CELLAR TREASURES - These are wines that come from private cellars of well-known customers of ours. These are often iconic wines. The certainty we have here is that the wine has been stored in a (conditioned) cellar and is now physically in our conditioned Warehouse. Wine is a natural product and how the wine has developed over the years is unknown. We always take 360 degree photos of these wines so that you can inspect the condition of the bottle, label and also the filling. Feel free to come by if you want to inspect the bottle yourself. In many cases you can be very seriously surprised, but it can also be certain that the wine has had its best time or has already strayed further. These wines are ideal for collecting purposes or a special vertical tasting. The Kopke port house and the significance of Quinta São Luiz Founded in 1638, Kopke is the oldest active Port house in Portugal. Founded by Nicolau Kopké, the house gained international fame with its long-aged Colheita and Vintage Ports. In 1922, Kopke acquired the prestigious Quinta São Luiz, located on the steep slopes of the Douro River near Tabuaço. This quinta has been the core of Kopke's quality production ever since. Today, the house is part of Sogevinus Fine Wines, known for its preservation of traditional winemaking techniques and terroir expression. Location, climate and grape varieties of the Douro Valley The Douro Valley has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and cold winters. The soils are mainly schist, which provides excellent drainage and heat retention. These conditions are ideal for growing traditional Port grapes such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão. Quinta São Luiz is an "A" classified wine estate, which is the highest quality classification in the Douro region. Vinification of the 1996 Kopke Quinta São Luiz Vintage Port The grapes for this wine are harvested by hand and rigorously selected. After destemming and crushing, fermentation takes place in traditional lagares (granite open vats), where the must is punched several times a day. Fermentation is stopped by adding wine alcohol (aguardente), which results in a fortified wine with residual sweetness. The young port then matures for about two years in wood and is then bottled, where further maturation takes place in the bottle. This traditional method produces a wine with an aging potential of decades. Tasting notes of the 1996 Kopke Quinta São Luiz Vintage Port The wine shows a deep, opaque ruby red color. On the nose aromas emerge of black cherries, dried plums, cedar wood and a hint of black pepper. On the palate the wine is powerful and concentrated with notes of dark fruit, chocolate, fresh herbs and subtle spices. The tannins are present but rounded, and the fresh acidity provides balance and length. The finish is long, complex and elegant, with hints of balsamic and graphite. Would you like to order wines from 1996 Kopke Quinta São Luiz Vintage Port online? This Vintage Port is carefully stored in our conditioned Wine Warehouse. When collecting the wine, you will often receive an attractive discount. This discount is immediately displayed when you choose the 'Collection' option on the checkout page. Our collection point is located in Dordrecht, right next to the A16, with ample parking. Click here for our address. Full tasting notes and reviews from wine journalists such as Parker, Suckling and Vinous are available via the links next to the image. This information is freely accessible to our customers. Need help choosing your wine? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier . This service is available free of charge to customers. Wine and food pairings for 1996 Kopke Quinta São Luiz Vintage Port Beef stew with bay leaf and cloves: The deep flavours of the stewed meat are beautifully supported by the powerful structure and spiciness of the port. Pure chocolate cake: The intense cocoa aromas blend seamlessly with the dark fru