I'm just beginning to really enjoy Port, but I really don't know too much about it as my tasting experience is still too limited.

What would you recommend for a drink now, under $50, relatively easy to find Port? It can be vintage or NV, a Port style CA wine that's particularly good, whatever. Not too picky as I'm just trying to get some experience.

I'm planning on drinking a bottle this weekend along with a 99 Whiterock Claret (which I love but don't seem to hear much about) that I'll have with a bunch of cheese, chocolate and other goodies.

Wanted to title this "Cheap Port" but that made me cringe for some reason.

Suggestions?

I like Graham's Six Grapes, but am not that port savvy either, and can't wait to read some better QPR examples.

I've liked that too. Recently with port I've been getting that same feeling that I got when I first started to really enjoy wine in general.

You know, "Man! Theres gotta be some really really good stuff out there!"

I've searched for similar threads but haven't really found too much, especially anything too recent.

Rozes 1994 LBV is a very decent port that I find at 24$ retail.

Vesuvio 97 can sometimes be found for 46$ and would be excellent for the money.

Niepoort makes some very affordable vintage ports that might be slightly simple but very enjoyable still.

Ramos Pintos Collector NV is a 18$ bottle that's very fruity and spicey and great for those who like a step up from the graham's six grape.

The above are examples of vintage ports. Style's is going to be red fruit, possibly jammy.

If you like em butterscotch, woodier, perhaps even a touch of whiskey like, burnt brown sugar. Then tawny's may be your thing.

My everyday drinker is the Taylor 20 yr tawny. It's brawny, not as sweet and nutty. If you want something smoother and sweeter, the Fonseca 20 yr tawny hits the spot.

I personally am not a fan of the Fonseca bin 27, or the Grahams six grape as they're a bit indistinctive and overly blended making it hard to discern any complexity, but alot of people do start off with these ports. Let me cheer you on for trying and inform you there's much better to look forward to!!

btw the current 2003 vintage releases of the "big" houses like taylor and fonseca can be found for 85$ each, might take 25 yrs for maturity, but they're fun to DRAB

Correction vesuvio 96 not 97

I'm having a lot of fun trying port out.

Several days ago I was in the dining room at the Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Tetons, and there was a large silver bolt in my entree (stuffed chicken). Along with covering my meal, they offered me a something off the desert menu, and I tried a 96 Grahams along side a flourless chocolate cake. It was a real treat.

I'll have to start carrying around a pocket full of nuts and bolts so I can further explore desert wines.

And thanks for the rec's g-man.

quote:

Originally posted by JMatthews:
I'm having a lot of fun trying port out.

Several days ago I was in the dining room at the Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Tetons, and there was a large silver bolt in my entree (stuffed chicken). Along with covering my meal, they offered me a something off the desert menu, and I tried a 96 Grahams along side a flourless chocolate cake. It was a real treat.

I'll have to start carrying around a pocket full of nuts and bolts so I can further explore desert wines.

Erm a silver bolt? did the handle on the cooking pot fall off??

btw, the 96 graham's sounds like a treat. I've never had it.
http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=16180

I know, I thought I was going nuts.

Sorry I had to.

For a start i'd go with a tawny(or a Colheita ) and a LBV.
Totally different styles, it's up to you to find out which you like the most.
Eg.: Quinta do Vallado makes some real good tawny's (both the 10 and 20 year old should be below 50$ i think)
Ferreira Duque de Braganca 20 year old tawny is awesome, but well over 50$.
For a Colheita: Quinta da Romaneira comes to my mind
Among the LBV's, Quinta do Vale Dona Maria makes great LBV's (in fact all of their Port's are great)

I'm not a huge fan of tawny ports, so I stick with the LBVs. The Bin 27s and Six-Grapes don't do it for me.

I've bought up some vintage port, but they are all in storage, for the long-term. Until then, I find that LBVs are good enough to tide me over.

By the way, does anyone have a good recommendation for an internet site that sells port?

I really enjoy the Warre's LBV. Should be able to find 1995 and 1999 around. About $25.

Jonesy from Australia is the best "port" I've had under $20.

This thread got me thinking about port again, and I couldn't resist. I had to buy some more vintage port: 2003 Fonseca.

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:
By the way, does anyone have a good recommendation for an internet site that sells port?

I use:

http://www.b-21.com/products.asp?dept=15

If you have a Trader Joe's around, check them out. Over the last year I have found some great deals on decent port...

96 Borges VP - $12.99 and delicious
an 87 low end VP(can't remember label) for $9.99 that was very good.
95 Grahams LBV about $20

All of them were good starters for VP's. Another suggestion would be to look for non-declared vintage single vineyard( or Quinta) Vintage Ports. You'll find a variety of these under $50.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: chuq_2001,

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:
This thread got me thinking about port again, and I couldn't resist. I had to buy some more vintage port: 2003 Fonseca.

That's going to be my next "big" purchase.

quote:

Originally posted by Florida Wino:

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:
By the way, does anyone have a good recommendation for an internet site that sells port?

I use:

http://www.b-21.com/products.asp?dept=15

That's where I got the Fonseca... 2 bottles are left, by the way....

There are quite a few reasonably priced ports, especially the Aussie tawny's. It depends on what you're in the mood for. Penfold's Club Tawny Port paired w/ some raw pecans is a great combo and about $11 for the port, Rosemount Old Benson Tawny. Prager Tomas (vintage portlike without the price tag) and gets better the longer it's opened, around $47. The 10 yr. Niepoort is really good. Tuke Holdsworth Ports (by Broadbent) they do a vintage, ruby & some others, relatively unknown & not top of the line but pretty good for the price. Broadbent, Blandy's & Cossart Gordan make some good Madeira's that won't break the bank.

quote:

Originally posted by CRB:
There are quite a few reasonably priced ports, especially the Aussie tawny's. It depends on what you're in the mood for. Penfold's Club Tawny Port paired w/ some raw pecans is a great combo and about $11 for the port, Rosemount Old Benson Tawny. Prager Tomas (vintage portlike without the price tag) and gets better the longer it's opened, around $47. The 10 yr. Niepoort is really good. Tuke Holdsworth Ports (by Broadbent) they do a vintage, ruby & some others, relatively unknown & not top of the line but pretty good for the price. Broadbent, Blandy's & Cossart Gordan make some good Madeira's that won't break the bank.

I find the aussie tawnies to usually be alot sweeter then their portugal counterparts.

Madieras are a whole different animal. They usually have brighter acidity on the body. There really wouldn't be a vintage port comparison amongst the madiera family as they're made in different styles. Madieras are basically oxidized and cooked so they tend to taste more like Tawny ports then vintage ports. If looking at Madieras there too are many types.
Sercial, Rainwater, Verdelho, Bual/Boal, Malvasia/Malmsey from order of dryest to sweetest. Boal or Malmsey are usually the dessert / apertif drinkers and Sercial/Rainwater for cooking. Never tried a verdelho so I don't know what it tastes like.

JJ Buckly (no affiliation) has a pretty good deal on a QPR port.

2003 Churchill's VP