{"title":"Fortified Wine","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom classic Ports, Madeiras and Manzanillas to distinctive vermouths, our fortified wine collection is selected by Tim for complexity and individuality. Discover versatile aperitifs, after-dinner bottles and mature wines with a compelling sense of place.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"porto-azul-tawny-10-anos","title":"Azul Tawny Port 10 YO","description":"\u003ch4\u003eVineyards and winemaking\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAzul 10 Year Old Tawny is blended from Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca grown in the Douro’s schist soils. The grapes ripen in hot, dry conditions with a wide difference between daytime and night-time temperatures, developing the richness and structure required for Port.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarvested into small 20-kilogram boxes, the fruit is selected before fermentation and traditional foot treading in granite lagares. Grape spirit is added to arrest fermentation, and the component wines mature in oak casks and old wooden tonéis. The final blend has an average age of ten years, combining mature complexity with retained freshness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrick red fading to tawny amber, with distinct brown highlights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eNose\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWalnut, almond and ripe plum are joined by raisin, toffee, coffee and a gentle note of dried orange peel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ePalate\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSilky and beautifully balanced, with flavours of dried cherry, caramel and roasted nuts. Sweetness is lifted by fresh acidity, while seasoned oak brings spice and a mellow, warming complexity to the long finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFood pairing\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eServe slightly chilled with a Bakewell tart, apple tarte tatin, walnut cake or blue cheese such as Stilton. Its nutty character also makes it an elegant after-dinner glass alongside roasted almonds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBackground story\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Port is produced by Vieira de Sousa under winemaker Luisa Borges. The family’s traditional lagares and long oak maturation connect the wine to the established practices of the Douro, while careful blending maintains a consistent house character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA ten-year age statement refers to the average age and sensory character of the final blend rather than a single harvest. Younger parcels contribute freshness and fruit, while older wines bring the walnut, caramel and dried-fruit notes that define mature Tawny Port.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Azul","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":7849026224188,"sku":"YYAZULTAWNY10","price":34.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0036\/1984\/8252\/files\/AzulTawnyPort10YO_7ffe7202-1d51-4abf-84c2-6c7b2975e78c.png?v=1731768690"},{"product_id":"azul-ruby-port","title":"Ruby Port","description":"\u003ch4\u003eVineyards and winemaking\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAzul Ruby Port combines Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca from the Douro Valley. The vines grow in schist under hot, dry conditions, producing deeply coloured grapes with the ripe fruit and natural structure traditionally sought for Port.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grapes are destemmed and crushed before a controlled fermentation, which is arrested through fortification with grape spirit to retain natural sweetness. The wine matures for approximately two and a half to three years in vats and 630-litre oak casks, a relatively short period chosen to preserve its youthful ruby colour and generous fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeep, vivid ruby red with a bright purple tint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eNose\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRipe blackberry, raspberry and black cherry are lifted by violet, plum preserve and a discreet note of cocoa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ePalate\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRich and full-bodied, with sweet dark berry fruit supported by smooth tannins and warming spirit. Freshness keeps the palate balanced, leading to an uncomplicated, satisfying finish of cherry, bramble and chocolate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFood pairing\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePair with dark-chocolate torte, blackcurrant cheesecake, plum crumble or a creamy blue cheese. For a simpler finish to dinner, serve it with chocolate truffles or a bowl of ripe berries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBackground story\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRuby Port is defined by its emphasis on youthful fruit rather than the extended oxidative ageing of Tawny. Maturation in large vessels limits exposure to oxygen, allowing the wine to retain its deep colour and direct berry character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAzul’s version brings together four classic Douro varieties, each contributing perfume, colour, fruit or structure. It offers a straightforward introduction to the richer, fruit-led side of Port and a clear contrast to Azul’s nutty ten-year-old Tawny.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Azul","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31900414312508,"sku":"AZULRUBY","price":24.6,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0036\/1984\/8252\/products\/Azulportugalrubyport.png?v=1585326980"},{"product_id":"knightor-vermouth-white-half-bottle","title":"Vermouth White (Half bottle)","description":"\u003ch4\u003eOrigin and production\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnightor White Vermouth begins with English wine made from grapes grown in Cornwall's cool maritime climate. Its freshness provides a clean base for a blend of 24 herbs and spices, including the traditional bittering herb wormwood alongside sage, oregano, mint, citrus peel and rosemary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe botanicals, many gathered in and around Knightor, are infused in a fruity eau-de-vie distilled from the winery's own grape skins. This aromatic spirit is then blended with reserve wine and gently sweetened, creating a white vermouth in which citrus brightness, herbal complexity and bitterness remain finely balanced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBright pale gold with excellent clarity and faint green reflections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eNose\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFresh lemon and orange peel lead into mint, sage and rosemary, with softer floral and vinous notes beneath the more aromatic botanicals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ePalate\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLightly sweet and supple, quickly balanced by citrus freshness and a clean thread of wormwood bitterness. Herbal notes build gradually rather than dominating, leading to a long, gently warming finish of mint, rosemary and orange peel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eServing suggestions\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eServe well chilled over ice with a strip of lemon peel, lengthen with soda for a simple Cornish spritz, or use in a White Negroni or a lighter Martini. The half-bottle format is particularly convenient for keeping the vermouth fresh once opened; refrigerate after opening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBackground story\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnightor is based near St Austell Bay and produces English still wines, sparkling wines and vermouth in small batches. The winery's position in Cornwall gives it access not only to local grapes but also to a distinctive coastal landscape of culinary herbs and aromatic plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhite Vermouth turns the by-products and ingredients of the estate into something with a clear Cornish identity: grape skins are distilled for the infusion spirit, local botanicals contribute fragrance, and English wine provides the foundation. The result is both a characterful aperitif and a versatile bottle for classic cocktails.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Knightor","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31912944500796,"sku":"KNIGHTVERMWHITEHF","price":21.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0036\/1984\/8252\/products\/KnightorVermouthHFwhite.jpg?v=1585835731"},{"product_id":"fernando-de-castilla-classic-manzanilla-half-bottle","title":"Classic Manzanilla (Half bottle)","description":"\u003ch4\u003eVineyards and winemaking\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Manzanilla is made from 100% Palomino grown on the chalk-rich albariza soils of the Jerez region. An early September harvest and gentle first pressing create a light base wine suited to biological ageing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wine is fortified to 15% and matured beneath a protective veil of flor in American-oak casks at Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Movement through the traditional criaderas and solera system produces an average age of approximately three years, maintaining consistency and the freshness encouraged by Sanlúcar's humid coastal air.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery pale straw yellow, bright and clear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eNose\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreen apple, lemon peel and chamomile are joined by fresh bread dough, salted almond and a distinct sea-breeze note.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ePalate\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBone-dry and brisk, with citrus and crisp apple leading into savoury flor, almond and olive-brine flavours. The finish is clean, tangy and persistently saline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFood pairing\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eServe well chilled with salted almonds, anchovies on toast, fish and chips, smoked salmon, or prawns with garlic. The half-bottle format is ideal for two to four aperitif servings and should be refrigerated after opening and enjoyed promptly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBackground story\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRey Fernando de Castilla is a specialist bodega in Jerez known for precise, traditionally matured sherries. Its Classic range offers younger, fresher expressions of the principal styles, complementing the longer-aged Antique bottlings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough the bodega is based in Jerez, Manzanilla must mature in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where the maritime conditions sustain a particularly active flor layer. That biological ageing, rather than any added flavouring, gives the wine its distinctive combination of delicacy, yeast-derived savouriness and coastal salinity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fernando de Castilla","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31930958708796,"sku":"ZZMANZHF","price":17.15,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0036\/1984\/8252\/products\/Manzanilla.png?v=1586344330"},{"product_id":"blandys-duke-of-clarence-madeira","title":"Duke of Clarence Madeira","description":"\u003ch4\u003eVineyards and winemaking\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuke of Clarence is a rich, sweet Madeira made from Tinta Negra, the island's versatile red grape. Vineyard altitude, exposure and local humidity can give the variety markedly different expressions; for this bottling, the fruit is selected to produce the fullest and most generous of Blandy's three-year-old styles.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe fortified wine is matured through the estufagem method, using stainless-steel tanks warmed by external water jackets, before further ageing in wooden vats. Controlled heating and gradual maturation create Madeira's characteristic stability and concentrate its caramelised fruit, nut and spice flavours.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eTasting notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003eClear golden-brown with warm amber highlights.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch5\u003eNose\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003eRaisins, candied orange and date are layered with burnt sugar, walnut and a gentle suggestion of sweet spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePalate\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003eRich and softly textured, with flavours of molasses, dried fruit and caramel balanced by the bright acidity that keeps good Madeira lively. Nutty and lightly smoky notes add depth, leading to a long finish of orange peel and toffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eFood pairing\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eServe lightly cool with sticky toffee pudding, Christmas cake, dark chocolate torte, or blue cheese and walnuts. It is equally satisfying in a small glass after dinner and, once opened, will remain fresh for considerably longer than a conventional table wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eBackground story\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Blandy family has been part of Madeira's wine history since John Blandy arrived on the island in 1808. Through generations of family stewardship, the house has become closely associated with the island's distinctive fortified wines and the long maturation traditions that define them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuke of Clarence offers an accessible introduction to the rich side of Madeira. Its combination of sweetness, concentration and bracing acidity makes it notably versatile, while the estufagem process gives the wine the resilient character for which Madeira has long been prized.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blandy's","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31955577339964,"sku":"MADEIR","price":28.65,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0036\/1984\/8252\/files\/BlandysDukeofClarenceMadeira_ef4bb9ff-616f-408b-b7c1-256119aacdfb.png?v=1731768798"},{"product_id":"cockburns-vintage-1963","title":"Cockburn's Vintage Port 1963","description":"\u003ch4\u003eVineyards and winemaking\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCockburn’s Vintage Port 1963 was drawn from the house’s finest parcels in Portugal’s Douro Valley, where vines are rooted into steep, schistous slopes. The hot, dry growing conditions concentrate the traditional Port varieties, while the fractured rock encourages roots to search deeply for water and supports the intensity required for long bottle ageing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grapes were harvested by hand and fermented with extraction in traditional lagares before the addition of grape spirit arrested fermentation, preserving natural sweetness. As a Vintage Port, the wine spent only a relatively short period in wood before bottling and has developed slowly in glass for more than six decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTranslucent garnet fading towards tawny and amber at the rim, entirely in keeping with its considerable age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eNose\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDelicate yet intricate, with dried cherry, fig and redcurrant joined by rose petal, walnut, tobacco leaf and warm cinnamon. Further notes of orange peel, polished wood and cocoa may emerge gently in the glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ePalate\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSilky and composed, carrying mature dried fruit, caramelised plum and baking spice on a fine thread of acidity. The sweetness is mellow rather than heavy, with resolved tannin and a long, graceful finish of nuts, citrus peel and soft spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFood pairing\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePour with mature Stilton, walnut tart, dark chocolate truffles or a simple plate of dried figs and toasted almonds. At this age it is equally rewarding served alone, in small glasses, at the close of a meal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBackground story\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRobert Cockburn established the Port house in 1815 after serving in Portugal during the Peninsular War. The 1963 harvest became one of the defining declarations of the 20th century, with the leading houses recognising a year of exceptional concentration, balance and longevity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a mature bottle and its condition and character will vary according to storage. Stand it upright for at least a day, open carefully and decant slowly from its sediment, tasting during service rather than exposing it to prolonged air. Serve lightly cool at around 16–18°C and enjoy on the day it is opened.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cockburns","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54971945681278,"sku":"COCKBURNS63","price":214.6,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0036\/1984\/8252\/files\/blank-port.jpg?v=1738172319"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0036\/1984\/8252\/collections\/Fortified_Wine_Image.png?v=1779965695","url":"https:\/\/sommelierschoice.co.uk\/collections\/fortified-wine.oembed","provider":"Sommelier's Choice","version":"1.0","type":"link"}