Burmester
J W Burmester & C:a
| Founded |
1750 |
| Owner |
Sogevinus |
| Vineyards |
None |
| Vintage Port Brands |
Burmester, Quinta do Arnozelo, Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo |
In 1730, Henry Burmester and John Nash established in London the company Burmester & Nash, dedicated to the corn trade. In 1750 having acquired warehouses in Vila Nova de Gaia they started exporting Port Wine to the British Isles as well as to other European countries. The original shareholders were English even if the name Burmester comes from ‘Burgmeester’, an important function performed by some members of the family in Mölln, a little town in Northern Germany situated between Lubeck and Lauenburg.
The name H. Burmester & Son was established 1806. This year Hermann van Zeller become a partner and the firm’s name became H. Burmester & H. van Zeller, but van Zeller leave the company after 3 years it was renamed H. Burmester & Co. Henry Burmester died in 1822 and the firm was taken over by Soltau. In 1834 Johann Wilhelm Burmester arrived to Oporto 24 years old and when the firm should be sold to the highest bidder in 1856 Johann Wilhelm Burmester make an agreement with the different heirs, so good, that in in 1861 he took over the firm and the final name J.W. Burmester was established. J. W. drowns in Douro 1885 and his son Gustav Adolph took over as he already was a partner. During the First Wold War due to their German heritage they had to leave Portugal within 24 hours and German properties should be confiscated. Gustav Adolph manages to transfer the family’s wine to a good Portuguese friend at least on paper before he had to flee. The friendship lasted and when he returned in 1920 he had his wine re-transferred to his company.
The company was always ruled by the Burmester family, having been taken over by the Amorim family by the end of 1999. The Amorim family started its activity in 1870, with the manufacture and sale of Port Wine corks but sold Burmester already in 2005 to Sogevinus.
| Burmester Vintages: | 1788, 1820, 1840, 1851, 1854, 1873, 1878, 1887, 1890, 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1920, 1922, 1924*, 1927, 1929*, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1949*, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1987 (Special selection for Philpson Wine, Denmark), 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2017 |
|---|
| Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora Vintages: | 1992 (Burmester), 1994 (Burmester), 1995 (Burmester), 1996 (Burmester), 1997 (Burmester), 2000 (Burmester), 2002 (Burmester), 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015 |
|---|
| Quinta do Arnozelo Vintages: | 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 |
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Vintage Port tasting notes:
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1934 |
| Colour | Tawny with an olive green quite nice edge. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Some ether, old hospital but also spiciness, pharmacy and brandy in the nose | Score range | 16.50 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking and maybe a little old indeed, but balanced with some old elegant acidity. Tasty and easy to drink and enjoy with a lingered quite exotic finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 17th January 2019 | Point this date | 16.50 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Tasting in Malmö.
This wine had some Colheita character so even if the bottle said vintage we are not sure.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1945 |
| Colour | Mature tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Complex bouquet of burned sugar, crème caramel and much more. | Score range | 16.90 - 16.90 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak but maybe a bit old. Much burned sugar in flavour. Elegant and complex port with a delicious finish. | Average score | 16.90 |
| Last tasted | 19th May 2011 | Point this date | 16.90 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1955 |
| Colour | Mature tawny colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Crème caramel burned sugar and ether in bouquet. | Score range | 15.75 - 15.75 |
| Taste | Fully mature and maybe a bit old. Alcoholic in flavour. Complex port with a lovely old, still attractive finish. | Average score | 15.75 |
| Last tasted | 25th March 2005 | Point this date | 15.75 |
| Comment | At home with the Family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1960 |
| Colour | Yellow mature colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Lovely bouquet of old grocery shop, coffee, cacao and much more in the nose. | Score range | 17.00 - 17.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Perfect mature and at its peak. Sweet. Complex port with a delicious finish. Wonderful. | Average score | 17.00 |
| Last tasted | 4th October 1989 | Point this date | 17.00 |
| Comment | At the Danish Port Wine Club est.1981 in Copenhagen, Denmark trip in Douro, Portugal.
| Tasters | SAI |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Beautiful mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 14 |
| Bouquet | Elegant, complex bouquet of truffles, dark chocolate, cacao, butterscotch, crème caramel and mint in the nose. Very impressive. | Score range | 15.75 - 17.00 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Wonderful complex taste. Mature and of course peaking. Flavour of dark chocolate, butterscotch and cacao. Balanced and complex with a delicious and quite long finish. | Average score | 16.41 |
| Last tasted | 1st April 2016 | Point this date | 17.00 |
| Comment | In our private Wine Club.
In 2005 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
In 2013 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 | Burmester | Vintage | 1966 |
| Colour | Yellow, beautifully mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Crème caramel, old grocery shop and burned sugar in the nose. | Score range | 15.00 - 16.40 |
| Taste | Rather full-bodied. Mature and peaking. Elegant and complex port with an attractive and lovely finish. | Average score | 15.83 |
| Last tasted | 21st September 2006 | Point this date | 16.00 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
This bottle was not quite OK. Notes from July 2000. This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdal’s 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 | Burmester | Vintage | 1970 |
| Colour | Yellow, beautifully mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 8 |
| Bouquet | Complex bouquet of coffee, cacao, crème caramel and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.90 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Lovely and complex taste. Much burned sugar in flavour. Mature and at its peak with generous, long and delicious finish. A very attractive port. | Average score | 16.41 |
| Last tasted | 29th October 2011 | Point this date | 16.90 |
| Comment | At home with the family.
*This bottle was defect and the notes are from May 2011.
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 | Burmester | Vintage | 1977 |
| Colour | Yellow mature almost tawny in colour | Number of tastings | 9 |
| Bouquet | Ether, pharmacy and a bit alcoholic nose. Quite old in the bouquet. | Score range | 15.50 - 16.90 |
| Taste | Mature but a bit tired. Still elegant and complex with medium body and a complex quite attractive finish. | Average score | 15.83 |
| Last tasted | 19th May 2011 | Point this date | 16.90 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
1 bottle has been defect
In 2010 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 | Burmester | Vintage | 1980 |
| Colour | Yellow mature colour | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Toffee and exotic fruit in the nose | Score range | 15.25 - 15.25 |
| Taste | Still well integrated tannins. Complex and a lovely taste. Exotic fruit in flavour. Will improve. An attractive and long finish | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 5th December 1995 | Point this date | 15.25 |
| Comment | At the Danish Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1984 |
| Colour | Still quite dark but mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, fudge, crème caramel, toffee, liquorice and candy in the nose. | Score range | 15.40 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and very tasty with still some very soft tannins left. Cinnamon and liquorice in taste. Balanced and very elegant with a long and very attractive finish. | Average score | 15.96 |
| Last tasted | 19th February 2015 | Point this date | 16.50 |
| 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 | Burmester | Vintage | 1985 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 19 |
| Bouquet | Crème caramel, Christmas raisin, ginger bread, figs and Christmas spiciness in the interesting bouquet. | Score range | 15.00 - 16.40 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Ginger bread and Christmas spiciness in taste. Balance with a lovely and quite long finish. Quite attractive, elegant and rather complex port. | Average score | 15.85 |
| Last tasted | 12th December 2016 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1987 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Quite complex bouquet of cacao, coffee, mulberry, mint, liquorice and old grocery shop in the nose | Score range | 15.40 - 15.90 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Coffee, cacao and some liquorice in taste. Easy to drink and like. Balance and quite complex port with a long and interesting finish. | Average score | 15.65 |
| Last tasted | 23rd July 2015 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | At home with the family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1989 |
| Colour | Still rather dark but yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 7 |
| Bouquet | Complex blueberry and fruit in the nose. | Score range | 14.00 - 15.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Good and still fruity in flavour. Mature but not old at all. A nice finish. Quite easy to drink and like. | Average score | 14.79 |
| Last tasted | 21st November 2019 | Point this date | 15.50 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
*3 bottles have been defect, including the last one. The tasting notes is from 27 July 2009
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1991 |
| Colour | Still rather dark ruby but a yellow edge. | Number of tastings | 16 |
| Bouquet | Lovely complex and generous with mulberry, butterscotch, liquorice, roses and nuts in the nose. | Score range | 15.40 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Fairly sweet. Mature and peaking. Rather complex port with a balanced and very attractive finish. Now on top! | Average score | 15.64 |
| Last tasted | 31st May 2019 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At home with the family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1992 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Minty, spiciness, herbs and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 14.90 - 15.90 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Balanced port with some elegance still with some soft tannin but will probably not be better. Mint and some spiciness in taste with a long and nice finish. | Average score | 15.52 |
| Last tasted | 8th November 2018 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
1 bottle has been defect.
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 | Burmester | Vintage | 1994 |
| Colour | Yellow and beautifully mature in colour but still rather dark. | Number of tastings | 12 |
| Bouquet | Figs, violets, cinnamon and some cacao and spiciness in the nose. | Score range | 15.00 - 15.75 |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite good and sweet. Mature and almost peaking but with some soft tannin left. Violets and cinnamon in taste. Easy to drink and like. Elegant and balanced with a nice finish | Average score | 15.42 |
| Last tasted | 20th September 2018 | Point this date | 15.00 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
1 bottle has not been OK.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1995 |
| Colour | Dark blue but with a yellow rim in colour. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Liquorice, chocolate and cacao in the nose. | Score range | 15.50 - 15.90 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Rather mature and with soft tannin. Easy to swallow. Will develop some more. Liquorice and cacao in flavour. Elegant and balanced with a promising and quite long finish. Will be interesting to follow. | Average score | 15.63 |
| Last tasted | 18th September 2014 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
One bottle has been defect.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1997 |
| Colour | Still dark blue in colour with a yellow rim. | Number of tastings | 11 |
| Bouquet | Candy, vanilla, coffee, dark chocolate, blueberry and black berry in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 15.90 |
| Taste | Medium body. Rather mature but still with quite a lot of soft tannin. Balanced but quite sweet. Berry and dark cherry in flavour. Balanced and quite complex with a nice, attractive finish. Will be better and interesting to follow. | Average score | 15.55 |
| Last tasted | 21st July 2018 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | At home with the family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1998 |
| Colour | Still very dark but mature yellow rim in colour. | Number of tastings | 10 |
| Bouquet | Sweet liquorice, cream candy, ginger, candy and toffee in the nose but also some burned sugar. | Score range | 15.75 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Elegant and complex with dark berry, toffee and candy in flavour. Rather mature and elegant but with still some soft tannin. Sweet. Will perhaps be better but is now very attractive with a quite long and rather complex finish. | Average score | 16.09 |
| Last tasted | 1st December 2018 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At home with the family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 1999 |
| Colour | Still quite dark in colour but with a yellow mature edge. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Liquorice, vanilla, toffee and a hint of butterscotch in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 15.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Rather mature but still with some soft tannin and will be better. Balanced and quite attractive with vanilla and some liquorice in flavour. Elegant and rather complex with a nice finish. Easy to drink and like. | Average score | 15.45 |
| Last tasted | 30th January 2016 | Point this date | 15.50 |
| Comment | At home with the family
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 2000 |
| Colour | Dark blue in colour with a little yellow edge. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Blue berry, dark berry, black cherry and blackberry but also some cacao, dark chocolate in the nose. | Score range | 15.00 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Rather mature and with soft tannin. Black cherry, cacao, some dark chocolate and dark berry in flavour. Sweet. Elegant port with an interesting, quite complex and long finish. | Average score | 15.81 |
| Last tasted | 16th May 2019 | Point this date | 16.50 |
| Comment | Tasting at the Wine Society 18% in Malmö.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 2003 |
| Colour | Black in colour but maybe with just a hint of a yellow edge. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Dark berry, mulberry and black cherry in the nose. | Score range | 14.50 - 14.50 |
| Taste | Medium bodied. Still tannin of course and will improve. Easy to swallow and rather tasty with mulberry and dark berry in taste with a nice finish. Probably not a long keeper but will be nice to follow. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 3rd March 2016 | Point this date | 14.50 |
| Comment | At the Danish Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 2016 |
| Colour | Dark ruby in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Dark berry, dark fruit with mulberry and blackberry in the nose. | | |
| Taste | Medium body. Of course tannic and will be better. Dark berry and especially black berry, blueberry and mulberry in taste. Balanced and quite easy to drink and enjoy with a nice finish. | | |
| Last tasted | 2nd March 2019 | Rating this date | Very Good/ Impressive |
| Comment | Tasted in the Port Wine Fair in Roskilde, Denmark.
Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Vintage | 2017 |
| Colour | Dark ruby in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Dark berries such as blue berries, blackberries and dark cherries in the nose. | | |
| Taste | Medium body. Round and quite elegant tannins. Balanced and loaded with mature fruit and dark berries. Easy to appreciate already to day with a quite seductive and soft finish. | | |
| Last tasted | 4th November 2019 | Rating this date | Impressive |
| Comment | Tasted in the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
Old Colheita/Tawny tasting notes:
| House | Burmester Novidade | Colheita | 1890 |
| Colour | Tawny in colour with an olive green edge. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Rich bouquet with burned sugar, smoky chestnuts and some pharmacy. | Bottled | |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature of course. Balanced and complex port with a long and lovely finish. What a port! | Score range | 17.00 - 17.00 |
| Last tasted | 15th November 2007 | Point this date | 17.00 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Colheita | 1937 |
| Colour | Tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 7 |
| Bouquet | Lovely bouquet of burned sugar, crème candy, molasses, toffee, fudge and much more in the nose. | Bottled | 2010 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature, tasty and elegant. Burned and crème candy in taste. Balanced and quite complex. Typical colheita in taste with a quite lovely, attractive and long finish. | Score range | 14.50 - 16.75 |
| Last tasted | 7th November 2016 | Point this date | 16.75 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Colheita | 1950 |
| Colour | Quite beautiful tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Toasted sugar, burned candy and caramel in the nose | Bottled | 1991 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature but with acidity. Sweet anyhow. Elegant and easy to drink and like. Burned candy in taste. Quite attractive finish. | Score range | |
| Last tasted | 27th February 2014 | Point this date | 16.50 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Colheita | 1952 |
| Colour | Very beautiful tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Cacao, roasted coffee beans, burned nuts and much more in the nose. | Bottled | 2018 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking with some lovely old acidity. Balanced and very complex. Quite sweet with cacao, roasted coffee and nuts in taste. Lovely and very long finish. A port easy to like and love! | Score range | 16.50 - 16.90 |
| Last tasted | 19th June 2018 | Point this date | 16.50 |
| Comment | At Calem’s lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Colheita | 1955 |
| Colour | Beautiful tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Burned sugar, butterscotch, and nuts in a complex bouquet. | Bottled | 2010 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and very tasty. Elegant and balanced. Nuts and butterscotch in taste with a complex and very long finish | Score range | 16.50 - 16.50 |
| Last tasted | 7th November 2016 | Point this date | 16.50 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Colheita | 1957 |
| Colour | Beautiful tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Burned sugar, butterscotch, toffee, fudge and nuts in a complex bouquet. | Bottled | 2010 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and very tasty. Elegant and balanced. Nuts and Christmas spiciness in taste with a complex and very long finish. | Score range | 16.00 - 16.40 |
| Last tasted | 29th September 2017 | Point this date | 16.40 |
| Comment | At Philipson’s Wine Tasting in Copenhagen.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Colheita | 1961 |
| Colour | Tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Burned cola and burned sugar in the nose. | Bottled | 2010 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Elegant taste of candy. Complex finish. Lovely to drink now. | Score range | |
| Last tasted | 30th April 2011 | Point this date | 16.00 |
| Comment | On a friend´s 50 years birthday.
| Tasters | SAI |
| House | Burmester | Colheita | 1963 |
| Colour | Dark tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, spring flowers, burned sugar and candy in the nose. | Bottled | During the 1970th |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and tasty with toffee in flavour. Balanced and quite sweet. Easy to drink and appreciate with a nice finish. | Score range | 15.75 - 16.90 |
| Last tasted | 22nd May 2015 | Point this date | 15.75 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
The last bottle was bottled 2004
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Burmester | Colheita | 1966 |
| Colour | Dark tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Cinnamon, ginger, burned sugar and some cream candy in the nose. | Bottled | 2010 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and tasty with toffee and crème caramel in flavour. Balanced and quite sweet. Easy to drink and appreciate with a nice finish. | Score range | |
| Last tasted | 7th November 2016 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |