Burmester Colheita 1938 Reserva Tawny Port – Bottled 1984 – 75cl – Historic Presentation Case

An exceptional piece of Portuguese Port history, this Burmester Colheita 1938 Reserva comes from a single harvest in the Douro and represents the traditional long wood-ageing style for which great Colheita Ports are renowned. The bottle itself indicates Colheita 1938 and Bottled 1984, meaning this particular release spent approximately 46 years maturing in wood before bottling. This distinction is important: unlike Vintage Port, Colheita Tawny develops its character through prolonged oxidative ageing in wooden casks before bottling. Burmester confirms that its Colheitas are single-harvest Ports matured in wood and bottled according to market demand. After decades in cask, Ports of this style develop extraordinary concentration and complexity, typically showing layers of dried fruits, figs, almonds, caramel, spices, toasted nuts and mature oxidative notes, balanced by the freshness and acidity that characterize fine aged Tawny Port. Burmester’s own descriptions of mature Colheitas emphasize dried fruit, almond, spice, richness and long finishes. Founded in the 18th century and established in Vila Nova de Gaia, Burmester is one of the historic names of Port. This example is particularly attractive to collectors because of its early 1984 bottling, aged appearance, intact Portuguese guarantee seal and accompanying wooden presentation case marked “Enoteca al Parlamento – Achille.”