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Est. 2011

van Zellers

van Zellers & Co

Founded 1780
Owner Lemos & van Zeller, Lda
Vineyards None
Vintage Port Brands Van Zeller

Van Zellers & Co was established in 1780. The van Zeller family is of Dutch origin and was very successful port shipper but sold the company to other wine merchants in the 19th century. By 1932 / 1933 the company was for sale again and was bought by Luís de Vasconcellos Porto, who also owned Quinta do Noval. Luís de Vasconcellos Porto's only daughter, Rita, was married to Cristiano van Zeller, and their grandson bears the same name, Christiano van Zeller, who is the current owner of Van Zellers & Co. The company and it's brands merged with Quinta do Noval and were used in some countries with Noval stock. In the 1980's when Christiano was CEO of Quinta do Noval, it was decided to revive the Van Zellers company and in 1987/88 a partnership was created with the owners of Quinta de Roriz, and the quinta became Van Zellers & Co's only property. Quinta do Noval was sold to AXA in 1993, including Van Zellers & Co, but João and Pedro van Zeller, owners of Quinta de Roriz, re-acquired it to the family. The new owners of Noval, AXA, stopped producing and selling under the brands of Van Zellers & Co and the same thing happened with the owners of Quinta de Roriz, who decided to concentrate on one single brand, Quinta de Roriz.

At Christmas 2006 Christiano van Zeller received a phone call from his cousin João saying he was offering Christiano the company and all its brands as a Christmas present. Since then Christiano van Zeller is the sole owner of the Van Zellers company and brand names.

Since 2009 Van Zellers & Co is making Vintage Port once again.

van Zellers Vintages:1878, 1881, 1884, 1887, 1890, 1892, 1896, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1917, 1922, 1924, 1927, 1933, 1935, 1985, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020

Vintage Port tasting notes:

Housevan ZellersVintage1933
ColourMature tawny in colour.Number of tastings1
BouquetOld nose with pharmacy and old hospital dominated.Score range14.00 - 14.00
TasteMedium body. Quite old port. Alcoholic and of course a bit unbalanced due to the year and the vintage. However, still knit together and drinkable and a nice finish. Astonishing port anyhow due to this rare vintage year.Average score
Last tasted23rd December 2008Point this date14.00
CommentAt home with the family.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
Housevan ZellersVintage1985
ColourYellow beautiful mature in colour.Number of tastings4
BouquetDark chocolate, cacao, toffee, herbs, mint, eucalyptus and some candy and spiciness in the nose.Score range15.75 - 17.00
TasteMedium body. Mature and on top. Cacao, dark chocolate, toffee, herbs, some spiciness and eucalyptus in taste. Quite sweet and balanced port with an elegant, long and very attractive finish. A lovely port indeed and very easy to enjoy and drink today.Average score16.44
Last tasted21st April 2021Point this date17.00
CommentTasted at home in Second International Online Vintage Tasting with our German Port Friends from World of Port.

In 2020 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
Housevan ZellersVintage2011
ColourBlack in colour.Number of tastings1
BouquetQuite closed in the nose but with cherry and dark berry.
TasteMedium body. Lots of tannins and hard to swallow. Cherry and dark berry in flavour. Very promising. Long and attractive finish.
Last tasted4th November 2013Rating this dateImpressive
CommentAt the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen.

Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive
TastersSAI, JB, SS
Housevan ZellersVintage2012
ColourDark ruby in colour.Number of tastings4
BouquetMulberry, blackberry, dark cherry, some herbs and fruit in the nose.Score range15.25 - 15.75
TasteMedium body. Easy to drink and not much tannins. Balanced and rather complex with taste of dark berries such as mulberry, black berry and dark cherry and fruit. Quite enjoyable and with a quite long finish.Average score15.42
Last tasted15th September 2022Point this date15.25
CommentTasted at the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseVan ZellersVintage2017
ColourDark ruby in colour.Number of tastings2
BouquetLoaded with fruits and dark berries in the nose as well as mint, spices and dark chocolate.Score range16.25 - 16.25
TasteMedium body. Modern style of port, easy to drink and enjoy already today but of course balanced. Still lots of elegant tannins. Dark berries dominate the taste but the finish is attractive with very elegant tannins!Average score16.25
Last tasted24th November 2023Point this date16.25
CommentTasted at the Douro Boys’ Master class at the Port Wine Festival in Leverkusen, Germany.
TastersSAI, JB, SS

Last tasted:

21st September
Pocas Jr 2001
19th September
Cockburn 1983
Delaforce 1992
Dow 2000
Fonseca 1994
Graham 2003
Quinta do Cachao
Messias 1983
Quinta do Pego 2000
Quinta do Vale Meao 2003
Rozes 1994
Taylor 1992

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