Vintage Ports get all the love. But my heart is with the tawnies, those silky seductive wines that combine fig and citrus, caramel and toasted nuts, vanilla, and spice, all courtesy of lengthy barrel age. Americans get excited about a wine aged for 20 months in oak...try 20 years! Founded in 1881, Ramos Pinto is still controlled by descendants of the Ramos family. The success of RP is due to many factors, but especially these two: great vineyards and an intense focus on quality. Port wine vineyards are graded (A-F). All-every one-of Ramos Pinto's vineyards is rated 'A'. Vineyards are farmed organically, a rare thing in the Douro, but something current director Jorge Rosas believes that healthy soils make better wines. RP 20 is sourced from a superb single vineyard, the Quinta do Bom Retiro. A blend of 5 traditional grape varieties, the wine is rested in 650 litre barrels for many years before blending and bottling. RP Tawnies always skew elegant, with aromas and flavors of apricot, almond, walnuts, and cocoa with hints of caramel and baking spices. Drink lightly chilled. Once opened, the bottle does not have to be consumed immediately, but good luck not finishing it right away!