Hi, new to the forums, a few questions about port wine.

I usually enjoy Vintage ports but its just getting too expensive, so I am switching it up a bit.

I want to try some Crusted Port, anyone have experience with these? How much of a difference can I expect? Also, outside of Dow's and Churchill's, I can't find any others even on the net, any other houses I should search for in particular?

Also, I have tried a few American Ports. I have liked a few Cabarnet Ports a lot, for other reasons though. Recently had a Vintage port from California, that was good. I wonder if in America the term "Vintage" is at all protected, or can anyone at any time call their port Vintage? Any other American port recommendations?

Lastly, aging in the small bottles, good or bad? 375mL are going to be the only Vintage Ports in my price range for a while, are these fine to let sit in a cellar as long as the 750s?

Thanks

Try LBVs. They were created fairly recently to give people an idea of Port without waiting for 30 years. IMO, better bets than crusted Ports and cheaper and much much easier to find. Any from one of the good houses is worth trying.

My favorite is Fonseca, but Taylor and Grahams are some others you can look for. Secondarily Crofts and Quinta do Noval.

I think it's a great idea to get 375s. I almost never have the opportunity to kill a full bottle and would drink more port if it came in half bottles.

quote:

Originally posted by GregT:
Try LBVs. They were created fairly recently to give people an idea of Port without waiting for 30 years. IMO, better bets than crusted Ports and cheaper and much much easier to find. Any from one of the good houses is worth trying.

My favorite is Fonseca, but Taylor and Grahams are some others you can look for. Secondarily Crofts and Quinta do Noval.

I think it's a great idea to get 375s. I almost never have the opportunity to kill a full bottle and would drink more port if it came in half bottles.

Quinta de Roses (Rozes) makes an excellent 1994 LBV in the 20-25$ price range and I find in comparable quality to some of other houses vintage port.

We've had a tasting of the 00 Taylors LBV and thought it was terrible.

I do like the Fonseca too (being my favorite house).

And I agree with GregT's suggestion of 375 .. they are also more approachable sooner.

Here is a filtered one I enjoyed that you might like:

LBV 2003 Barros Porto ($22-25 range)

Its aromas are fruity with fresh raspberry, red cherry, plums and white peppercorn, all of which I picked up again when tasting it.
I would consider this to be medium sweet (rather than purely sweet due to its slightly dry finish) with medium plus intensity, medium tannin level, medium body, and medium flavor intensity. For a fortified wine, I would say its alcohol level did not feel as high as in other ports.

Assessment of quality
The quality is good because of its complexity of flavors of fruit and spice. The flavors are well rounded. The body, flavor intensity, and length create a balanced wine. I think the reason they filtered many LBVs is to make life easier for the restaurants.

Agree on the LBV's as well and the .375 formats are just fine for aging well.
Good choices for what you're looking for.

Here is a range of Port wine styles I took tasting notes on:

Ruby: Fonseca Bin 27 Ruby
Garnet colored. On the nose and palate, I got toasted almonds, baked apple, stewed plums, red cherry, and raspberry. A very high concentration of fruit flavors with high acidity.

Aged Tawny: Churchill's 20 year old Tawny
Amber colored. On the nose and palate, I got caramel, toffee, toasted walnuts, and apple pie.

LBV: Taylor Fladgate LBV
Ruby colored. On the nose and palate, I got cooked raspberry, minerals, chocolate, and stewed plums.

Vintage Port: Dow's 1991
Garnet colored. On the nose and palate, I got cooked raspberry, coffee bean, toasted walnuts, and chocolate.

Hello, thanks for all the advice but I have not been a fan of LBV ports. The filtering just turns me off.

any American recommendations or other unfiltered ports?

quote:

Originally posted by beastiefan2k:
Hello, thanks for all the advice but I have not been a fan of LBV ports. The filtering just turns me off.

any American recommendations or other unfiltered ports?

?? is it because you like to chew on sediment?

The rozes is unfiltered, as are ramos pintos.

American fortified dessert wines:

Pindar makes an ok Cab Sauv sticky.

Duckwalk blueberry fortified dessert wine is also pretty good.

I think justin vineyards makes one too ...

Try the Dutschke Sun-Dried shiraz, which is Australian and the only non-port I've ever had that I liked as well if not better than a non-vintage port. It comes only in half bottles and is not cheap, but is no more expensive than a half bottle of vintage port, and cheaper than many.

under $40 at wine library.

quote:

Originally posted by bman:
Try the Dutschke Sun-Dried shiraz, which is Australian and the only non-port I've ever had that I liked as well if not better than a non-vintage port. It comes only in half bottles and is not cheap, but is no more expensive than a half bottle of vintage port, and cheaper than many.

bman -

quote:

Go Bruins!!
Go Tigers!!
Go Pistons!!
Go Lions!!

Bruins?

Come on, look at their record. What do they have in common with the others? Don't you mean the Capitals?

Maybe the Tigers (they will be back next year) and Lions (no comment) but the Pistons are doing fine. The Bruins are my first love in any case....