The Port Wine Thread
 

What ports have you drank that you have enjoyed and where did you find em.

Just wanting to make a thread to see how many of my fellow BOTL enjoy Port.



I just had a bottle of Taylor Fladgate 10 Year and cant wait to try and find another bottle locally, it was extremely good to me.

Another recent port i had was the Sandeman's Founders Reserve, was very smooth and i already got another bottle.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Taylor-Fladgate is damn good stuff. That 10 year old Tawny is good, but try the 20 year next time. I would go looking for some Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) if you can find it. Taylor makes a great LBV, so does Croft, Graham's makes a great rserve called Six Grapes which is good too.

There is a lot in the Port world to drink up, I would start from there and work your way into a stupor! :al

ATL

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

I occasionally drink port. It's been awhile though since I've gone into the military and been cut off...

But what I can remember drinking before I left were: Six Grapes, Sandeman's Tawny, Fonseca Bin 29...I think I have them arranged in order from worst to best in my opinion too.

I'll have to get back into it in a couple months here when I can own my own alcohol again.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

6 Grapes is awesome and so is a white port that I had, can't recall the name though!

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Where did you get your information from??????

With your love for Benjamin's port and Boones farm wine, I can tell you have a discriminating palate :r :r :r

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

I think it was from you at one of the Ragu Pasta sauce tastings you attend.:c

ATL

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Gee, we have the same taste buds... I also really like the Cabral 30 & 40 year old Tawny's.... very yummie with a great cigar...like a HDM DC....

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

If you like tawny ports, the best easy to find ones are (all 20 year bottles):

Ferreira
Sandeman
Ramos Pinto
Barros
Noval
Dow

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

How have I missed this!

I know it's cliche but I really find I like grahams better then most.
I've have a bunch of dow's and i've enjoyed most. Taylor's always seem to have a odd after taste to me.

Always have some 6 grape around :)

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

If you are talking Vintage Port, than it's hard to beat Grahams. One of my favorites as well.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Like the sweetness of Grahams but will take the power of Fonseca every time.

~Vitis

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

I find Taylor as having more power, more pepper and spice to their profile. Somehow, Fonseca seems soft and wonderful, yet can stay that way for decades upon decades. Fonseca is a wonderful brand, as is Taylor...

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Agreed Fonseca/Taylor being the heavy hitters. Bums me out a bit that they taste so good young in the past few vintage years. Prior to 94' I never would have thought of drinking either of those two young. Harder to keep hands off in recent vintages.

~Vitis

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Had a 1983 and 1985 Dow Vintage port a couple months ago, I got it on sale at my local K&L wines. Well worth checking out their website because they ship too.

Also, had the 20yr old Tawny from Taylor at a party. All three were very tasty!

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

83 and 85 good vintages. Im liking the 85' better right now and holding the 83's for a bit longer.

~Vitis

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

What is the taste difference between 10 yr Grahams and 20 yr Grahams? I am pretty new to the port scene and have only had Six Grapes. I want to try Grahams but am not 100% port is for me and don't want to drop $60 on a bottle of 20.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

I picked up a bottle of this for $26.99.

http://www.bevmo.com/Media/Images/Pr...sFull/2694.jpg

I hope it's good.

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It is, that is the bottle im trying to find here locally bc i had some in FL and it was outstanding. If you wouldnt mind shipping a bottle to me let me know.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

I've been enjoying this as an everyday type of porto. It's good! :dr

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

If you are talking about the ones floating around during MMH III it was the 20 year.

This a a very good to great port. The 20 years has more depth to it and is less sweet.

I find the 10 year great for weekly and 20 for at least once a month or when I have people over as an after dinner and dessert wine.

If anyone can tell me if the 40 year is worth 3 times the 20, I'd appreciate it as I want an honest answer rather than taking the word of the liquor store salesman

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

It is Darrell. I drank a bottle of that while I was in chat last night! Gift from my nephew for my birthday. Not as sweet as I normally like but it was very good.

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I think the '85 Dow may be their best vintage since 1970, perhaps even longer. It is still such a baby and has huge aging potential. The 1977 Dow has some bottle variation to them, so it's a crap shot. I have only had a handful of Dow 85's and I say jump on them. For sure, one of Dow's drier vintages, but has the perfect balance to be one Dow's best ever. The '83 is also good, but is not '85...

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

I hear you... I would not spend $60 on it either. For a 20 year, go for any you can get for $40 or less.

There's a big difference in complexity and length between 10 & 20 that anyone would pick up on. 20 to 30 or 30 to 40; it's not so much. It's only in Colheitas where you can really taste the old stuff and very old stuff difference more dramatically.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

No it's not. If the tawny style is what you prefer, go for an older Colheita from the 50's.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Thanks Moses, I knew I could count on a brother for a straight answer. Can you enlighten us(me) on Colheita and where to look for them from the 50's please

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Sure, I'll ship you a bottle. PM me the details.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Is there a particular Six grapes I need to look for? I've never had port wine and have been thinking about picking up a bottle of Six grapes.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

I cant tell you where to look (maybe Moses can) but Colheita is basicaly vintage Tawny, so it spends xxx amount of time (10, 20+ years) in barrel before being bottled. All the grapes are from one year, and when it is finaly bottled it stops maturing.

In my market (seattle) we see lots of Colheita from Kopke and Rocha (wineworth the importer is based here) and Kopke makes a 1950 and Rocha has 1957, 1947, 1937 that I know of. Im sure there are lots of others to look for either localy or on the net.

~Vitis

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Got this bottle of Kopke tawny port that I've been trying and I'm liking it so far. Dunno if it's a vintage or not (probably not), but I'm not minding if it or isn't.

Like how I rate cigars, this falls into the "doesn't suck" category.

:al

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Six Grapes is a specific bottling by Grahams. Quite popular for the money. Personally, at that price point, I like Broadbents Auction Reserve.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Don't know what stores have what in your area, but the most popular Colheitas are;

Niepoort
Noval
Barros
Burmester
Kopke
Rocha

Colheita is not as common under the British brands of port. Their versions may say "Reserve" and have a vintage somewhere in fine text (even though they are from Portugal). It's best to get a recent bottling on Colheita. That means it has been sitting in the barrel longer than in the bottle. Once it's in the bottle, it slowly declines.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Great thread Joey!! I'll post and follow since I am not an experienced Port drinker, but I am a Port lover. I have a small bottle of Six Grapes given to me in the 20 Men That Ride Like 100 bombing raid.





-

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

I have had Many of the Taylor Fladgate Ports.
The 20 is really nice. The 40 is smoother & a bit stronger with a more lasting finish.
As a present to yourself it is nice.

If your going to have it with guests after dinner Stay with the cheaper 20 year old.

On an other surprising note for every day. Taylor Makes a "Fine Tawney Port" which is young but full of underlying flavor . It sells for about $10. And is a nice drink with a Cigar as you read a book or watch TV,
Churchill Makes a nice white port Good for a Long Cold Drink for about $25.
Enjoy your port.
Lenny :cb:usa

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

I just picked up a bottle (like 10 minutes ago) of Dow's Fine Ruby Porto

anyone have any experience with this? I've only ever had 6 Grapes before, and the guy there said this was the closest they had since they could never get any Graham's product in

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

They are quite similar in quality, but Dow is known for a drier style of port and Grahams is known to be on the sweeter side. I have not had either side-by-side.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

hmm, well hopefully it's not too dry, I was going for sweet

I guess I'll just have to give it a go and find out

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

It's plenty sweet; it is port after all.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Just bought a bottle of Six grapes reserve Porto. Looking forward to it! I assume like any other "wine" it's better when cold...(?) Gonna snatch a bottle of that 10 year Taylor Fladgate next time. Joey, They sell the 10 and 20 year at Green's.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Not cold, just not warm. Cellar temp (58 or so) would be great as it warms up in your glass. Room temp (70) will work though. If my reds are at room temp, I often give em 20 minutes in the fridge first.

~Vitis

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

it is certainly sweet! I tried some today and was very pleased with it. Pretty dang good for 15-16 bucks a bottle

still, I must continue my quest for 6 grapes. someone in town must have it

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Or look for Broadbent's Auction Reserve which is made by Niepoort. Niepoort is one of the finest brands around, yet is not readily available in USA on their own name. Mostly Europe. 6 Grapes is nothing to lose sleep over.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

I've never had an expensive port (over $25) that hasn't been worth the money but there are many less expensive ports ($15 - 25) that are enjoyable also. I remember a fishing trip one January a few years back when the temperatures actually dropped into the 30's in Louisiana. As we were headed back to the dock one of the guys pulled out a hip flask filled with "gasp" Benjamin's. It tasted good in that situation. (Our guide, who did not participate in the Benjamins tasting as he was driving the boat, passed out shots of Gentleman Jack once we were ashore.)

I currently have a bottle of Dow's LBV 2000 that's open and another that is collecting dust in a dark, cool place.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

How is that Gent's Jack? I saw that in the liquor store the other day for the first time.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Better then Jack Daniels Black

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It's great! I enjoyed it. UCLA Mike brought one over a few weeks ago.

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Here are the Ports I'm working on right now!
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/4553/port01br1.jpg

The Casal dos Jordoes (far left) is an organic Port and one of my more expensive bottles. The Evenus Zin Port can be bought at Trader Joes. The Sierra Starr is from a winery in Nevada City, CA and is very sweet with little aftertaste. The D'Art if made in Lodi, CA and is one of my favorites. The Warres Warrior was a gift from Bobarian and can be found at most stores as well as the Cockburns Special Reserve.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Once a bottle of Port is opened , How long do I have to finish it ? Does it go bad real quick or does it last a month or 2 once opened ? I've had the Fonseca Bin 27 and liked it . I just bought an Osborne tawny and a LBV 2001. Has anyone had either of these ? And what did you think of them ?

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

I really enjoy a good vintage port. I have three or four mixed cases in my cellar. My favorite house style is Grahams, but am also a big fan of Taylor, Fonseca, and Dow. I probably have a few bottles of each from 1970, '77, '85, and '94.

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

Nice selection Mike!!!!!

Re: The Port Wine Thread
 

If you put the cork back in the bottle it will last along time! Port is way different than red wine in that respect! :2