For The Love Of Port

Roy, Where I grew up there was a tradition (I never knew why or when it began) that at Christmas and New Year every visitor to the house, even young children, were given an appropriate amount of either Port or Sherry with a piece of Christmas cake and/or a sweet mince pie. I am sure that is not what...

Glenn, Your last post is what I find particularly irritating about this site which is called "For the love of Port". I find it extremely difficult to join in threads when people like you tell us you only drink one to two bottle of Port a month. How can you, and everyone else on here, claim...

I am not a great fan of Alentejo wines. That is a purely personal point of view on taste. The wines are generally well made and extremely popular. I can still appreciate a good wine that does not suit me, and I think you are too far south at Beja for the better quality Alentejos. Again just a person...

Is there a dumb phase for Douro DOC wines, and if so, when does it happen? I think there might be a "dumb phase" for all Portuguese wines capable of ageing - and that is most of them. I particularly notice the way some of the Beira Baixo (my own area) change over time, but also Douros and...

Roger L, Who stocks this?

So then we got to thinking... what percentage of the Port that you drink do you rate 90 points or higher, vs the percentage that you rate 89 or lower? Few people have actually answered your question. I have never had the personal need to score wines. I like or I do not like. Some are better than ot...

I have never had the problem. I choose not to taste more than 3 wines/spirits at a time. I have never been to a formal tasting - not that I have had a lot of offers, but I have declined those I have been offered to attend. I do not profess to have a great palate (my wife's is a lot more reliable tha...

I thought everybody sprayed against fungal infections. I like organic principles, but this is not the place to practice them. Oddly enough despite the year running at above average (since 2003) temperatures July and August so far have been cooler. Max temp this year 34ºC (I record max, min, soil and...

In particular lots of great wines in the 5 to 8 euro range, Kopke Douro red and Fita Preta come to mind. I also opened a very old (2000 or there abouts) Quinta das Heredias red purchased 6 years ago at the quinta when we slepted there, that I had left behind in portugal and it was just phenomenal. ...

First time of accessing FTLOP for several months. Various reasons, including computer and internet problems for a long time, but I am still fit, healthy and eating and drinking well. I still do a bit of work on the quinta too. As some of you will know I buy from the lower end of the price range of a...

Paul, I had a 3000 acre sheep and cattle property in northern NSW, so I think that the regional normal single main course and some "afters" of any description is more than good enough to be considered a proper meal. It is extremely rare for us to have a starter, rarely a dessert, but alway...

Depends on the era of port we are talking about. Absolutely. To quote Len Evans, an Australian winemaker that I believe knerw what he was doing "There is no such thing as a good wine - just a good bottle." Given the quantity of wine made by any commercial organisation there are bound to b...

Moses, No dish surprises me any more. I have farmed in several countries and come across dishes that the locals were brought up on when nobody had any money, and sometimes enjoyed them. My son has travelled to some very remote places to observe through telescopes - he is an astro-physicist, and has ...

I cannot see myself buying Port at the sort of prices some of you pay because I would never receive that amount of enjoyment from them. Conversely, I cannot imagine drinking 10 bottles of fortifieds - plus dry wines! - in one week for anything other than something like one of Roy's Port tours. I si...

Lots of sound philosophy behind everyone's post. I think that is the (non)answer to the question - our own philosophy on any matter, including the price of Nacional, or anything else, is the determining factor in assessing value. I buy wine purely to complement food, and wholeheartedly agree with Er...

Moses, I assume you did not invent that dish by one day thinking "I will try raw sheeps' eyes with a bit of salt and some olive oil". I have not heard of it before, cooked yes, but not raw. Where does it originate? Do you chew them or swallow whole? What is your favourite Port with them? I...

In Portugal you can buy plenty of LBVs for 10 to 12 Euros so I never bother to buy Ruby or Ruby Reserve. I don't think I have ever bought a basic tawny.. You can also buy Ruby at half that price. The important thing is "Why do you buy Port?" Or any food or beverage? Wine, including fortif...

Butter. I eat a lot of it, sometimes just taking a lump and savouring it. I particularly like to put some under my tongue and sip Port through it - usually a Ruby. We only buy butter from the Açores.

Andy, I was not really looking for suggestions. I was looking for comments as to whether other posters agreed with me that White Ports in general had become sweeter over the years. Thanks though to everyone for the suggestions. None of them are available in Castelo Branco - a sizeable city with 5 di...

I thought your post was really well written. You've considered others' thoughts and given them a fair try and decided that while you respect that others make a different decision, port with food is not for you. . Thanks for the kudos, but I NEVER drink Port except with food. White with paté or simi...