Kopke Colheita Port 2012
€ 37.50
| Producer | Kopke |
| Region | Douro |
| Grapes | Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca |
| Ageing | Colheita (single harvest), at least 7 years in French oak casks |
| Alcohol | 20%vol | pH: 3.5 |
| Serving | 14°C, like a white Burgundy, in small white wine glasses Keeps 4-6 months once opened, with the original stopper and at a constant 12°C |
A 2012 Colheita, the year of the Curiosity rover on Mars.
Tasting note
Delicious and lively, red with brownish tints. A rich, intense nose in which ripe fruit mingles with nuts and spice. Intense and full-flavoured on the palate, with the sweetest flavours blending with nuts and a touch of white pepper. Fresh, intense finish.
The story
Every wine tells a story, but Kopke’s Colheitas tell a unique one: tasting a wine is tasting history. In 2012 NASA’s Curiosity rover landed on Mars, and the Mayan prediction of the end of the world drew attention worldwide. The world, of course, did not end.
A Colheita is a very high-quality tawny from a single harvest, aged for at least seven years in French oak casks of about 550 litres. That contact with oxygen makes the Port lose some of its colour and gives it aromas of vanilla, spice, raisins, figs and caramel. Colheitas account for less than 1 per cent of total Port production, and like a Vintage, a Colheita is only released after approval by the IVDP (Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto).
The vines are traditionally planted on horizontal terraces on the slopes. More recently they have also been planted vertically up the slope, known as ‘vinha ao alto’.
The grapes are hand-picked at the right moment, destemmed and crushed. They ferment in lagares at 28-30°C, with careful maceration and constant stirring to extract colour, tannins and aromas from the skins. Once the desired sweetness (baumé) is reached, grape spirit is added. The wine then ages in oak casks, never for less than seven years, and is bottled according to demand.
Store the bottle upright in a cool, dry place, away from light and temperature changes. Over time a little sediment naturally forms at the bottom.
Food pairing
Delicious with lightly sweet desserts such as crème brûlée, with dried fruit and as an aperitif. Also good with a handful of nuts, caramel pecan pie, milk chocolate or aged Dutch cheese.
The producer
Kopke was founded in Porto in 1638 by the German merchant family Kopke, representatives of the Hanseatic League, and is the oldest Port house in the world. In 1922 the house bought Quinta de São Luiz, on the left bank of the Douro between Régua and Pinhão, with old vines of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cão. Kopke is best known for its Colheitas and old tawnies, drawn from one of the deepest stocks of old Port in the Douro.
Since 2006 Kopke has belonged to the Sogevinus group, renamed Kopke Group in 2025. Since 2022 Carla Tiago has been winemaker and master blender for all Kopke Ports.
Critics & Awards
3,9/5 Vivino (45 reviews)