Port

[IainT]

I've recently discovered the joy of a good glass of port after a decent meal but know next to nothing about a good one for home consumption.

Can you recommend me a decent one that won't disappoint nor require a re-mortgage?

[cqueen]

I do love a drop of the port!

Tesco do a good one (by my low standards) for about £6. I also tried the Aldi version for £5, it was crap in comparison. Hope that helps

[AmitG]

Another port fan over here

OP, how much are you looking to spend per bottle and which ones have you tried so far?

[sherman]

I find £15-20 gets you a very quaffable bottle

[sherman]

I find £15-20 gets you a very quaffable bottle

[Mobile Chicane]

I like port too, however my view is that you really need to drink the whole bottle, fairly sharpish.

I think the 'fruitiness' soon dissipates once it's been open for more than a day or two.

[sherman]

I find £15-20 gets you a very quaffable bottle

[IainT]

AmitG said:

Another port fan over here

OP, how much are you looking to spend per bottle and which ones have you tried so far?

Unfortunately I don't have the names of the two I tried recently - one was in a Portuguese restaurant in Lee Green, and had been specially imported by the owner. It was stunning.

Happy to spend up to ~£35 for s decent bottle but don't want to spend that much for something that's no better than a £15 M&S one!

I don't do spirits (and haven't been able to since overdoing it on Vodka aged 16!) so something warming for a night cap is in order...

[shirt]

Mobile Chicane said:

I like port too, however my view is that you really need to drink the whole bottle, fairly sharpish.

i find it impossible not to drink it by the bottle!

if you're passing through duty free anytime soon there's a proper bargain in the form of kopke 1996 [i think] for £35 a throw. lovely stuff but needs decanting.

graham's 10yr old tawny is also very good, robust, creamy and well rounded. £20 from waitrose iirc.

[Podie]

Try a colheita (tawny from a single vintage) - certainly a family favourite here.

[crmcatee]

I trust you're talking red port here.


If you fancy a change - try a white port with tonic. Lovely way to start a meal or to end one.

[sgrimshaw]

Apparantly ....

£15-20 gets you a very quaffable bottle

[sgrimshaw]

I can highly recommend Warres Otima 10yr Tawny

Tesco's carry it:

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id...

[Huntsman]

Dow Trademark has been a good buy while half price, a good cooking port and for general consumption while sliding under the table after dinner....

[AmitG]

There are two types of port that sometimes get confused with each other

• Late bottled vintage - kept in barrel for a long time and then released ready to drink - reasonably priced
• Vintage - this is the best stuff - kept in barrel and then bottled; needs a lot of bottle aging

35 pounds per bottle will get you into a low-end vintage port, but you might need to lay it down for a while. Grahams and Dow are both wonderful. My personal favourite is Fonseca, with its immense flavours of fruit and tobacco.

Berry Brothers (in Central London and on www.bbr.com - no relationship other than as a satisfied customer) is a really good place to go. They will be able to give you lots of advice and maybe even let you taste some. They currently have a 1997 Quarles Harris for 35 quid a throw, which I am tempted by myself.

I think port is really under-rated. Many people think it is either for old people or for Christmas. According to Berry Brothers, there is almost no secondary or investment market for port; it's bought solely by people who want to drink it. This keeps prices reasonable.

[Podie]

sgrimshaw said:

I can highly recommend Warres Otima 10yr Tawny

Tesco's carry it:

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id...

Nice easy drinker that - good introduction to port, IMO.

[uncinqsix]

Podie said:

sgrimshaw said:

I can highly recommend Warres Otima 10yr Tawny

Tesco's carry it:

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id...

Nice easy drinker that - good introduction to port, IMO.

Not tried that particular one, but I really like the aged tawnys. A little more interesting than the standard stuff, but still reasonably priced.

[IainT]

Thank you folks - knew PH would provide some good answers to this one!

[Coneyhurst Blue]

I love Port – not as much as Whisky but that is another thread !
Had a bottle on each table at my wedding (with a load of cheese) for after the meal to be consumed whilst the speeches were happening.

A few years ago when Pompey were in Europe I found myself in Porto for the weekend.
Spent a very enjoyable two days touring the Port Houses and sampling their offerings.
For I think 5 euro you got a tour, which lasted about an hour or so - some houses had a DVD to watch giving the history (being brought into the city on the Douro) etc.
All ended in a tasting, maybe 3 or 4 different bottles to taste, different vintages, different styles quick look around the gift shop (I did bring home some lovely glasses) and then on to the next one.
It was fantastic and I am very much looking forward to going back.

For everyday drinking a Late Bottled Vintage goes down well, Graham’s or Taylors are popular and can be found in supermarkets, for maybe a bit more of a special occasion then a Vintage Port is the way forward although chances are it will need to be decanted.
If you have a local independent wine shop pop in there and see what they recommend.
Enjoy !

[shirt]

AmitG said:

there is almost no secondary or investment market for port; it's bought solely by people who want to drink it. This keeps prices reasonable.

amen to that!

which of berry's ports would you recommend? i'm a big fan of their claret but that's the only one i can buy locally.