Long live port! (Also, have you a favorite dessert wine?)

[Mika H]

Since i"m spending a few days in Andalucia, Spain at the moment i wonder if somebody could give me any tips about Malaga wine. I don't have too much knowledge about Malaga but i thought i might bring a couple of bottles of this traditional fortified wine home with me.
I know that Malaga trasanejo is the longest aged of them but which brands or years would you suggest?

These two are what i got to taste after some nice meals so i brought a bottle of each home too: Pajarete Cream and Moscatel Plata, both from Quitapenas. But of course, Long live Port!

[Roy Hersh]

I may have to open a trio of them tomorrow night. Domestic port-style wines that is.

[Bradley Bogdan]

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I avoid anything port related or port like and not from Portugal (i.e. blueberry port wines from long island taste should be banned from having the word port on them)
...

I am generally in the same boat, though I've had a few really good domestic "ports" that were pretty darn close to the real deal. Even when served blind to other Port lovers they didn't pick up on the fact it wasn't the real deal.

I've found a few that were very good, but in the tastings I've never mistook them for the Portuguese deal. That's not to say they're not comparable in class, but new world port-style wines are pretty unique IMHO.


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[Joni H]

Aside from tawnies and colheitas I enjoy marsala and occasionally Moscatels (Asti included). Also Banyuls sometimes. A recent discovery was a Cape Tawny which I like better than Aussie port.

[Andy Velebil]

..
I avoid anything port related or port like and not from Portugal (i.e. blueberry port wines from long island taste should be banned from having the word port on them)
...

I am generally in the same boat, though I've had a few really good domestic "ports" that were pretty darn close to the real deal. Even when served blind to other Port lovers they didn't pick up on the fact it wasn't the real deal.

I've found a few that were very good, but in the tastings I've never mistook them for the Portuguese deal. That's not to say they're not comparable in class, but new world port-style wines are pretty unique IMHO.


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You should try the Paso Robles producer ROXO. Their Tradicional is 55% Touriga Nacional, 17% Tinta Roriz, 17% Souzao, 11% Bastardo and a dead ringer for the real deal. This is what people tried and didn't pick out as not being the real deal. The best tasting domestic port I've had to date.

[Eric Menchen]

I have one malaga in the cellar, and no idea what to expect of it.

As for US port-like wines, I've yet to have one that could pass as Portuguese, but I've not tried ROXO.

[Paul Fountain]

I've got no experience with Malaga, but I don't mind an Olorosso or Pedro Ximenes.
My preferred local fortified comes from Stanton & Killeen and is a vintage port style. I've never opened a bottle next to a proper VP or LBV (something that I really ought to do) but I think it is the closest we have to the Portuguese style. The producer did know a hell of a lot about vintage port though (he died in 2007, but his son will probably take over). They do a good job with muscat and tokay/topaque too.

[Roy Hersh]

Roxo does a great job as Andy mentioned. For me, the closest knock-off for Porto that I've found produced in the USA, is Ficklin.

But neither comes as close as a couple of producers in So. Africa: KWV's old Tawnies from the 1920s-1975 era were incredible and with lots of similar characteristics. Allesverloren was the other and their were "vintage".