Borges
Sociedade dos Vinhos Borges, S.A
| Founded |
1884 |
| Owner |
José Maria Vieira, SA (JMV Group) |
| Vineyards |
Quinta da Soalheira |
The Sociedade dos Vinhas Borges was founded in Porto in 1884 by two brothers, António and Francisco Nunes Borges. Trading initially under the name of António Nunes Borges & Irmão, later in 1918 abbreviated to Borges & Irmão, the company's activities ran from wines to tobacco, matches and foreign currency and founded Banco Borges & Irmao in 1937. Between 1892 and 1895 the brothers began to devote more attention to the wine side of the business, because the export trade in table wines was developing well, particularly to Brazil. 1907 was a very special year for the company and expanding the wine side of their business. At the turn of the century the Company acquired two large Quintas in the Alto Douro (Quinta da Soalheira in 1904 on the edge of Torto River and Quinta do Junco in 1907 near Pinhão), both already producing wines of remarkable high quality.
In 1998 José Maria Vieira, SA (JMV Group) acquired Sociedade dos Vinhos Borges. Taylor’s bought Quinta do Junco and Quinta da Casa Nova.
| Borges Vintages: | 1905, 1915, 1916*, 1918*, 1920, 1925, 1927, 1935, 1945, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1970, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2015, 2018, 2020 |
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| Quinta do Junco Vintages: | 1908, 1917, 1920, 1922, 1927, 1935, 1945, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1977, 1980, 1995 |
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| Quinta da Soalheira Vintages: | 1900, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1955*, 2012, 2017 |
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| Quinta do Roncao Vintages: | 1963 |
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Vintage Port tasting notes:
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1955 |
| Colour | Terrible colour. Turbid and looks like dirty water. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Cacao, burned chocolate, burned candy, orange peel | Score range | 12.40 - 12.40 |
| Taste | Medium body. Rather tasty but terrible to look at. Burned candy in taste. Taste old and as an old colheita. Astonishing but rather attractive finish | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 3rd April 2015 | Point this date | 12.40 |
| Comment | At home with the family.
This bottle seems not to be a vintage even if the label says so. It smells and taste as a Colheita and the cork was from Borges but said 1980. Something is wrong with this bottle.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1958 |
| Colour | Still rather dark but beautiful, amber and mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, butterscotch, fudge, roasted coffee beans, cacao, some Christmas raisin and candy in the nose | Score range | 16.90 - 16.90 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking but balanced with some acidity and some old sweetness. A lovely port easy to drink and enjoy now! Complex and with a long and attractive finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 17th November 2016 | Point this date | 16.90 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Semi-Great Tasting in Malmö.
This bottle was from Anders G. Åkesson’s Private Collection.
In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1960 |
| Colour | Beautiful, mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Crème caramel, ginger, candy, toffee and s lot more in the nose. | Score range | 17.00 - 17.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Very elegant and tasty with ginger, cream candy and toffee in taste. Balanced and complex port with a long, attractive and lovely finish. Just enjoy it and drink it if you have any bottles left | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 5th January 2016 | Point this date | 17.00 |
| Comment | At home with the family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Yellow mature almost tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 7 |
| Bouquet | Burned sugar, cream candy, figs, cinnamon, cacao and roasted coffee in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Almost medium body. Very mature and even maybe a little old. Burned sugar and cinnamon in taste. Easy to drink and like with a quite short but elegant finish. | Average score | 16.09 |
| Last tasted | 21st November 2013 | Point this date | 15.25 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdals Private Collection.
In 2005 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
In 2013 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1970 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 6 |
| Bouquet | Elegant and complex bouquet of old grocery shop, cinnamon and ginger. | Score range | 15.00 - 15.75 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Burned sugar in flavour. Elegant and nice finish. Attractive port. | Average score | 15.35 |
| Last tasted | 13th November 2008 | Point this date | 15.00 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdal Private Collection. *The last bottle was defect according to me. The notes are from 3 November 2003.
In 2008 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1978 |
| Colour | Still fairly dark with a yellow rim. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Not impressive but light and delicate bouquet mostly of dried fruit. | Score range | |
| Taste | Medium body. Rather mature. Still nice acidity and soft tannin but short finish. Not impressive. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 7th August 1991 | Point this date | 14.90 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1979 |
| Colour | Yellow, mature almost tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Not so intensive bouquet and maybe not quite clean? Ether, old hospital and some pharmacy in the nose. | Score range | 14.40 - 15.40 |
| Taste | Medium body. Some orange in the taste. Mature but not so tasty and balanced. Quite long but maybe not attractive finish | Average score | 14.82 |
| Last tasted | 28th February 2013 | Point this date | 15.40 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Semi-Great Tasting in Malmö.
This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdal Private Collection.
In 2013 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1980 |
| Colour | Yellow mature colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Blackberry in the nose. | Score range | |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak. Elegant but light. Nice sweetness and quite attractive finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 24th January 1998 | Point this date | 15.50 |
| Comment | At home with the family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1982 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Alcoholic and ether nose. | Score range | 14.25 - 14.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and quite old in taste. Rather good finish. Not for keeping but easy to drink. | Average score | 14.38 |
| Last tasted | 20th November 2014 | Point this date | 14.50 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
In 2014 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1983 |
| Colour | Yellow mature very beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 12 |
| Bouquet | Old grocery shop, cacao, coffee and roses in the nose. | Score range | 14.75 - 15.75 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and at its peak with some still balanced acidity. Elegant and quite complex with a nice finish. Will not be better but delicious now and easy top drink and like. | Average score | 15.25 |
| Last tasted | 16th March 2017 | Point this date | 15.75 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
In 2017 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1985 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Zest of a lemon, roses, candy and dried fruit in the nose. | Score range | 15.50 - 15.75 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and rather sweet. Peaking but with some old very elegant acidity. Completely balanced. Roses and candy in taste. Easy to drink and like with a quite attractive finish. | Average score | 15.63 |
| Last tasted | 19th September 2020 | Point this date | 15.75 |
| Comment | Tasted at the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
In 2020 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1988 |
| Colour | Yellow, quite beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, candy, butterscotch and herbs in the nose. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking with some lovely old acidity. Will not be better but is wonderful today so drink it and enjoy it as soon as you can. Balanced and enjoyable with a quite long and attractive finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 25th December 2022 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | Tasted at home with the family
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1989 |
| Colour | Yellow mature colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Crème caramel and burned sugar in the nose. | Score range | 14.00 - 15.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Complex and rather delicious with a good finish. | Average score | 14.63 |
| Last tasted | 6th November 2006 | Point this date | 15.25 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1994 |
| Colour | Quite beautiful medium dark ruby, yellow and mature rim in colour. | Number of tastings | 8 |
| Bouquet | Elegant and lovely nose with spring flowers, roasted coffee, toffee, cream candy, burned sugar and sultan raisins in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 16.75 |
| Taste | Medium bodied. Roasted coffee, toffee and burned sugar in taste. Mature port and peaking. Balanced and quite complex with a quite attractive and elegant finish. Very easy to drink and enjoy indeed. | Average score | 15.86 |
| Last tasted | 18th May 2024 | Point this date | 16.75 |
| Comment | Tasted at the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
In 2024 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 1995 |
| Colour | Yellow quite beautiful, mature colour. | Number of tastings | 6 |
| Bouquet | Nice and delicate bouquet mostly of old grocery shop, cacao, chocolate, cream candy and cinnamon in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Lovely port to drink today. Balanced and attractive. Cream candy, cacao and cinnamon in taste. Lovely and quite long finish. Will keep and develop a little more but is very enjoyable now! | Average score | 15.82 |
| Last tasted | 2nd March 2019 | Point this date | 16.50 |
| Comment | Tasting at the Port Wine Fair in Roskilde, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 2003 |
| Colour | Dark ruby but with a yellow mature rim in colour. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Mint, cacao, coffee, old grocery shop but also quite dry with dried fruit, dried dark berry and French plums in the nose but also some tobacco. | Score range | 15.25 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite mature but still with lovely tannin. Very elegant and balanced and rather dry port with mint, cacao, dried fruit and coffee in taste. Attractive and very good with a long but sweet finish. | Average score | 15.83 |
| Last tasted | 13th July 2018 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | At home with the family.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 2004 |
| Colour | Yellow, quite mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Fudge, cacao, some chocolate and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite mature but still with some elegant tannin. Balanced with fudge, some cacao and old grocery shop in taste and very attractive. Will probably be better but has already today an elegant an attractive finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 2nd March 2019 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | Tasting at the Port Wine Fair in Roskilde, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 2005 |
| Colour | Medium dark ruby, with yellow mature in edge. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Cacao, a little dark chocolate, fudge, minty and some toffee in the nose. | Score range | 16.00 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and now peaking. An attractive and balanced port with cacao, some toffee, mint and dark chocolate in taste. A lovely and quite long finish. | Average score | 16.01 |
| Last tasted | 1st November 2021 | Point this date | 16.00 |
| Comment | Tasting at the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 2007 |
| Colour | Still rather dark ruby in colour with a yellow edge. | Number of tastings | 6 |
| Bouquet | Cacao, dark chocolate, toffee and an interesting spiciness in the nose. | Score range | 15.50 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium bodied. Immature, still with nice tannin and will be better. Balanced and complex port with cacao, dark chocolate and some interesting spiciness in the taste. Balanced and attractive with a lovely finish. Will love to follow this port! | Average score | 15.88 |
| Last tasted | 5th November 2018 | Point this date | 15.50 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges & Irmao | Vintage | 2015 |
| Colour | Ruby in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Mulberry, black berry and mature dark berry in the nose. | Score range | 15.75 - 15.75 |
| Taste | Medium body. Of course immature, but quite drinkable with elegant tannins. Balanced and quite complex port. Dark berry and fruit in taste. Quite long and very promising and intensive finish. Will be very interesting to follow. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 1st November 2021 | Point this date | 15.75 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Borges | Vintage | 2020 |
| Colour | Dark ruby in colour | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Dark berries and mature fruit in nose. | | |
| Taste | Medium body. Easy to drink and enjoy already today but will of course improve. Balanced and quite tasty with a quite interesting and tannic finish. | | |
| Last tasted | 7th November 2022 | Rating this date | Good |
| Comment | Tasted at the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark
Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
Old Colheita/Tawny tasting notes:
| House | Borges | Colheita | 1905 |
| Colour | Amber and lovely in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Lovely nose of toffee, burned candy and a full arsenal of aromas in the nose. | Bottled | 1937 |
| Taste | Lovely body. Mature of course. Roasted candy and much more in the taste. Very complex port with a long and never ending finish. Quite delicious. | Score range | 17.25 - 17.25 |
| Last tasted | 24th January 2008 | Point this date | 17.25 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |