Osborne
Osborne Vinhos do Portugal & C:a
| Founded |
1772 |
| Owner |
Osborne & CIA and Bodega Montecillo |
| Vineyards |
None |
| Vintage Port Brands |
Osborne, Duff Gordon |
Since it was founded by Thomas Osborne born in Exeter in the eighteenth century, Osborne has been trading sherry but has been in the Port Wine trade since 1967 initially with participation of Quinta do Noval, a company of great tradition and prestige in the Port wine sector. Osborne Portugal was the first step of Osborne in its politics of diversification. In the year of 1988, Osborne acquires the totality of Osborne Portugal and buys Quinta do Noval facilities in Vila Nova de Gaia. However, Osborne purchased the Port shipper Duff Gordon already in the 19th century but retained only the brand name.
Osborne Master of Port
In 1988 Osborne initiated collaboration between associations of sommeliers in France and various other countries, including Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands, in order to establish the Osborne Master of Port, an award which would be given to the sommelier with the greatest knowledge of Port wines.
| Osborne Vintages: | 1960, 1970, 1982, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2015 |
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| Duff Gordon Vintages: | 1994, 1995, 1997 |
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Vintage Port tasting notes:
| House | Osborne | Vintage | 1960 |
| Colour | Yellow mature colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Complex crème caramel and some burned sugar. | Score range | 15.90 - 15.90 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Very balanced and attractive with a nice finish. Very good indeed. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 15th November 2007 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdal’s Private Collection.
In 2007 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Osborne | Vintage | 1970 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Cream candy, minty, cacao, dark chocolate and some sweet liquorice in the nose. | Score range | 15.50 - 16.40 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Very elegant with some lovely old acidity. Will not be better but is wonderful today. Herb, candy, cream candy in taste with a rather long finish. | Average score | 15.91 |
| Last tasted | 13th October 2018 | Point this date | 16.40 |
| Comment | At home with the family after start drinking it with Gerda Jensen at her home The bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdal’s Private Collection.
In 2008 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Osborne | Vintage | 1985 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Candy, burned sugar, toffee and some walnuts and a hint of pharmacy in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 15.40 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Balanced and quite sweet. Easy to drink and like with toffee, butterscotch and candy in taste. Nice and seductive finish. Will not be better so drink and enjoy it. | Average score | 15.33 |
| Last tasted | 19th September 2020 | Point this date | 15.40 |
| Comment | Tasted at the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
In 2020 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Osborne | Vintage | 1991 |
| Colour | Very dark blue in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Fruit, dark berry and dark cherry in the nose. | Score range | 15.50 - 15.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Still quite immature and will be better. Very fruity in taste. Balanced port with a quite long and attractive finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 8th December 2012 | Point this date | 15.50 |
| Comment | At home with the family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Osborne | Vintage | 1992 |
| Colour | Still quite dark and a hint of ruby in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Salt liquorice, spiciness and elegant toffee in the nose. | Score range | 15.90 - 15.90 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and on top. Will not be better but balanced and rather elegant and easy to drink and enjoy. Liquorice and spiciness in taste with a rather long and quite attractive finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 8th November 2018 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | At the 18% Wine Society Great Tasting in Malmö.
In 2018 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Osborne | Vintage | 1994 |
| Colour | Quite beautiful, and mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Candy, toffee, cacao, bright chocolate, crème caramel and crème candy in the nose. | Score range | 15.75 - 16.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking and is on top today. Balanced and quite complex port with a sweet, lovely and attractive finish. Very easy to enjoy and drink. | Average score | 15.89 |
| Last tasted | 12th March 2024 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | Tasted at home in 17th International Online Vintage Tasting with our German Port Friends from World of Port.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Osborne | Vintage | 1995 |
| Colour | Mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | No attractive nose. Unclean barrel? | Score range | 14.50 - 14.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature. The taste much better than the nose. The finish quite good. This bottle was not as expected at all. Something was wrong with the bouquet. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 16th December 2010 | Point this date | 14.50 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Osborne | Vintage | 1997 |
| Colour | Yellow mature, quite beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Not so open in the nose but candy, cream candy and some spiciness can be identified. | Score range | 16.00 - 16.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Balanced and very complex in taste which is predominated of candy and cream candy. The finish is very attractive and quite long. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 16th June 2018 | Point this date | 16.00 |
| Comment | Tasted in our apartment in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Osborne | Vintage | 2000 |
| Colour | Still dark with a yellow mature edge. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, chocolate, cacao and some blackberries in the nose. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. But still with some round and lovely tannins and will improve. Quite dry but with a perfect balanced. Very tasty with lots of chocolate, cacao with some cream candy and blackberries. The finish is very long indeed and quite attractive. Very easy to enjoy and like. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 12th December 2020 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | Tasted at home with the family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Osborne | Vintage | 2003 |
| Colour | Still very dark with just a hint of a yellow, mature edge. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, crème caramel, cream candy and much more in the nose. | Score range | 16.00 - 16.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Rather mature but with some very elegant tannins and will of course be better. Quite complex and elegant with taste of toffee, cream candy, crème caramel and herbs in the mouth. The finish is quite long and very attractive indeed. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 13th April 2020 | Point this date | 16.00 |
| Comment | Tasted at home with the family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |