Port problem

icantbejon · 04-02-2009, 01:55 PM

I picked up a bottle of tawny port to try. I think it was called Sheffield. I guarantee it's not any of the best, but I'm hoping that it will give me an idea of whether or not it's even worth trying to find a better bottle.

pnoon · 04-02-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icantbejon

I picked up a bottle of tawny port to try. I think it was called Sheffield. I guarantee it's not any of the best, but I'm hoping that it will give me an idea of whether or not it's even worth trying to find a better bottle.

Jon - not to rain on your parade but I think your logic is flawed. Buying a cheap (< $10) bottle of port to see if you might like something better is akin to smoking a dog-rocket cigar to see if you might like a premium smoke. It probably isn't going to happen. I hope you like the Sheffield well enough to try something better because a fine tawny port is luscious.

My suggestion is to spend $15-$25 for a nice aged (10 year) tawny port. Fonseca and Taylor Fladgate make a decent one. There are some others as well. The suggestions others have made previously are all good.

icantbejon · 04-02-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnoon

Jon - not to rain on your parade but I think your logic is flawed. Buying a cheap (< $10) bottle of port to see if you might like something better is akin to smoking a dog-rocket cigar to see if you might like a premium smoke. It probably isn't going to happen. I hope you like the Sheffield well enough to try something better because a fine tawny port is luscious.

My suggestion is to spend $15-$25 for a nice aged (10 year) tawny port. Fonseca and Taylor Fladgate make a decent one. There are some others as well. The suggestions others have made previously are all good.

Sound logic you bring at me Pete. Here's my problem with the whole thing. I spent $25 on a bottle of regular port and absolutely hated it. Therefore, I didn't want to waste that much money again on a bottle I was going to take two sips out of. I agree with you completely that it is a flawed approach. I'm just hoping that this bottle gives me some faith in a tawny at all. If I like, but don't love this bottle I'll be willing to drop more money on one that is more costly.

pnoon · 04-02-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icantbejon

Sound logic you bring at me Pete. Here's my problem with the whole thing. I spent $25 on a bottle of regular port and absolutely hated it. Therefore, I didn't want to waste that much money again on a bottle I was going to take two sips out of. I agree with you completely that it is a flawed approach. I'm just hoping that this bottle gives me some faith in a tawny at all. If I like, but don't love this bottle I'll be willing to drop more money on one that is more costly.

I completely understand your thinking. I would be thinking the same way.

I've always felt that port, more than regular wine and cigars, is less desireable at the lower end. (Cheap port is really bad.

) Some of the suggested tawny ports come in half-bottles for around $12-$15. An affordable tawny port is from Australia and is called Hardy's Whiskers Blake and runs around $13 for a full bottle. Not as refined as the aged tawny in the $20-$30 range but better than the cheapos.

Another option is to find someone (not necessarily a cigar smoker) in your social cirlcle who might want to sample a tawny as wwell and 2 or 3 of you could split the bottle.

You could always come out to the west coast and herf and drink with us SoCal BOTLs.

kaisersozei · 04-02-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnoon

You could always come out to the west coast and herf and drink with us SoCal BOTLs.

Or if I ever had time away from this freakin job

I could actually herf with the brother who lives maybe 30 minutes away

, and bring some good, but inexpensive, tawny.

Like this

yourchoice · 04-02-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaisersozei

...and bring some good, but inexpensive, tawny.

Like this

She does look cheap!

TheRiddick · 04-02-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnoon

An affordable tawny port is from Australia and is called Hardy's Whiskers Blake and runs around $13 for a full bottle. Not as refined as the aged tawny in the $20-$30 range but better than the cheapos.

Not sure he'll like this one, Oz sweets are mostly sugar and unless you get into high end you won't find much acidity in them.

Perhaps he needs to try a late harvest Zinfandel, they usually contain a nice doze of acidity and also do not have as much sugar. One to try is Dashe, comes in splits (and goes great with chocolate desserts as well). There are a few more great ones, but they rarely make it out of CA.

Another recommendation is to try Spanish Sherries, ones made from Pedro Ximenez grape, I find them more of a cigar drink than most Ports.

mosesbotbol · 04-03-2009, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Another recommendation is to try Spanish Sherries, ones made from Pedro Ximenez grape, I find them more of a cigar drink than most Ports.

I'd say that is true for just about all Spanish Sherry. Poor man's Madeira, lol... Actually Sherry is a give away for the age and effort that goes into it. One of the last hidden gem values in the wine world.

Sherry was one of the most popular wine styles in the USA for a long time, and now it's totally off the radar.

TheRiddick · 04-03-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

I'd say that is true for just about all Spanish Sherry. Poor man's Madeira, lol... Actually Sherry is a give away for the age and effort that goes into it. One of the last hidden gem values in the wine world.

Sherry was one of the most popular wine styles in the USA for a long time, and now it's totally off the radar.

Some are hit and miss and they are all in different styles (and grapes). Even PX ones are all over the board, some are great and some are too sweet for me with not enough acidity to carry them. But they are relatively affordable for what's in the bottle and are easy on the wallet to try a few to see what one likes.

I was just curious about your quote in the prior post, do you drink more than a glass or two with cigar?

mosesbotbol · 04-03-2009, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icantbejon

I picked up a bottle of tawny port to try. I think it was called Sheffield. I guarantee it's not any of the best, but I'm hoping that it will give me an idea of whether or not it's even worth trying to find a better bottle.

I guarantee that too.

It's like trying a Optimo for a cigar and saying you don't like cigars, so trying a Cohiba is not worth it...

A least get a tawny that is made in Portugal and has at least 10 years age on it.

04-02-2009, 01:55 PM	#1
icantbejon Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jon Location: Chester, VA Posts: 1,219 Trading: (10)	Re: Port problem I picked up a bottle of tawny port to try. I think it was called Sheffield. I guarantee it's not any of the best, but I'm hoping that it will give me an idea of whether or not it's even worth trying to find a better bottle. __________________ "Learn to pay attention. Life is hard.....it's even more challenging when you're stupid."