Quarles Harris
Quarles Harris & Ca.
| Founded | 1680 |
|---|---|
| Owner | Symington family |
| Vineyards | None |
Quarles Harris was established by Thomas Dawson in 1680 and is one of the oldest Port Houses. He founded the house and it was named Dawson & Harris when Quarles Harris married Dorothea Dawson in 1752. The house was renamed 1791 to Harris Stafford & Sons and 1792 Quarles Harris & Co. Quarles Harris gained a great reputation and by the late 18th century had become the second largest shipper of Port Wine. In 1917 Quarles Harris was bought by Andrew James Symington, who had been involved in the Port trade since 1882 and was related by marriage. He developed the business steadily over the following years. Today the house is entirely run and managed by eight members of the Symington family.
| Harris Bros Vintages: | 1788 |
|---|---|
| Quarles Harris Vintages: | 1815, 1820, 1834, 1835, 1840, 1842, 1844, 1847, 1851, 1853, 1854, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1917, 1920, 1924, 1926* (bottled 1930), 1927, 1931, 1934, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2011 |
| House | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1950 |
| Colour | Mature tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Complex menthol and pharmacy in the nose. | Score range | 18.00 - 18.00 |
| Taste | Very mature and at its peak. Elegant and balanced port with a never ending finish. Marvellous. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 18th January 2001 | Point this date | 18.00 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö. | Tasters | SAI |
| House | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1960 |
| Colour | Mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Minty, ginger, raisin, some zest of oranges and Christmas spiciness in the nose. | Score range | 17.50 - 17.50 |
| Taste | Hardy medium body. Mature and peaking. Butterscotch and ginger in taste. Quite elegant and balanced port. Easy to drink and to enjoy with a lovely and very attractive finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 26th December 2016 | Point this date | 17.50 |
| Comment | At home with the family. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Still quite dark with yellow mature colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Coffee, tea, crème caramel, and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 17.00 - 17.50 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Mature and peaking but maybe a little old. Balanced and complex with a long, long finish. Still a lovely port. | Average score | 17.25 |
| Last tasted | 21st November 2013 | Point this date | 17.50 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö. This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdals Private Collection. 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 | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1966 |
| Colour | Mature yellow colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Crème caramel and complex burned sugar. | Score range | |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature. Complex and balanced with a good finish. Quite good and at its peak. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 21st September 2006 | Point this date | 16.40 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö. 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 | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1970 |
| Colour | Still quite dark blue with a yellow rim. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Lovely coffee, tea, cacao and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | |
| Taste | Rather full-bodied. Mature. Complex and balanced. At its peak but will keep for long. Wonderful finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 13th November 2008 | Point this date | 17.40 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö. This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdal 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 | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Very yellow and mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 14 |
| Bouquet | Fudge, burned sugar, some candy, cacao, dark chocolate and old grocery in the nose. | Score range | 15.40 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Very elegant and with a lovely complexity. Candy, fudge cacao and burned sugar in taste. Very easy to drink and enjoy with a very attractive finish. | Average score | 15.59 |
| Last tasted | 30th July 2021 | Point this date | 16.50 |
| Comment | At home with the family 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 | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1977 |
| Colour | Beautiful, mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 35 |
| Bouquet | Delicious and generous mature nose of cacao, dark chocolate, toffee, butter scotch, ginger, cream candy, sweet-meats and dried figs. | Score range | 16.00 - 17.50 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Mature and peaking. Will not be better but is delicious and very attractive now. Wonderful taste of toffee, cacao, dried fruit, sweet-meats and fudge. Balanced with a very elegant, attractive and long finish, just rolling in the mouth. Just drink it now and enjoy it. This is a wonderful port! | Average score | 16.68 |
| Last tasted | 26th January 2024 | Point this date | 17.50 |
| Comment | Tasted at home with the family. 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 | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1980 |
| Colour | Still quite dark but yellow mature rim in colour. | Number of tastings | 6 |
| Bouquet | Cacao and dark chocolate, toffee, candy, old grocery shop and much more in the nose. | Score range | 15.75 - 16.75 |
| Taste | Quite full- bodied. Quite mature and peaking. Cacao, dark chocolate, toffee, fudge, candy and much more to taste in taste. Easy to drink and like. Balanced and elegant port with a quite long finish. | Average score | 16.25 |
| Last tasted | 5th March 2022 | Point this date | 16.75 |
| Comment | Tasted at the Port Wine Fair in Roskilde, Denmark. In 2014 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 | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1983 |
| Colour | Still dark in colour but yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 7 |
| Bouquet | Coffee, tea, violet, cacao, dark chocolate, toffee and old grocery shop in the nose. Quite generous and attractive. | Score range | 15.50 - 17.50 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Quite mature and peaking now! Balanced and very complex port with w wonderful taste of violet, cacao, dark chocolate, toffee, and much more. The finish is long, attractive and never seems to end. The best Quales Harris we have enjoyed for many years! | Average score | 16.11 |
| Last tasted | 18th March 2017 | Point this date | 17.50 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö. In 2017 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 | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1985 |
| Colour | Quite dark blue with yellow rim in colour. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Lovely nose of coffee, violet and cacao | Score range | 15.90 - 17.00 |
| Taste | Full bodied. Still some integrated tannins. Complex and balanced with an enormous finish. Just wonderful. | Average score | 16.60 |
| Last tasted | 16th May 2022 | Point this date | 17.00 |
| Comment | Tasted at home in 8th International Online Vintage Tasting with our German Port Friends from World of Port. 1 bottle has been defect. 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 | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1991 |
| Colour | Black in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Juicy and black berry in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Medium body. Immature and some tannin. Promising finish. Quite young but I believe a nice future. | ||
| Last tasted | 20th May 1993 | Rating this date | Very good |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark. Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI |
| House | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1994 |
| Colour | Beautiful, yellow and mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 7 |
| Bouquet | Dark chocolate, cacao, roasted coffee, fudge, herbs toffee, gingerbread and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.90 |
| Taste | Almost full-bodied, mature and almost peaking but still with some soft and attractive tannin. Quite impressive. Gingerbread, dark chocolate, cacao, roasted coffee, fudge, herbs toffee and much more in taste. Balanced and quite complex with a very elegant and long finish. A lovely port which we do want to drink again. Surprisingly! | Average score | 16.66 |
| Last tasted | 12th March 2024 | Point this date | 16.90 |
| Comment | Tasted at home in 17th International Online Vintage Tasting with our German Port Friends from World of Port. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 1997 |
| Colour | Dark nearly black in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Dark cherry and fruit but rather closed in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 15.50 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Still immature and tannic but easy to swallow and probably a relative fast runner. Promising and acceptable finish. | Average score | 15.38 |
| Last tasted | 23rd January 2012 | Point this date | 15.25 |
| Comment | At the Danish Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen, Denmark. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 2000 |
| Colour | Dark blue in colour with a yellow edge. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Dark berry, mulberry dark cherry black berry and mint in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 16.00 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Still quite tannic and will be much better. Dark berry, mulberry and much more in taste. Balanced and complex with an impressive and promising finish. Will be interesting to follow indeed. | Average score | 15.63 |
| Last tasted | 17th March 2016 | Point this date | 16.00 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Tasting in Malmö. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quarles Harris | Vintage | 2003 |
| Colour | Black in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Very fruity and berry in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 15.25 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Lots of tannin and immature. Berry in flavour. Balanced and showing complexity. Very promising finish. Just wait. | Average score | 15.25 |
| Last tasted | 23rd January 2012 | Point this date | 15.25 |
| Comment | At the Danish Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen, Denmark. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
Old Colheita/Tawny tasting notes:
| House | Harris Port Quales Harris | Colheita | 1940 |
| Colour | Tawny in colour | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Grocery shop, crème caramel and burned candy in the nose | Bottled | 1990 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Balanced with complexity. Some sweetness but dry finish. Quite nice. | Score range | 15.50 - 16.25 |
| Last tasted | 18th April 1992 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | In a Wine friend’s home | Tasters | SAI |