Latest news with #VintagePort
The South African
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Princess Kate Middleton welcomes french president in regal style
Princess Kate Middleton made a stunning return to royal duties on 8 July, attending the state banquet at Windsor Castle in honour of the French state visit. This marked her first public appearance wearing a tiara since December 2023. This is a significant milestone following her cancer treatment and ongoing recovery. HISTORY OF PRINCESS KATE'S TIARA The Princess of Wales chose the iconic Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara. This is a piece steeped in royal history and famously worn by Princess Diana, according to People . Kate has made this tiara her signature, having worn it on numerous occasions since 2015, including previous state banquets and royal weddings. The tiara showcases elegant drop-shaped pearls and holds value not only for its beauty but also for its sentimental connection to the royal family. For the banquet, Kate paired the tiara with a striking red silk chiffon gown designed by Sarah Burton for Givenchy. This is the same designer behind her wedding dress. The gown featured a ruched midsection, long, cape-like sleeves, and a flowing, pleated skirt. She accessorised with chandelier earrings from the late Queen Elizabeth II's collection and a pearl bangle. This completed a look rich in royal symbolism and elegance. The event was hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla and marked the first state banquet at Windsor Castle in over a decade. It honoured French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron during their three-day visit to the UK. This is the first French state visit since Brexit. The Macrons were welcomed with a regal horse-drawn carriage procession, followed by a formal welcome from the King and Queen. Kate and Prince William shared a radiant photo on social media, captioned: 'Ready for what promises to be a wonderful State Banquet tonight in Windsor.' Many warmly received their appearance and noted Kate's graceful return to public life after months away due to her health. The banquet featured thoughtful details reflecting both British and French heritage. Guests enjoyed Taylor's 1977 Vintage Port and a 1948 Grande Champagne Cognac. The bottles marked the birth years of President Macron and King Charles. A special cocktail named 'L'entente' combined British gin with lemon curd and French pastis, garnished with dried French cornflowers and English roses. Flowers from Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle gardens adorned the tables, and the organisers donated any unused blooms to charity. Kate's return to wearing a tiara symbolises her resilience and commitment to her royal duties despite her recent health challenges. She spoke candidly about the difficulties of recovery after treatment during a hospital visit on 2 July. 'You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment's done, then it's like, 'I can crack on, get back to normal,' but actually, the phase afterwards is difficult.' Her appearance at the banquet signals a hopeful new chapter for the Princess of Wales. Princess Kate's radiant return in red and tiara is a powerful symbol of hope and continuity, inspiring many as she balances her public role with personal recovery. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Forbes
22-03-2025
- Forbes
The World's Best Tawny Port According To The Top Wine Competitions.
A glass of Tawny Port overlooking the Douro river, Port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia and city of Porto, Portugal in the background. getty Tawny Ports are the fastest-growing segment of the Port wine market. Here is a selection with tasting notes of some of the world's best Tawny Ports, all multiple gold medal winners in international wine competitions. Tawny Port, a distinct style of fortified wine from Portugal's Douro Valley, undergoes gradual oxidative aging and evaporation through extended barrel aging. This process imparts characteristic nutty, caramelized flavors, distinguishing it from other port styles. It's typically labeled with age designations of 10, 20, 30, or 40 years. Older bottlings are periodically available, and Tawny Ports can be remarkably long-lived. Ready to drink when bottled, it doesn't improve with further bottle aging. Vintage Port is made from grapes from a single exceptional year and is aged for only two years in barrels before bottling. It continues to age and improves in the bottle for decades, retaining a deep red/purple color and fruity flavors. Non-Vintage (Ruby) Port is a blend of wines from multiple years. It is aged for a shorter period, usually in large vats, and maintains a ruby-red color and fresh, fruit-forward flavors. It's meant to be consumed young and doesn't improve with aging. The more subtle and complex flavor profile of Tawny Port, in contrast to the fruit-forward character of Vintage and Ruby Ports, makes it a favorite among connoisseurs. This contrast in flavor profiles offers a rich and rewarding taste experience, especially when paired with cheeses or desserts. Tawny Ports of 10-20 years typically exhibit fresher fruit notes of figs, raisins, dried cherries, and apricots alongside subtle nutty aromas of almonds and walnuts. On the palate, they are usually lighter and less complex than their older counterparts, with noticeable sweetness balanced by flavors of caramel, vanilla, and spices. Older Tawny Ports of 30+ years exhibit more pronounced aromas of roasted nuts, cinnamon, mocha/chocolate, dried/jammy fruit, and hints of candied orange peel. These ports show greater complexity and a silky, viscous texture on the palate. The flavors are richer, featuring concentrated caramel, hazelnut, cinnamon, and chocolate notes, often with a smoother, less sweet finish. Four different sorts of Port wine produced in Porto, Portugal: Vintage. Ruby. Tawny and White getty While all Tawny Ports have a characteristic DNA, different producers' aroma and taste profiles can vary significantly due to several factors. Each producer has unique methods and traditions in blending and aging. Some prefer shorter aging periods for a fresher style, while others aim for longer aging in barrels to develop more profound oxidative flavors. The type of wood used for the barrels, the size of the barrels, and the temperature and humidity conditions in the aging warehouses significantly influence the oxidative process and the flavor profile of the Tawny Port. Portuguese and American oak are used in Port wine production. Each impart different characteristics due to their distinct wood grain and chemical compositions. American oak generally imparts sweeter, more intense vanilla, coconut, and caramel flavors due to higher levels of vanillin and lactones and the wood's looser grain structure. The caramel notes from American oak are particularly pronounced, making it ideal for producers who want Tawny Ports with a sweet, rich profile. On the other hand, Portuguese oak imparts spiciness, earthiness, and less pronounced vanilla tones, producing structured, elegant Port wines with less overt sweetness. It provides a more tannic structure and complexity, ideal for long-aging fine, high-quality Ports. The terroir of different vineyards within the Douro Valley leads to variability in fruit intensity, acidity, and overall structure of the Tawny Port, shaping each producer's house style. Producers like Ramos Pinto, Dow, Fonseca, Taylor Fladgate, and Graham aim for a richer, more opulent style. In contrast, Quinta do Noval or Kopke typically feature a lighter, more delicate style. Below are tasting notes on a selection of highly awarded Tawny Ports. The indicated price is the average US price, as reported by In compiling this list of top-rated Tawny Ports, we reviewed the results from various wine competitions, including Decanter World Wine Awards, Wine Spectator, International Wine & Spirit Competition, San Francisco International Wine Competition, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Wine Enthusiast, and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles among others. Sandeman, a renowned port wine brand, has been crafting exceptional wines in Gaia for over two centuries. getty The Port has a deep mahogany color and intense aromas of dried fruits, nuts, and toffee. The palate is incredibly complex, featuring walnut, almond, and dark chocolate flavors. The finish is silky smooth, with lingering dried fruit notes. The Port has a deep amber color with golden highlights. It features a complex bouquet of dried cherries, dark fruits, nuts, and wood notes. It's smooth and rich on the palate, expressing flavors of caramel, roasted nuts, and dried figs. The finish is exceptionally long, with lingering roasted nuts and dried fruit notes. Sandeman has been particularly successful at international wine competitions. It was named the most awarded Port Wine brand globally for six consecutive years from 2013 to 2018, accumulating around 170 medals. The Sandeman 20 YO Tawny Port received gold medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards and other competitions. The Sandeman 40 YO Tawny Port was awarded gold medals and the 2019 Port Trophy 2019 at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Both Tawny Ports are outstanding, as is the entire range. All five expressions, from the 10 YO to the 50 YO, are worth exploring. Beautiful vineyards of the Douro river region in Portugal getty The color is deep amber with golden-green highlights. The nose features a rich, complex bouquet of nuts, honey, and figs. The palate is rich and velvety, exhibiting flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spices. The finish is exceptionally long, perfectly balancing sweetness and acidity. The Port is a pale mahogany color with olive highlights showcasing a powerful nose of dried fruit, spices, and roasted nuts. It's smooth and silky on the palate, with concentrated flavors of butterscotch, caramel, and toasted almonds. The finish is incredibly long, layered, and complex. The Port is amber with golden highlights. It features dried fruit and roasted nut aromas. It's smooth and well-balanced on the palate with subtle vanilla, dark dried fruit, roasted nut flavors, and a long and elegant finish. Taylor Fladgate has also released a 50 YO Tawny Port, one of only a handful of Port Houses to do so. The Port is exceptionally rich, complex, and flavorful, featuring dark dried fruit, nuts, and hints of caramel and cinnamon, underpinned by an impressively integrated acidity. The finish is long and elegant, with lingering dried fruit and spice notes. It retails for $329. The Fonseca Port has a deep amber color with russet highlights. The nose features a complex, concentrated bouquet of dried fruit, spices, and wood notes. It's smooth and silky on the palate with flavors of dried figs, dates, caramel, and roasted nuts, followed by an exceptionally long and balanced finish. The Port is amber with golden highlights. It features dried red and black fruits, honey, and nut aromas. It's smooth and well-balanced with caramel, vanilla, and roasted almond flavors. The finish is long, with lingering nut and dried fruit notes. A glass of Tawny Port wine with cheese brie and fruits on a wooden table. getty The Dow's Port is deep amber and features a complex nose of dried fruits, nuts, and toffee. It's rich and velvety on the palate with figs, prunes, caramel, and roasted walnuts. The finish is exceptionally long and balanced. The Ramos Pinto Port is deep amber, featuring a complex nose of dried fruits, walnuts, and caramel. It's rich and velvety on the palate with figs, raisins, caramel, and roasted walnuts. The finish is exceptionally long. For an in-depth look at this producer, see Ramos Pinto's Outstanding Tawny Ports The Port is deep amber with green highlights. It features an elegant bouquet of dried fruits, honey, and spices. On the palate, it's smooth, featuring flavors of caramel, roasted nuts, and dark fruit. The finish is exceptionally long and elegant, with lingering spice notes. The Kopke Tawny is deep amber with green highlights, featuring a complex bouquet of dried fruits, nuts, and wood notes. On the palate, it's smooth and rich, with flavors of caramel, roasted nuts, dried figs, and prunes. It has an exceptionally long and elegant finish. The wine is amber with golden highlights. It features dried fruit, nuts, and honey aromas. It's smooth and well-balanced, with caramel, vanilla, and roasted almond flavors. The finish is long, with lingering fruit, caramel, and almond notes. These Tawny Port wines, perennial medalists at international competitions, are among the best in the world. They are versatile and can be enjoyed as a base for cocktails, straight up, on the rocks on a warm summer's day, or as an excellent aperitif or digestif. There are no limits to the enjoyment these Tawny Ports can bring.
