability in the North American market is what I am sure will drive the sales down and the image of Colheitas being for an "acquired taste."
Luc Gauthier wrote:Colheitas are a rarity in Québec .
Probably a rarity just about anywhere in Canada. I have seen very few examples of Colheitas out in Alberta, with most of them being no older than 15 years. The odd '76, '77 and the more rare '67 does pop up in one store or another once in a blue moon.
Lack of availability in the North American market is what I am sure will drive the sales down and the image of Colheitas being for an "acquired taste."
Todd
Just to clear things up , 3 or 4 high end brands but available in good quantities ( can you spare $ 500.00 a bottle )
Plenty of Colheitas under $ 100.00 .
But that's just It , either we Québecois don't know they exist or If we do , we wrongly accept the acquired taste syndrom . . .
Vintage avant jeunesse/or the other way around . . .
hmmm, maybe Colheita's are an acquired taste if one also has to acquire the taste for any tawny style port. I have loved the Kopkes, Krohns, and Rocha's from the 50's and 60's that I have picked up at auction for a relative song ($25-$45/bottle about 5-6 years ago). Although I am starting to notice that these are becoming pricier over the last couple of years (anyone else?)
When the price is right, I pick them up when I can as it seems far more fun to serve a 1966 Rocha to friends than a 40 year tawny simply for the vintage year painted on the bottle. Shallow, I know, but fun none-the-less
Acquired taste seems to me to indicate that it's something only very few will enjoy and that you sort of have to get used to the taste. For me I've always loved the colheitas, the older the better. Even had the opprotunity to try a 1900 a few years back which is still on the top of my list.
