It all started in 1790 when the 25-year-old son of a Scottish prosperous cabinetmaker asked for a 300£ loan from his father to set up as a wine merchant in London. This ambitious young man was George Sandeman, the founder of Sandeman, who ended up establishing one of the world’s leading Port and Sherry wine businesses. From early on Sandeman specialised in these two great Iberian fortified wines and, following a usual practice in those days, began trading not from own offices but from Tom’s Coffee house, on Birchin Lane, London. Business was agreed on a ‘gentleman’s word’ and George soon gained an impeccable reputation, characteristic of The House of Sandeman to today.Sandeman 2011 Vintage is a Vintage Port of exceptional quality, contemporary in style. It can may be enjoyed with pleasure while still young or after ageing.Vintage 2011 is very deeply coloured, almost opaque, with hints of purple. Very intense aroma, with floral notes such as gum cystus and violet, bright red fruit, notably strawberry and raspberry, and spices, in particular pepper and clove - all adding up to serious complexity. On the palate it has good structure, well-balanced acidity and nicely-evolved tannins, with the floral aromas and red fruits still in evidence, and a long, harmonious finish.