A Crash Course in Port

Trip for 2 to Porto, Portugal

5 days/4 nights

Wines to take home tonight:

Fonseca Vintage Port 1994 (1 bottle)

Fonseca Vintage Port 1997 (1 bottle)

Fonseca Vintage Port 2009 (1 bottle)

Taylor Fladgate 30 Year Old Tawny Port (1 imperial)

Douro Valley, Portugal

Port is one of the great classic European wines and its history is a long and fascinating one. So what is Port? Port is a fortified wine, made by adding a proportion of grape spirit, or brandy, to the wine at some point during the production process. Port is arguably the greatest of all fortified wines and its paramount expression, Vintage Port, ranks alongside the finest produce of Bordeaux or Burgundy as one of the great iconic wines of the world. It is found in northern Portugal within the mountainous Douro Valley. Where better to learn more about the flavors of Port than in the only country of its production?

The Yeatman Hotel is located in the historic heart of Vila Nova de Gaia, next to the ancient 'lodges' where Port houses like Taylor Fladgate have aged their wines for over three centuries. As one of Europe's leading wine hotels, The Yeatman is a haven for wine lovers and the prime destination for those wishing to explore the pleasures of Port and Portuguese wine. The Yeatman's two-star Michelin restaurant provides an environment of classic comfort, where discreet and understated service blends with a warm welcome. The extraordinary panorama of the River Douro and the historic center of Porto guarantee the most spectacular scenery. Complementing The Yeatman's own wine activities, visits can be arranged to leading vineyards and estates in the Douro Valley, Minho, Dão, and Bairrada wine regions.

YOUR TRIP FOR TWO INCLUDES:

• round-trip airfare from the United States to Porto, Portugal
• a four-night stay at The Yeatman Hotel
• a tasting for two upon arrival in Porto

TO BE TAKEN HOME TONIGHT:

• one bottle each of Fonseca Vintage Port from 1994, 1997, and 2009
• an imperial of Taylor Fladgate 30 Year Old Tawny Port

We guarantee that the 1994 Fonseca Vintage Port is going to be a knockout in your cellar! Robert Parker called this wine "one of the most spectacular 1994s," and "exotic, flamboyant, ostentatious" (The Wine Advocate), with a nearly faultless 97-point rating. To round out this lot, Taylor Fladgate bottled an imperial of 30-year Tawny Port in honor of our thirtieth anniversary-the only one in existence! Let your continued education of Port and Portugal begin!

Note: Dates of trip subject to room availability. Expires April 14, 2019.

Note: All three Fonseca bottles at neck level. One bottle with worn label. One bottle with debris on bottom.

Generously contributed by Kobrand Fine Wine & Spirits and Taylor Fladgate

Ready to place a bid? Pre-bids can be made here. Pre-bidding for Live Lots will close at 5:00 p.m. CST on Friday, April 13.

Interested in bidding by phone during the Live Auction? Please call 312.827.5682 to make arrangements.