When going to the liquor store, you have the choice between the $5.99 stuff that has almost the flavor of lighter fluid, the $20.00 stuff that actually tastes good, and then there’s the stuff I just stare at and drool.
Are there any good labels between six bucks and 20? Am I destined to eternally pine for a good, cheap port? Am I destined to be either happy or broke, but nothing in between?
ShibbBabe, I KNOW you’re trying to make me feel guilty about not bringing some good red wine back to you, but you didn’t even give me your address for a POSTCARD! Think I’m going to waste valuable luggage space on your red wine, never mind the local sherry? I went to Spain, remember, not Portugual
Chick, I’ll go ask my mate who’s an expert in this field.
Only problem is he’s a bit hard to track down as he moves around a lot from the railway station to the motorway underpass etc. Basically he stays anywhere where it’s dry…
I’ve been spoiled by drinking Vintage ports from '77 and '83. Right now I tend to lean towards LBV. Smith Woodhouse '90 is fairly good-- although you will have to decant it, because it throws off a sediment. But any LBV from the past decade is usually worth the price. I’ve been happy with Graham’s, Taylor Fladgate, and Dow’s, especially if partnered with a Burnt Almond chocolate bar.
I’d have to check what’s on my wine rack to tell you exactly what’s sitting there now. I did just pick up a bottle of Vintage from a smaller winery that I don’t plan to drink for another 15 or 20 years… but I’m so tired I can’t tell you what’s on the label.
Anything listed as a 20 -year Tawny is usually a steal for the price.
I’m just going to contemplate the irony of a poster named Barbarian giving advice on port.
BTW, how do you tell a good port? I haven’t had any that were vinagery, but I really can’t tell the difference in the various ports, except for especially liking a couple I’ve gotten in restaurants.
I know you went to Spain, not Portugal. But they are both part of the EU, and IIRC Spain and Portugal have even closer economic ties. Ergo, my presumption is that you can get a very good and still inexpensive bottle of Port in Spain much easier than you can here. Probably with a broader selection to boot.
I’m not just missing jambon de serrano, queso manchego and soft Spanish reds. Besides, didn’t you say you can’t drink red wines? Or were you looking for a white port?
That’s interesting. Taylor-Fladgate LBVs have been among the highest-rated inexpensive LBVs pretty consistently. And their First Estate is also good. Maybe you should try one again?
Barbarian , I think a 20-year tawny is probably out of chique’s price range. IIRC, the last one I bought was about $60.
chique, http://www.winespectator.com allows you review the past year’s tasting reports online. They have some interesting recommendations, from what I could see.
Sure, I’m always willing to give it another shot. The times I have got it it was so awful I could not finish my glass. Maybe I’m mistaking something - are you talking about Taylor California, or something different? And LBV?
Well, Taylor-Fladgate is based in Portugal (as are, AFAIK, all replected port producers). I’m not aware they they own a California vineyard, but I could definitely be wrong. So maybe we’re talking about different places. If so, and you’ve only had some port from a random California vintner, definitely check out Taylor-Fladgate.
LBV is a Late Bottled Vintage. To my understanding these are produced from grapes of a single year, and come ready to drink, having been aged before bottling, as opposed to a vintage port, which gets minimal aging (two years or so) before bottling. They tend to come about during years without the “great character”, compared to vintage years. Unlike most wines, port producers only make a vintage port during really good years. So LBV tend to come from those other years, and are also aged in-cask, as I mentioned.
I’m sure I’ve got some of thois wrong, and someone will come along and correct me. BTW, you can find Taylor-Fladgate (and Yeatman, I see), online at http://www.taylor.pt
Ah! I did have a misunderstanding. The Taylor I’m thinking of is a cheap vinyard in California. My bad.
On another note - the best, and I mean the absolute best port I ever had in my life I can’t remember the name of! I had it when I was in Leon, Spain last year, and this is all I remember of it:
I could only bring back four bottles of wine, and the three bottles of Diamante and one bottle of Greek homebrew from my host’s mother’s place took care of that. I didn’t even THINK of packing some port; just happened to pick up a 20 dollar bottle at the liquor store the other night.
Nope. Still can’t drink red wines. This fact was rudely brought to my attention when I attempted to open my eyes this morning I need to stop that self-abuse kick I have going on… [sub]You just HAD to bring up jamon serrano, didn’t you…<drool>[/sub]
Thanks for the suggestions, guys - will check those out. And it looks like there’s some interesting ones from that Wine Spectator link, Necros - thanks
BTW, how do you tell a good port? I haven’t had any that were vinagery, but I really can’t tell the difference in the various ports, except for especially liking a couple I’ve gotten in restaurants
To me a decent port imparts a semi-dry berry or cherry taste. The port goes down one’s throat smoothly, and leaves a pleasant aftertaste that coordinates nicely with the buzz. As with non-fortified wines, the more complex and smooth the flavor, the better the product. And this is observable by just about anyone.
Yucko ports taste more like cough syrup. The seemingly artificial fruit-like “flavor” is soon obscured by the burning of alcohol thrashing your throat. 'Nuff said.
My favorite method of learning about ports was going to a well-known bar with a friend and spending $20-25 on samples of 4-5 different glasses. If you are coherent, do take notes.
A good port and a fine cigar are very complementary.
Unfortunately most of my current port offerings are “port style.” Nonetheless, you can get some wonderful Australian tawny ports. My favorite, for the price, is Clocktower Tawny Port (Yalumba) usually less than $10/btl. For ruby styles I would go with Fonseca Bin 27 (a true port and roughly $15/btl.) or, if you can find it, 1997 Justin’s “Obtuse” Paso-Robles (a California port-style just a wee bit over your limit at about $23/btl but well worth the extra three bucks).