APICIVS. THE TIRELESS QUEST FOR THE BEST DOURO HAS TO OFFER.
Inspired by the world's oldest cookery book, Apicivs illustrates the relentless quest for the best.
The best ingredient, the best combination, the best drink. With this focus and a constant drive to explore, to find and to deliver an unrivalled product of superior quality, Apicivs turned the ambition and daring of Marcus Gavius Apicius into the brand own approach. The eccentric 1st century Roman gourmet, whose life purpose was to transform noble and refined foods into unique recipes, drives and enhances the roots and values of the brand.
The Apicivs brand, just like the recipes in that book, also aims to present the best the Douro has to offer to the market, with the uniqueness that is recognized for this region alone. Although the history of the area stretches back to 1756, Apicivs believes that the immensity and quality offered by the Douro allow it, even today, to continue to create, to innovate and to find rarities within that which is the world's first Demarcated and Regulated Region. It is still able to surprise and delight the connoisseurs of these wines.
Apicivs is driven by the constant ambition to elevate the palate and raise its sophistication as well as to obtain the best possible result from the best grapes. The eternal dissatisfaction of Apicivs conveys the spirit and nobility of the figure who gives his name to the brand, striving to achieve a superior, consistent and high quality positioning for a rarity that only this region has been able to preserve to this day.
SINGLE HARVEST TAWNY
1971
PORTO COLHEITA
It took five decades of resting, some of which of significant uncertainty, to bring this patiently guarded rarity to the present day; “forgotten” to age, it became a paradigm of the evolution of the best very old Ports wines, which we now present.
A veritable gift of time, which we decided to bring to life in an unrepeatable manner in this jubilee year of its harvest, in 500 exclusive bottles, hand numbered and signed, presented in a special edition that consists of special packaging that, inside, is telling its history, and a certificate attesting to its authenticity, also hand numbered and signed.
This is an extremely rare harvest, quite probably the rarest harvest in the 1970s; APICIVS 1971 Single Harvest Tawny Port is a unique and unparalleled Port in every way, one that will astound all those who have the pleasure and the privilege of tasting it, drinking it and sharing it.
THE PERFECTION OF THE ETERNAL QUEST FOR THE BEST.
APICIVS 1971 Single Harvest Tawny Port is most probably the last tawny Port from the 1971 harvest kept in casks up to the present day. It aged for 50 years in three French oak Pipes and may still be kept in the bottle for a few more years.
Almost as though a superb spice, APICIVS 1971 Single Harvest Tawny Port motivates and drives the elevation and sophistication of the papate while maintaining the brand consistency and superior quality and the audacity that gives it its name.
This is an exceptional Port, with half a century of history, which will remain in the memory of all, and especially of those who have had the opportunity to taste it.
TECHNICAL SHEET BUY APICIVS 1971
An ode to the incomparable singularity of the Douro Demarcated Region.
Bright mahogany core that fades to a broad amber rim of discreet olive-green hints.
The first impression is balsamic, with sawed oak and cedar making for an opulent nose, a core of brown sugar, cane honey, coffee beans and walnuts, with subtle buttery notes and delicate saline notes, a touch of curry and small sweet and sour notes of wild honey and green tea; always in a crescendo of aromatic complexity, always elegant, with nuances of wildflowers, pollens and herbs; all always accompanied by a slightly woody and balsamic flavour, reminiscent of cardamom, with touches of black pepper and tobacco leaf.
It is full, sweet and very long in the mouth, with distinct notes of walnuts, dried tangerine zest, coffee and cardamom, in a surprising crescendo all-encompassing, unctuous and very fresh, with exceptional acidity. Almost unending, leaving lasting balsamic flavours and sweet and sour notes of dried physalis with wild honey.
What the Robert Parker Wine Advocate says about APICIVS 1971
Drink Date 2022-2060

The 1971 Apicivs Colheita Tawny Port is a field blend bottled September 29, 2021, with a long cork after about 50 years in barrel. It comes in with 166 grams of residual sugar. Initially closed, indeed, in hibernation not long after bottling, this needed the extra couple of days I gave it to wake up. Then, it was a different beast. Rich, smooth and creamy, this is a succulent Tawny that is a bit sugary, but it also has compensating freshness and complexity. It's concentrated in terms of unctuous texture but is otherwise quite elegant, even understated. There's not a lot of energy, but it has gentle harmony. The fruit is certainly mature, but the brightness and the sugary decadence make it seem a lot younger. For those celebrating a birthday and even for those who are just looking for a good drink, this will be a pleasure. This release contains 500 bottles, which is all the producer has left. There will be no more. As of yet, there is no importer, but that may change, and there were plans for export. Check in at https://apicivs.com/ for subsequent updates there. It runs about 553 euros in Portugal. Note: The brand here is actually "Apicius," but the label looks like "Apicivs," with the "u" looking like a "v," as in olden days. It's still meant to be "Apicius" since the "v" is not really a "v"; that's just a design issue. The company representative says: "The brand in use is APICIUS, but we recently also registered the brand APICIVS....We thought it would be interesting to have the spelling of the brand name in Latin, i.e., a “V” for a ”U,” on the label; the new logo of the brand is actually with a “V”. The landing page is apicivs.com but if you go to apicius.pt you'll be redirected to the same domain 'apicivs.com.'"

At this point, it's a coin flip as to which makes more sense to use in a tasting note, but I've stuck with what the producer wants, which is also what is on the label. So, that probably makes the most sense in terms of avoiding consumer confusion.

DPWEA stands for Douro and Port Wine Export Agency, d.b.a. exPort. They started exporting lesser-known Port brands in 2013, then started buying and selling bulk Port wines, "but we focus on old and rare Port; we find and buy Port wines and prepare batches, some ready for bottling, some almost finished (just in need of fining), very old Port wines and rare vintages (Colheitas/Single Harvests). This year, we decided we should start bottling and selling some of these Ports under our own brand, which we redirected toward the premium and luxury markets....The 1971 vintage is more than a very rare vintage (harvest); these will be (most probably) the very last bottles of a 1971 Single Harvest Tawny Port to be put in the market."

APICIVS 1972 SINGLE HARVEST TAWNY PORTO COLHEITA
DISCOVER APICIVS 1972