Author Topic: your favorite port wine (Read 2613 times)

Warren · « **on:** June 06, 2006, 09:35:53 PM »

What do y'all drink when you are drinking port?

Winston Smith · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2006, 09:41:39 PM »

same as starboard.

Preacherman · « **Reply #2 on:** June 07, 2006, 01:46:35 AM »

Oooooooh . . . a good port is a benison! In English blends, Cockburn's is generally very good. In South African ports, KWV 20-year-old is probably one of the top five ports in the world - when you can get it. There are several good blends from Portugal.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #3 on:** June 07, 2006, 02:02:26 AM »

I don't remember any specific brands because it's been a while, but I always preferred tawny ports. Regular ports are good, but the tawny variations just suit me.

Chris

The Rabbi · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2006, 03:12:16 AM »

The only kosher one is from Israel and it is middling at best.

In my earlier not-so-kosher days I was a student at Oxford. I made friends with some of the other Jewish students there. One of them was in fact a don at one of the colleges. Now, dons get paid like farm workers. But they do get lots of perks, among them is the right to buy wine from the college's cellar at cost. Since these colleges are usually over 200 years old you can imagine both the contents and cost of their wine cellar. So one evening this don brings around to our card game a bottle of vintage Port, I think 1956 (this was 1985). It had heavy sediment and we ended up decanting it into a tea pot. It was the best Port I have ever had, maybe the best wine I ever had.
Vintage Port is the best because they don't produce it every year.

SADShooter · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2006, 04:39:48 AM »

I tend to buy cheap, and for that the Aussie products are hard to beat. Clocktower is a sweet, clean option in the $10 range. (Preacherman's KVW suggestion is also nice for the price). Under $20, Graham's Six Grape, Fonseca Bin 27, and Warre's Warrior are reliable. Usually any of the Portugese house names will satisfy if you want to spend more. For something different, Stone Hill winery in Missouri uses Norton grapes for a vintage port that's very nice.

I've developed a preference for tawny over ruby as well, the additional complexity of wood aging adds a lot of character. Then again, I've also recently rediscovered Pedro Ximenes style sherries.

The Rabbi · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2006, 04:49:20 AM »

Quote from: SADShooter

Then again, I've also recently rediscovered Pedro Ximenes style sherries.

What style is this?

SADShooter · « **Reply #7 on:** June 07, 2006, 05:18:59 AM »

Rabbi:

It's the sweetest on the scale, more so than a cream sherry, with highly concentrated, almost syrupy sugars. It's named after the grape, which is sometimes also blended into oloroso to make it sweeter. I had an excellent example at a steakhouse in Dallas recently, but the brand name escapes me. Many of the sherry vintners make them. It's very much like a port, but made only from the Pedro Ximenes grape, and with less fortification than port.

jefnvk · « **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2006, 12:14:28 PM »

Well, at least now I have something to start testing besides whiskies.

Ron · « **Reply #9 on:** June 07, 2006, 02:40:18 PM »

Quote

Fonseca Bin 27

This is what I settled on after trying a few different ones here and there.

Reasonable price and availability while still having more character than the gallon jugs.

I believe it is a reserve also.

Warren · « **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2006, 09:05:51 PM »

Working my way through a glass of Graham's 10 year old Tawny.

Excellent stuff, tastes like happy butterscotch.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2006, 02:04:50 AM »

Quote from: here2learn

Working my way through a glass of Graham's 10 year old Tawny.

Excellent stuff, tastes like happy butterscotch.

Damn you H2L, now I have to find a bottle. I LOVE butterscotch.

Chris

K Frame · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2006, 03:39:22 AM »

"Damn you H2L, now I have to find a bottle. I LOVE butterscotch."

Geez, and you haven't even drunk that bottle of expensive ice wine that I gave you! Wink

gaston_45 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2006, 05:07:33 PM »

I have half a bottle of the Fonseca bin 27 here right now. It's the everyday, nothing special but still makes you happy standby. One of the best is the Warres Optima, but it's only a 500 ml instead of 750 ml bottle and costs more than the full size bottles.

If you like really sweet alcohols you should try Lindeman's Frambois some time. It's a raspberry lambic that takes a full two years to brew! This one will win you boucoup points with the ladies if you add a rich, slightly bitter chocolate cake!

Warren · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2006, 10:08:30 PM »

I'm sitting here with my Graham's and a cheese called Huntsman which is a medium chedder layered with bleu cheese.

When the tawny port mixes with the bleu it is a fantastic taste. Just amazing.

I used to scoff at the whole wine & cheese thing, boy was I ever wrong.

Warren · « **Reply #15 on:** July 13, 2006, 07:03:28 PM »

Bump-o for a lead on a great little port.

Actually it is a Zinfandel Port called Evenus from Paso Robles . My wife brought home an'02 from Trader Joe's that is just delightful. So smooth and sweet it is the kind wine that can get you into a lot of trouble.

SADShooter · « **Reply #16 on:** July 14, 2006, 04:21:28 AM »

Thanks, here2learn.

I've been meaning to come back with more info on the specific sherry I mentioned. 1975 Toro Albala. I haven't found it for sale yet, but I'm looking.

280plus · « **Reply #17 on:** July 14, 2006, 12:26:46 PM »

What is my favorite port to whine about? Hong Kong, no girls there, or at least none that will have anything to do with sailors. Tongue

Sorry, I resisted THIS LONG but I just couldn't anymore. Cheesy

Bogie · « **Reply #18 on:** July 15, 2006, 05:25:20 AM »

I've a 20 year old Stone Hill that's going to get cracked at the next Supershoot.

News:

Author Topic: your favorite port wine (Read 2613 times)

Warren

Ron

Warren

Warren

Warren