Ramos Pinto, 1935

Bom Retiro Vintage Port, DOC Douro

Description and Reviews:
The 1935 Ramos Pinto Bom Retiro Vintage Port is an exceptionally rare and historic bottle from one of Portugal’s most revered Port houses, crafted in a year that is considered legendary for the Douro. The 1935 vintage came after a decade of hardship in the wine trade, yet yielded wines of incredible concentration, balance, and longevity. Bom Retiro, one of Ramos Pinto’s flagship estates, is celebrated for producing fruit of extraordinary depth and aromatic finesse—qualities that shine through in this remarkable pre-war Vintage Port, now approaching ninety years of age.

In the glass, it displays a deep mahogany-brown core with glowing amber and olive-green highlights at the rim, a hallmark of great maturity in Vintage Port. The nose is breathtakingly complex, offering layers of dried fig, date, and sultana, interwoven with dark chocolate, roasted walnut, and fine coffee. Subtle notes of orange peel, sweet spice, and a hint of floral perfume add elegance, while an ethereal rancio character reflects its long evolution.

On the palate, the 1935 Bom Retiro is concentrated, silky, and impeccably balanced. Rich flavours of prune, molasses, and black treacle are lifted by a vibrant, well-preserved acidity that gives the wine remarkable freshness for its age. Savoury undertones of leather, cigar box, and toasted almond emerge as it opens, with the tannins having softened into an almost velvet-like texture. The finish is extraordinarily long, echoing with waves of spice, dried fruit, and sweet oak that linger for minutes.

This is a Port for the most special of occasions, best enjoyed in quiet contemplation. Serve slightly below room temperature in generous Port glasses, allowing it to open slowly in the glass rather than through prolonged decanting to protect its delicate aromatics. Pair with blue cheeses, roasted nuts, or rich chocolate desserts, though its complexity is perhaps best appreciated on its own. The 1935 Ramos Pinto Bom Retiro Vintage Port is not just a wine—it is a rare and precious piece of Douro history, a living link to one of the most celebrated vintages of the 20th century.