Mafalda Douro Branco 2023 75cl

Tasting Note

Bright apricots, hints of apple and a lovely soft palate that begs to be drunk with meatier seafood

Producer

Butler, Nephew & Cº., were first established in Oporto by H. Burmester and John Nash in 1730, and, like most British firms of that age, they were both general merchants as well as shippers, under the name of Burmester, Nash & C.º. 

In 1789 J. Nash and H. Burmester dissolved partnership and James Butler, a clerk and employee of the firm, was taken in as a partner and the firm became Nash, Butler & C.º.

Twenty years later, J. Butler took into partnership Mr. Tyndale, Mr. Nash’s nephew, and the title of the firm then became Butler, Tyndale & Cº. In 1829 James Butler’s nephew, Robert Butler, joined the firm and the title of the firm was again changed to Butler, Nephew and C.º.

In the 1950s they were bought by Gonzalez Byass and, since 1979, have been under the ownership of Stephen Christie. Christie has focused the company on producing outstanding tawny and white ports and the quality is exemplary. After visiting Porto in January 2024, I contacted Stephen to see if his ports were imported to the UK, which they weren't. I then made a phone call, had a meeting with one of my suppliers, and linked these two businesses and, lo-and-behold, Butler, Nephew & Co. are now in the UK!

_{Country: Portugal | Region: Douro | Alcohol: 13% | Grapes: Gouveio, Rabigato, Viosinho}