Port Wine

PlacidCasual · 4 Mar 2016 at 11:27

I've always been partial to a little Port and I was bought a case of Offley's Boa Vista Port 1977 donkeys years ago and have on rare occasions been drinking over the last decade. Most recently Christmas Eve in my new home, it was delicious.

I've also, potentially rather rashly, just bought a case of Offley's Boa Vista 2011 Vintage Port. Now I only have another 20 years before I can drink it. I'm tempted to make another such purchase in 5 or so years time and build up a little cellar of quality Port.

I'm assuming there are other Port lovers out, what are your Port habits and do you have any recommendations for a novice looking to invest?

#Chri5# · 4 Mar 2016 at 12:05

Only got into Port last year as we had a week in northern Portugal. We spent a few nights at a quinta on the Duoro - lovely place, super food and great wine/port

http://quintadelarosa.com/

Enjoyed a bottle of their ruby port over Christmas and NY (bring on the gout!). We have a bottle of their white port for summer drinking (very nice served like a G&T). Quinta de la Rosa bottle one of the Waitrose own brand ports.

Also visited the Calem cellar in Porto which was a guided tour and tasting.

Did pickup a bottle of the Maynards 40 year vintage from Aldi before Christmas but have yet to crack that one. I would like to get a couple of bottles to keep in our new pantry to age, so also interest in the thread.

robj20 · 4 Mar 2016 at 12:29

Too sweet for me, reminds me of mead. If we ever get a bottle as a present it goes in stews.

PlacidCasual · 4 Mar 2016 at 12:56

robj20 said:
Too sweet for me, reminds me of mead. If we ever get a bottle as a present it goes in stews.

Burn the Witch! But more seriously most of the meads I have drunk have been relatively dry rather than sickly sweet. I know what you mean about Port but still love it.

Chri5 the idea of a Quinta tour appeals to me, I think once the sprogs are old enough I might try that, never been to Portugal so another place to try.

taB · 4 Mar 2016 at 17:27

PlacidCasual said:
I've always been partial to a little Port and I was bought a case of Offley's Boa Vista Port 1977 donkeys years ago and have on rare occasions been drinking over the last decade. Most recently Christmas Eve in my new home, it was delicious.

It's Offley good.

any recommendations for a novice looking to invest?

Easy answer is don't. Just look for good things at nice prices that you wouldn't mind drinking.

Less simple answer is if you can get hold of things like: Nacional, Vargellas Vinha Velha (not the Quinta) or Stone Terraces at release price without buying lots of other things bundled in with them then you'll probably do alright. Quite hard to get hold of though and need to be prepared to spend about 3 figures a bottle.

I had a Fonseca buying binge in the summer: Waterloo Edition Finest Reserve, Fonseca Bicentenary Crusted & Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port (1996 & 2012). Also have a few bottles of older bits here and there.

#Chri5# · 4 Mar 2016 at 17:29

PlacidCasual said:
Burn the Witch! But more seriously most of the meads I have drunk have been relatively dry rather than sickly sweet. I know what you mean about Port but still love it.

Chri5 the idea of a Quinta tour appeals to me, I think once the sprogs are old enough I might try that, never been to Portugal so another place to try.

We had an excellent week, so certainly one to consider. We also stayed here:

http://www.quintadacancela.com/

Easy drive to Porto if you want to visit some of the cellars. Braga and Guimaraes are certainly worth a visit. A couple of families were there at the same time, plenty of space for the kids to run safe whilst lounging by the pool. Arthur, from the family who own it, was a top bloke and couldn't have been more helpful.

Anyway, I'd like to drink whisky/whiskey but I found that way too overpowering on the pallet so it's just not enjoyable. I've enjoyed finding port as it gives a complete "change of pace" from drinking wine/beer.

PlacidCasual · 5 Mar 2016 at 08:03

Thx Chri5, I'll give that a look.
taB when I said invest I may have given the wrong impression. I'm not going to buy to speculate definitely to drink. Thx for the recommendations I'll look the up later, but I'm thinking more the £40 a bottle now for in the future drinking.

As to Offleys my choice was based on I liked the case bought for me so would try again. It does have a good reputation and the Boa Vista is only very rarely released and certainly not every vintage.

Felix · 8 Mar 2016 at 12:58

Definitely go to Porto (or any part of Portugal!). Great place and loads of history with the Port trade. There's so many ports to try from and the Offleys and Ferreira bog standard ones are cheap (around 4 euros) and very drinkable. Don't forget white Port too, though I found it doesn't travel well.

mjt · 8 Mar 2016 at 21:59

Quinto do Noval 40 year Tawny.
Bought a bottle for my 30th. Just epic.

Not saying you need to go and spend that much but their tawny and other poets are delicious.
Grahams 20 is OK but the rest is nothing special at all.

If you're going to Porto, definitely stop by Quinto do Noval for a tasting.

Bickaxe · 23 Apr 2019 at 13:04

Bit of a thread necro but a group of us are looking into going to Porto later in the year with port tastings being top of the list.
As well as the above 2 Quinta links, are there any others people would recommend?