Quinta da Foz
| Owner | Isabel dos Santos |
|---|
Calem has contract with this quinta.
Named so because it is at the ’ fooz’ or mouth of the Rio Pinhao and belonged to Calem for over a century. At Pombal’s demarcation in 1750’s it was already named. It was bought of Antonio Alves Calem in 1885. Over the years the size of the quinta was increased by incorporation of small neighbouring quintas such as Quinta do Sagrado, Quinta do Vedial and Quinta da Sangra.
Until 1997 Quinta da Foz served as the central warehouse in the Douro for A. A. Cálem & Filho, Lda. When Sogevinus bought the port wine house A. A. Cálem & Filho, Lda in 1998, the Cálem family retained the vineyards, e.g. Quinta da Foz and Quinta do Sagrado. In 2011 Quinta da Foz was sold, the buyer was not officially announced but there are some sources saying it is Isabel dos Santos, eldest daughter of Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos. The Cálem family retained Quinta Sagrado.
| Quinta da Foz Vintages: | 1931, 1934, 1935, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
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| Quinta da Foz and Santo Antonio Vintages: | 1920, 1933, 1935, 1955 |
| House | Quinta da Foz & Quinta de Santo Antonio Calem | Vintage | 1933 |
| Colour | Terrible colour. Turbid and looks like dirty water. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Old but quite elegant nose of old mature fruit. | Score range | 14.40 - 14.40 |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite old in taste but knit together and not unattractive finish. Quite drinkable. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 27th June 2012 | Point this date | 14.40 |
| Comment | At home with the family It seems to be that the house of Calem declared its vintage from those two quintas in this period. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz & Quinta de Santo Antonio Calem | Vintage | 1935 |
| Colour | Yellow, mature almost tawny but quite beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Orange zest, figs, dried fruit, prunes, burned sugar, some chocolate and some spiciness in the nose. | Score range | 17.50 - 17.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking with some balanced but still attractive acidity. Still very elegant and attractive. Quite sweet. The finish is balanced and quite long also very attractive. Still a lovely port! | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 29th July 2017 | Point this date | 17.50 |
| Comment | At home with the family It seems to be that the house of Calem declared its vintage from those two quintas in this period. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz & Quinta de Santo Antonio Calem | Vintage | 1955 |
| Colour | Yellow, mature almost tawny but very beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Orange zest, toffee, mint, butter-scotch, vanilla, coffee and cacao in the nose. | Score range | 16.00 - 17.75 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Seem still to be on top! Unbelievable! Very, very elegant and still balanced. Attractive and complex finish which a just rolling in the mouth and never seems to end. A very impressive port indeed! Thank heaven for this port! | Average score | 16.88 |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 17.75 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen, Germany. It seems to be that the house of Calem declared its vintage from those two quintas in this period. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1935 |
| Colour | Almost tawny in colour and quite pale. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Dark chocolate, mushroom, toffee, cacao, roasted coffee beans in the nose. | Score range | 16.90 - 16.90 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking and even a little old. Cacao, mushroom and toffee in taste. Balanced and quite complex with a attractive and quite long finish | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 16.90 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1950 |
| Colour | Mature tawny colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Lovely complex toffee and crème caramel bouquet. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Crème caramel and burned sugar in flavour. Elegant and complex with a wonderful finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 26th December 2010 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At home with the family. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1960 |
| Colour | Beautiful yellow and amber I colour. Quite mature. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, cacao, some coffee, dark chocolate and other things as spiciness in the nose. | Score range | 17.25 - 17.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Absolutely on top! Toffee, cacao and coffee in taste. Balance with lovely sweetness. Very complex and astonishing elegance with a wonderful finish. Will not be better but is marvellous now! | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 17.25 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1970 |
| Colour | Mature, yellow very beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, coffee, butter-scotch, some fudge and crème caramel bouquet. Very complex and full nose. | Score range | 16.75 - 17.40 |
| Taste | Wonderful mature port and peaking. Crème caramel and toffee in taste. Balance with a hint of acidity but old balancing sweetness. Elegant with a complex, attractive and quite long finish. A wonderful port and probably at its best. | Average score | 16.97 |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 17.40 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen. In 2008 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Mature, yellow beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 9 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, pharmacy and old grocery shop in the nose. Very complex. | Score range | 15.00 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Lovely, tasty fully mature and at its peak with an excellent finish. One of the very best in the vintage 1975. | Average score | 15.79 |
| Last tasted | 16th March 2006 | Point this date | 16.50 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö. This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdal Private Collection. In 2006 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 | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1980 |
| Colour | Yellow mature quite nice in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, butter-scotch, crème caramel and sweet candy in the nose. | Score range | 15.90 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Crème caramel and butter-scotch in taste. Elegant and balanced but quite sweet. An quite attractive port with a nice finish. Will not be better but enjoy it now! | Average score | 16.08 |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen. In 2014 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1982 |
| Colour | Yellow, mature beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Old grocery shop, some herbs, toffee, candy and gingerbread in the nose. | Score range | 16.00 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking but still with some very elegant tannins. Quite tasty with toffee, candy and ginger and with a quite long and lovely finish. Very easy to enjoy and drink today. | Average score | 16.25 |
| Last tasted | 16th March 2022 | Point this date | 16.00 |
| Comment | Tasted at home in 7th International Online Vintage Tasting with our German Port Friends from World of Port. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1984 |
| Colour | Still rather dark blue in colour with a yellow rim. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Violet, dark berry, black cherry, cacao, roasted coffee and dark chocolate in the nose. | Score range | 14.50 - 16.90 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking but maybe still some very soft tannins. Delicate flavour with cacao, violet and much more. Balanced and complex port with a very long, attractive and delicious finish. | Average score | 15.55 |
| Last tasted | 19th February 2015 | Point this date | 16.90 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Semi- Great Tasting in Malmö. In 2015 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 | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1986 |
| Colour | Yellow mature colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Burned sugar and ether nose. | Score range | 14.00 - 14.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite tasty but not quite balance. Bad bottle? | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 15th March 2001 | Point this date | 14.00 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö. | Tasters | SAI |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1987 |
| Colour | Still quite dark but mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Butter-scotch, dark chocolate roasted coffee beans and some cacao in the nose. | Score range | 15.75 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and now peaking. Elegant, easy to drink and to enjoy. Sweet but balance with an excellent finish. | Average score | 16.10 |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1988 |
| Colour | Still quite dark but with a yellow mature colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Lovely bouquet with lots of liquorice, cream candy, toffee, mint and crème caramel. Very generous indeed. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Liquorice and crème caramel in taste. Balance and quite complex with a long and very attractive finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 28th November 2014 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At home with the family | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1989 |
| Colour | Still rather dark but with a yellow rim in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Pharmacy, old hospital and ether in the nose. | Score range | 14.00 - 14.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite mature but with volatile acidity in taste. Drinkable but not so enjoyable at all with to much volatile acidity in the finish.. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 24th January 2015 | Point this date | 14.00 |
| Comment | At home with the family. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1992 |
| Colour | Still very dark ruby but yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Toffee fudges a hint of crème caramel, some cacao and chocolate in the nose. | Score range | 15.00 - 17.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and quite peaking but with some soft tannin. Quite dry but balanced and tasty with toffee, fudge and ginger bread in the mouth and with a quite long finish. | Average score | 16.00 |
| Last tasted | 16th March 2022 | Point this date | 15.00 |
| Comment | Tasted at home in 7th International Online Vintage Tasting with our German Port Friends from World of Port. 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 | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1995 |
| Colour | Still quite dark but with a yellow mature edge in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Christmas spiciness, toffee cacao, overripe fruit and roasted coffee in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 15.90 |
| Taste | Lovely body. Mature and probably peaking even if still some elegant tannins exist and will maybe improve a little. Cacao, coffee, toffee and overripe fruit in taste. Balanced and quite elegant. Easy to drink and like with a quite attractive and elegant but maybe a little short finish. | Average score | 15.74 |
| Last tasted | 4th December 2023 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | Tasted at the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1996 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Gingerbread, ginger and some spiciness in the nose. | Score range | 15.40 - 15.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Balanced with gingerbread, and some spiciness in taste. Will probably not be better. Quite nice finish and easy to drink and like. | Average score | 15.45 |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 15.50 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta da Foz Calem | Vintage | 1997 |
| Colour | Dark blue in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Dark cherry and chocolate bouquet. Complex nose. | Score range | |
| Taste | Full-bodied and lots of tannin. Lovely immaturity but quite drinkable today. Attractive finish. Not a long runner? | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 15th September 2004 | Point this date | 15.75 |
| Comment | At the Danish Port Wine Club est. 1981 trip in Douro. | Tasters | SAI |