Can someone recommend a good Port wine?

Question

I want to get a really nice bottle of Port for a good friend, but I know very little about selection.
Help:)

Answer 1

I presume you mean Oporto (real port, from Portugal) and not "Australian Port", "California Port," "South African Port," etc, don't you?.

It is very hard to find a poor one, but there are rip-offs on some that are expensive.

My preference from the Oporto lodges (the name for Oporto wineries) is actually Fonseca, not the most expensive or renowned.

Where do you live? If you are in the U.K. go to a good off-license and ask for the best they have for 12 pounds. If in Canada outside of B.C., Ontario and Quebec (which has the 2nd highest per capita consumption of Oporto in the
world so the selection is very good) the choice is limited although because of the money boom in Alberta and that province's recent privatising of its retail (but not wholesale) alcohol business there has resulted some large fine wine stores with decent selection, budget $CDN 30. In most States of the USA about $US 22, except if you don't need to have a prestige, recognized name and you are in a State permitting private label wines and it has licensed Trader Joe's stores TJ's private label (not sold as TJs but I forget the brand name) is perhaps the best Oporto value today ($US 5 in California, $ 6 in IL and on the east coast).

Answer 2

You'll be better off getting a LBV (Late Bottled Vintage - not really a 'Vintage' port though) then a 'character' port, if you can. If you never had a port, try Graham's Six Grapes (yeah, I know it's a character port), or a Graham's or Churchill's 2000 LBV (they are on the sweeter end). I prefer Taylor Fladgate or Fonseca LBV - if you can get a 1999 or 1997 those would be good. Serve at room temp, 55-70 degrees, open and let stand for a few hours, or decant into another bottle.

Answer 3

As long as it is from Portugal it is good ,and the quality goes up with age ,
so a 15 year old is very much better than a 2 years old
also you can get white port which is an aperative and must be served cold,

the red port is room temperature ,and is served after dinner,instead or with brandy
do not shake the bottle ,because the sedement will spoil it if it is wushed around .that is why most people decanter it very slowly and carfully into a glass or cristal decanter,leave the sedement in the bottle .

if you serve it straight from the bottle some idiot jerkes the bottle around and the rest of the servings are cloudy with sedement.

Answer 4

Praeger-Nobel Companion
Seghesio -1999 Late Harvest Zin-Its not a port, but the balance with acidity and fruit is enourmous.
Portugal anounced a vintage year for 2005-Doesn't happen very often-so if you are looking for a really special port-try anything '05-although it may be hard to find.

So try Croft Vintage Port '03
Fonsecca Vintage Port '03

I don't know how much you are willing to spend...but here goes..Fonsecca Vintage Port '85


Dow's Tawny Porto 20 Years Old

You didn't mention if your friend is a ruby port fan or a tawny? If he is a tawny-the nobel companion is fabulous!

Answer 5

Taylor-Fladgate 10 year tawny port is good, 20 year is VERY good, 30 year is exquisite, and the 40 year I've only heard about and is supposed to be quite near orgasmic.
The prices run about $25 (USD), $49, $95, and $135 respectively.

Sandeman is a good one for the budget-minded. Got a bottle tonight on sale for $15 and was very pleased.

Answer 6

I favor the port made by Cockburn and taylor, and especially those by Offley and Graham.

The best bottles are usually tawny port, at least 10 years, forget the ruby. If the destinee likes that kind particularly, try a vintage (Graham's Malvedos is particularly good, and not very expensive), or Late Bottled Vintage (LBV)

Answer 7

I like "Grahams". Look for the green tinted bottle with the little white grapes on the front. It's a moderately priced quality product. It is a ruby port not a tawny port.