Cálem
A A Cálem & Filho
| Founded | 1859 |
|---|---|
| Owner | Sogevinus |
| Vineyards | None |
| Vintage Port Brands | Calem, Quinta da Foz, Quinta da Foz and Santo Antonio, Quinta da Carvelheira, Quinta do Sagrado |
This Port Wine House was founded in 1859 by Antonio Alves Calem and he bought Quinta do Foz in 1885. Cálem was by this time dedicated only to wine exports to Brazil in exchange of exotic woods. Porto Cálem main market has always been Portugal, but exports have maintained a high significance along its history. The brand logotype shows the caravel in which Cálem Port was exported to Brazil. The first Vintage Port ever produced by Porto Cálem was the Vintage Port 1870. The founders son, Antonio Calem Jr, became President of the Chamber of Commerce 1915 and a member of the Parliament and then handed over the house to his sons Jose’ Joaquim Oliviera and Joaquim Oliviera Calem who both started in the company in 1920. They retired in 1974 and 1978, respectively, to make room for the fourth generation Joaquim Manuel P.O. Calem who joined the company in 1974 and was director of the company until it was sold in 1998.
The family owned the firm to 1998 when the family decided to sell it. The buyers were Rozes’s former export director Rogério Leandro da Silva and his partner Manuel Saraiva, owner of Quita do Castelihno. But Sogevinus very soon started buying shares from those persons and in 2003 Sogevinus was the new owner of Calem. Quinta da Foz and Quinta do Sagrado was not included in Sogevinus acquisition of Cálem but they have secured supply of grapes from these Quintas and the right to continue to sell these single quinta vintage ports. Quinta do Sagrado is still in the hands of the Calem family but Quinta da Foz was sold to Isabel dos Santos in 2011. Quinta do Arnozelo is the estate where the Cálem grapes are grown, and the winemaking centre is named São Martinho da Anta.
| Calem Vintages: | 1908, 1912*, 1920, 1922, 1927*, 1931, 1933, 1935, 1942, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Quinta da Foz Vintages: | 1931, 1934, 1935, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| Quinta da Foz and Santo Antonio Vintages: | 1920, 1933, 1935, 1955 |
| Quinta do Sagrado Vintages: | 1988, 1990, 1994, 1997, 2011, 2017 |
| Quinta da Carvalheira Vintages: | 1984, 1988 |
| House | Cheiras Calem | Vintage | 1931 |
| Colour | Almost tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Wonderful bouquet! Roses, spring flowers, crème caramel, toffee and much, much more in the nose. | Score range | 17.75 - 17.75 |
| Taste | Medium body. Of course mature and peaking. Very tasty with roses, crème caramel, toffee and butter-scotch in taste. Sweet with balanced acidity. Very complex and an unbelievable finish which never end. Marvellous port indeed! | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 17.75 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen, Germany This vintage was bottled in 1937. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1933 |
| Colour | Terrible colour. Muddy and looks like dirty water. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Old but quite elegant nose of old mature fruit. | Score range | 14.40 - 14.40 |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite old in taste but knit together and not unattractive finish. Quite drinkable. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 27th June 2012 | Point this date | 14.40 |
| Comment | At home with the family The label read that the vintage was produced from Quinta da Foz and Quinta de Santo Antonio. It seems to be that the house of Calem declared its vintage from those two quintas. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1935 |
| Colour | Yellow, mature almost tawny but quite beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Orange zest, figs, dried fruit, prunes, burned sugar, some chocolate and some spiciness in the nose. | Score range | 17.50 - 17.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking with some balanced but still attractive acidity. Still very elegant and attractive. Quite sweet. The finish is balanced and quite long also very attractive. Still a lovely port! | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 29th July 2017 | Point this date | 17.50 |
| Comment | At home with the family The label read that the vintage was produced from Quinta da Foz and Quinta de Santo Antonio. It seems to be that the house of Calem declared its vintage from those two quintas. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1955 |
| Colour | Yellow, mature almost tawny but very beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Orange zest, toffee, mint, butter-scotch, vanilla, coffee and cacao in the nose. | Score range | 16.00 - 17.75 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Seem still to be on top! Unbelievable! Very, very elegant and still balanced. Attractive and complex finish which a just rolling in the mouth and never seems to end. A very impressive port indeed! Thank heaven for this port! | Average score | 16.88 |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 17.75 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen, Germany. The label read that the vintage was produced from Quinta da Foz and Quinta de Santo Antonio It seems to be that the house of Calem declared its vintage from those two quintas. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1960 |
| Colour | Amber, almost tawny in colour. Very beautiful indeed. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Honey, orange peel, Seville orange and burned candy and much more in the generous nose. | Score range | 17.00 - 17.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and peaking. Elegant and balanced with orange peel and candy and indeed very tasty. A wonderful port with a long, attractive and very generous finish. Just drink and enjoy it! | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 1st August 2015 | Point this date | 17.00 |
| Comment | The family on vacation in Skagen, Denmark. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Yellow mature beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 7 |
| Bouquet | Wonderful complex old grocery shop with candy, cream candy, cinnamon, cacao, some coffee beans, Christmas spiciness, butterscotch, gingerbread and toffee in the nose. | Score range | 16.75 - 17.75 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Very tasty indeed. Mature and at its peak. Butterscotch, gingerbread, toffee, crème caramel and lots of other things in taste. Complex, sweet, balanced and elegant with an enormous finish which never seems to end. Wonderful port! Just drink it, enjoy and you are near heaven! | Average score | 17.22 |
| Last tasted | 11th November 2023 | Point this date | 17.50 |
| Comment | Tasted at home with the family. 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. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1966 |
| Colour | Beautiful yellow and amber in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Lovely bouquet of cacao, dark chocolate, coffee, gingerbread, cinnamon, old grocery shop and flowers in the nose. | Score range | 17.40 - 17.40 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature, peaking and absolutely on top! Quite sweet but balanced and very elegant. Cacao, dark chocolate, coffee, gingerbread, cinnamon and much more in taste. Very complex indeed with a marvellous and sensational finish which never seem to end. What a port! | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 17.40 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen, Germany. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1970 |
| Colour | Mature tawny in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Old nose of burned sugar and pharmacy. | Score range | 14.00 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Tasty but not impressive. Unbalanced. Seemed too old. Bad bottle? | Average score | 15.25 |
| Last tasted | 13th November 2008 | Point this date | 14.00 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö. 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 | Calem | Vintage | 1977 |
| Colour | Very mature and yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Gingerbread, cinnamon, dried fruit, toffee, some cacao and coffee in the nose. | Score range | 16.40 - 17.40 |
| Taste | Almost full-bodied. Mature and now peaking but still with some soft tannin. Gingerbread and toffee in taste. Balanced and quite sweet. A complex port very easy to drink and like today with a very attractive finish. | Average score | 16.93 |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 16.40 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen, Germany. 1 bottle has been defect. In 2010 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1983 |
| Colour | Mature yellow quite beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Cream candy, coffee, cacao, cinnamon, ginger, some spiciness and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.40 |
| Taste | Almost full-bodied. Mature and peaking. Very sweet with flowers, candy, dark chocolate and spiciness in taste. Elegant and balanced port with an attractive and long finish. Very easy to drink and enjoy now! | Average score | 16.31 |
| Last tasted | 21st March 2019 | Point this date | 16.40 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% 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 | Calem | Vintage | 1985 |
| Colour | Still very dark but yellow mature rim in colour. | Number of tastings | 15 |
| Bouquet | Cacao, vanilla, toffee, old grocery shop, cream candy, ginger, chocolate and with some spiciness in the nose. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Medium bodied. Mature but still with some quite soft tannins but is probably peaking. Vanilla, toffee, dark chocolate and much more in flavour. Sweet. Complex and balanced port with an attractive and long, quite intensive finish. Lovely today! Just enjoy it! | Average score | 16.35 |
| Last tasted | 29th February 2024 | Point this date | 16.40 |
| Comment | Tasted in our Private Wine Club. 2 bottles have been defect. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. 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 | Calem | Vintage | 1989 |
| Colour | Very mature yellow in colour almost a hint of tawny. Very beautiful indeed. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Sweetmeats, toffee, cacao, some chocolate and candy in the nose | Score range | 15.25 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Medium body Mature and peaking with toffee and crème caramel, candy and sweetmeats in taste. Quite sweet and elegant port. Easy to drink and enjoy with a quite nice finish. | Average score | 15.72 |
| Last tasted | 21st November 2019 | Point this date | 15.25 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. In 2019 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 | Calem | Vintage | 1991 |
| Colour | Still rather dark but with a mature yellow colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Very intensive bouquet of dark chocolate, toffee, cacao, liquorice, gingerbread and candy in the nose. | Score range | 16.40 - 17.00 |
| Taste | Almost full-bodied. Mature and peaking. Sweet with cacao and gingerbread in taste. Balanced and quite elegant with a quite impressive and rather long finish. | Average score | 16.70 |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 16.40 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen, Germany. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1994 |
| Colour | Still very dark in colour but with a yellow edge. | Number of tastings | 8 |
| Bouquet | Cacao, cream candy, coffee, spring flowers, some herbs and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 16.40 - 16.75 |
| Taste | Almost full-bodied. Quite mature and almost peaking but will maybe be a little better due to some very elegant tannins. Balanced and quite complex. Dark chocolate, cacao, some spiciness in taste. An elegant port with an attractive and quite long, finish. | Average score | 16.53 |
| Last tasted | 16th May 2024 | Point this date | 16.40 |
| Comment | Tasted at the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. 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 | Calem | Vintage | 1995 |
| Colour | Still very dark ruby but with a hint of yellow, mature edge in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Still some dark berries, mature dry fruit and some cacao in the nose. | Score range | 15.50 - 15.50 |
| Taste | Medium body. Still lovely tannins and will probably improve. Balanced and quite complex with a lovely finish which however end quite soon which was very surprising. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 4th December 2023 | Point this date | 15.50 |
| Comment | Tasted at the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1997 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Dark chocolate, cacao, toffee, crème caramel and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 15.40 - 16.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and now peaking. Will probably not be much better. Cacao, dark chocolate and old grocery shop in flavour. Rather sweet. Complex and balanced with a rather long and rather attractive finish. | Average score | 15.72 |
| Last tasted | 30th May 2023 | Point this date | 15.40 |
| Comment | Tasted at home in 13th International Online Vintage Tasting with our German Port Friends from World of Port. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 1999 |
| Colour | Still rather dark but yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Still dark berry, mulberry and blue berry in the nose. Very generous. | Score range | 15.40 - 16.00 |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite mature and probably peaking but still with some very soft tannin. Balanced and quite elegant with dark berry and mulberry in taste. Lovely port with a nice and rather attractive finish. | Average score | 15.70 |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 15.40 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen, Germany. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 2000 |
| Colour | Dark blue in colour. | Number of tastings | 6 |
| Bouquet | Mulberry, dark cherry, vanilla, a hint of spiciness and oak but also cacao and dark chocolate in the nose. | Score range | 15.40 - 16.75 |
| Taste | Almost full-bodied. Quite mature almost peaking but lots of soft and round tannins and will be better. Dark berries, cacao, chocolate and vanilla in flavour. Very promising and very sweet. Lovely and promising finish. We think this port will probably be wonderful to taste again. | Average score | 15.97 |
| Last tasted | 12th June 2021 | Point this date | 16.75 |
| Comment | Tasted at home with the family. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 2002 |
| Colour | Dark with just a hint of a yellowness in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Cacao, dark chocolate, toffee, roasted coffee, some violets, liquorice and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite mature but still with some round and very elegant tannins and will probably improve a lot. Dark chocolate, cacao, toffee, coffee and much more in taste. Sweet. Balanced and easy to like and drink with a quite attractive and rather long finish. | Average score | 15.67 |
| Last tasted | 31st August 2024 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | Tasted at home with the family | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 2003 |
| Colour | Black in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Juicy and berry in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Full-bodied. Immature and lots of tannin. Loaded with fruit. A promising port. | ||
| Last tasted | 7th November 2005 | Rating this date | Very good |
| Comment | 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 |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 2011 |
| Colour | Dark blue in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Mulberry, dark cherry, blackberry, dark berry and fruit in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 15.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Loaded with fruit and mulberry and dark cherry in taste. Balanced and very easy to drink and enjoy. Modern style of port. Quite elegant and tasty with a nice and rather long finish but is not directly impressive. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Point this date | 15.25 |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen, Germany. In 2016 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in Germany. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 2012 |
| Colour | Dark blue in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Mulberry, blackberry, dark berry in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Medium body. Loaded with fruit but not much tannin. Easy to drink and enjoy but no long runner. Blackberry and dark berry in taste. Balanced but a modern style of port with a rather short but nice finish. | ||
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Rating this date | Good |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen, Germany. Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 2015 |
| Colour | Dark blue in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Juice, berry and fruit in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Medium body. Not much tannin at all but loaded with fruit. Still juice and fruit in taste. Balance. Modern type of port with a rather short finish. | ||
| Last tasted | 19th November 2016 | Rating this date | Good |
| Comment | At the Calem tasting in Leverkusen, Germany. Cask sample Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 2016 |
| Colour | Dark ruby almost black in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Jammy with mulberry, dark berry, blackberry, dark cherry, cacao, some roasted coffee and fruit in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Medium body. Lots of tannin and will of course be much better. Mulberry, dark berry and spiciness in taste. Balanced and easy to like with a nice and very attractive finish. | ||
| Last tasted | 4th November 2019 | Rating this date | Very Impressive |
| 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 |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 2018 |
| Colour | Dark ruby in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Dark berries such as blackberry and mulberry and some mint in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Medium body. Lots of tannin and will of course be much better. Taste of dark berry. Balanced and easy to like with a nice and very attractive finish. | ||
| Last tasted | 26th November 2021 | Rating this date | Impressive |
| Comment | Tasted at the Port Wine Festival in Leverkusen, Germany. Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | JB |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 2019 |
| Colour | Dark ruby in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Dark berries such as blackberry and mulberry and some mint in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Sweet with medium body. Lots of tannin and will of course be much better. Taste of dark berry. Balanced and easy to like with a nice and very attractive finish. | ||
| Last tasted | 26th November 2021 | Rating this date | Impressive |
| Comment | Tasted at the Port Wine Festival in Leverkusen, Germany. Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | JB |
| House | Calem | Vintage | 2020 |
| Colour | Dark ruby in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Mature dark berries such as mulberry, dark cherry and black berry and mature fruit in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Medium body. Easy to drink with very round and very attractive tannins and will of course improve. Balanced and quite elegant with a lovely and quite long finish. | ||
| Last tasted | 4th November 2022 | Rating this date | Impressive |
| Comment | Tasted at the Port Wine Festival in Leverkusen, Germany. Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB |