Cape Vintage Port 1989, 1986

Overgaauw Estate is one of the oldest continuously producing wine farms in South Africa, founded in 1783, with the Van Velden family at the helm since 1906. The estate holds a unique place in Cape fortified wine history: the Van Veldens planted traditional Portuguese varieties in 1949, more than four decades before most other producers, and were also the first (in 1992) to bottle a 100% Touriga Nacional Port. Their Cape Vintage is matured for at least 20 years in bottle before release.

The 1986 was produced from Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca and related Portuguese varieties, vinified with traditional foot-treading and fortification with grape spirit, and has developed over nearly four decades a deep amber-mahogany colour with complex notes of dried fruit, walnuts, leather, tobacco, dark chocolate and earthy spice. The 1989, from a vintage widely regarded as very successful for Stellenbosch, offers a similar profile with slightly more vibrant dark fruit at its core.