Ferreira, 1908

Believed A A Ferreira Vintage Port, DOC Douro - Low shoulder

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Description and Reviews:
The 1908 Ferreira, believed to be an A.A. Ferreira Vintage Port, is an exceptionally rare and historic bottle from one of the Douro’s most celebrated early 20th-century vintages. Now well over a century old, it hails from a year that produced wines of remarkable concentration, balance, and longevity, cementing 1908’s reputation as a benchmark vintage. A.A. Ferreira, one of Portugal’s most iconic Port houses, was renowned for crafting richly fruited, structured Vintage Ports capable of ageing for many decades—making this surviving example a true piece of vinous history. While the level is at low shoulder, the wine still holds immense collectible value and could offer a profound drinking experience if well stored.

In the glass, a wine of this age would likely display a deep mahogany-brown core with green-gold highlights at the rim, a hallmark of great maturity in century-old Vintage Port. The nose should be intensely complex, layered with aromas of dried fig, date, and sultana, alongside molasses, dark chocolate, and roasted walnut. Notes of orange peel, coffee, and sweet spice may mingle with subtle floral and herbal nuances, all wrapped in the gentle rancio character that only emerges after many decades in bottle.

On the palate, a well-preserved 1908 Ferreira could show a remarkable harmony of sweetness, freshness, and tertiary complexity. Expect flavours of prune, black treacle, and caramelised citrus, supported by savoury undertones of leather, cedar, and tobacco leaf. The tannins, once firm, would by now have softened into a velvety smoothness, while the acidity—so crucial to longevity—would keep the wine vibrant despite its age. The finish, if the wine has retained its integrity, would be incredibly long, echoing with notes of spice, nut, and dried fruit.

This is a wine to be approached with great care. Decanting should be done gently and only to remove sediment, with minimal aeration to preserve fragile aromatics. Serve slightly below room temperature in generous Port glasses, and ideally enjoy it in quiet contemplation, perhaps alongside blue cheese, roasted nuts, or simply on its own. The 1908 Ferreira Vintage Port is not just a drink—it is a living fragment of Douro history, offering the rare chance to taste a masterpiece from one of the greatest vintages of the last century.