My first vintage port
Discussion
I've been into drinking port for a little while now, but have mostly avoided excessively expensive bottles for the same reasons I mostly do with wines - diminishing marginal returns, and generally poor percieved value.
But it was my birthday a few weeks ago, and I decided the treat myself to a bottle of the Dows Quinta do Bomfim 1998 that a few of the supermarkets stock at around £25. I also acquired a decanter specially for the purpose.
Well, over the weekend, a friend was visiting and curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to crack open that badboy.
What can I say! It was absolutely awesome. So different from the £10 LBVs I usually drink that it could've been a completely different drink - so much more complex with so much more subtley and nuance of flavour.
All I can say is I'm a complete convert and the decanter is going to be seeing a lot more use. If you haven't tried the proper vintage stuff, it really is an eye-opener in a way that a £25 bottle of wine never has been IME.
Next step - go halves with a friend on a case of a proper declared vintage...
But it was my birthday a few weeks ago, and I decided the treat myself to a bottle of the Dows Quinta do Bomfim 1998 that a few of the supermarkets stock at around £25. I also acquired a decanter specially for the purpose.
Well, over the weekend, a friend was visiting and curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to crack open that badboy.
What can I say! It was absolutely awesome. So different from the £10 LBVs I usually drink that it could've been a completely different drink - so much more complex with so much more subtley and nuance of flavour.
All I can say is I'm a complete convert and the decanter is going to be seeing a lot more use. If you haven't tried the proper vintage stuff, it really is an eye-opener in a way that a £25 bottle of wine never has been IME.
Next step - go halves with a friend on a case of a proper declared vintage...
I went on an excellent Port Tasting tour of the Oporto port houses and the surrounding region. What an eye-opener. It was superb.
What I discovered was that a truly excellent Tawny port does it for me in a way it's hard for Vintage to match and you don't have to finish the bottle in a sitting. Ha. Like it was going back in the cupboard.
LBV is generally a disappointment I have to say.
What I discovered was that a truly excellent Tawny port does it for me in a way it's hard for Vintage to match and you don't have to finish the bottle in a sitting. Ha. Like it was going back in the cupboard.
LBV is generally a disappointment I have to say.
very clever marketing though.Bebs said:
LBV is mass produced rubbish.
Most LBV is mass produced rubbish, but a handful, particularly Taylor's can be rather handy. Contrary to received wisdom, it can also appreciate in the bottle. A run through some old Taylor's LBVs back to 1989 proved the older ones smooth but still structured, and much nicer than the 'off-the-shelf' 2003.Still a facsimile of the real thing, but pound for pound mighty impressive.
HiRich said:
Bebs said:
LBV is mass produced rubbish.
Most LBV is mass produced rubbish, but a handful, particularly Taylor's can be rather handy. Contrary to received wisdom, it can also appreciate in the bottle. A run through some old Taylor's LBVs back to 1989 proved the older ones smooth but still structured, and much nicer than the 'off-the-shelf' 2003.Still a facsimile of the real thing, but pound for pound mighty impressive.
Having said that, you can pick up a case of 12 btls vintage port at auctions for as little as £120-150 (obviously not the big guns but even so) I think I paid around £6-7 btl for the Burmester 82 - sadly my 2 cases are now coming to the end
Don said:
I went on an excellent Port Tasting tour of the Oporto port houses and the surrounding region. What an eye-opener. It was superb.
What I discovered was that a truly excellent Tawny port does it for me in a way it's hard for Vintage to match and you don't have to finish the bottle in a sitting. Ha. Like it was going back in the cupboard.
LBV is generally a disappointment I have to say.
Rochas Tawny Port usually hits the spot for me, although I must admit, when my case ran out I had an M&S Port that'd been sitting around a year or two and gave that a go and wasn't dissapointed (although I was gasping for a glass of port!)What I discovered was that a truly excellent Tawny port does it for me in a way it's hard for Vintage to match and you don't have to finish the bottle in a sitting. Ha. Like it was going back in the cupboard.
LBV is generally a disappointment I have to say.
Now I really like Port (must be the Royal Navy service!), but I suspect I've been drinking the rubbish stuff. I can easily do a bottle in one go...
Can I get a decent bottle for £20? If so, where from? Or should I go a few more quid, and just enjoy the odd glass rather than the whole bottle?
Do I need to head to an independent wine merchant, or are there some decent bottles to be had at supermarkets?
I've enjoyed a couple of wine tours in Oz (Hunter Valley and Yarra), which really did educate me in what I like and don't like. Is it time to strap the panniers on the bike and head to Portugal?
Can I get a decent bottle for £20? If so, where from? Or should I go a few more quid, and just enjoy the odd glass rather than the whole bottle?
Do I need to head to an independent wine merchant, or are there some decent bottles to be had at supermarkets?
I've enjoyed a couple of wine tours in Oz (Hunter Valley and Yarra), which really did educate me in what I like and don't like. Is it time to strap the panniers on the bike and head to Portugal?
Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff