Ports for a tasting while camping?

[Scheiny S]

Every August I go camping for two weeks at a medieval reenactment in Western PA. It's in the 80s or 90s in the day, 40s to 60s at night, and humid. I joined my camp three years ago, but they've been camping together for thirty years. We get about sixty people from year to year.

We host a big tequila tasting and a much smaller, invite only whiskey tasting each year.

Last year, the leader of the camp, knowing I'm into Port, told me to come up with a list of Ports to have a similar invite only Port tasting. I thought he was just trying to make me feel welcome and forgot about it. This past August he told me he's serious, it's something he'd really like to do. He's had Ports but doesn't know about them and wants to. He said come up with a list of decent, accessible bottles, and everyone involved will bring one.

Will Tawnies WIOA survive camping better than VPs? Would LBVs be better?

I need your help to make a list. Any thoughts?

[Moses Botbol]

The younger the port, the more it will be able to handle the conditions IMO and also has a higher probability of showing well.

[Glenn E.]

Due to the temperature swings, I would arrange to have a cooler handy for storage both before and after the tasting. Some small temperature swings aren't really a problem, but from 40 degrees at night to 90 degrees during the day isn't a small change. Generally speaking, tawnies can handle the temperature better than rubies. That said, you're not talking about months or years, so it's not like you're going to ruin the Ports while they're awaiting the tasting.

As far as a list goes, to start out I'd go with lower-end Ports since you don't know the experience level of the attendees. An LBV would be a good idea to represent rubies, and if you wanted to you could also serve a Ruby Reserve to give some contrast. I'd also bring a 10- and a 20-year old Tawny Port. Then if you can find one, a 10- or 20-year old White Port would round out the experience nicely. You could also bring a Tawny Reserve, but if you did I would skip the 10-year old Tawny Port and just do the Tawny Reserve and the 20-year old Tawny Port. Another bottle that would be nice would be a 2003 Colheita - they're drinking very nicely right now - and that would give you the opportunity to explain the difference between a Colheita and a Tawny With An Indication Of Age.

So:

* LBV
+ Ruby Reserve
* 20 year old Tawny Port
+ 10 year old Tawny Port -or- Tawny Reserve
* 10 (or 20) year old White Port
= 2003 Colheita

* include these 3 first, as they're the cornerstones of the experience
+ add these next if you want to show quality level differences
= add this one last if you still feel another bottle would be good

[John M.]

I like Glenn's advice. But for my two cents I'd pass ont he ruby reserve. For the same $$ or a couple more I'd stick with LBVs---better QPR IMHO. Also since you are in PA you may be able to find a Quevedo Crusted ($34/bottle). Lastly, I might try to find a VP, say from 1995. I've been picking these up for under $40 in many instances, certainly under $50. Smith Woodhouse, Graham Malvedos, Fonseca Guimaerens and Ferreira stand out. While they all seem to have much more aging potential, at 24 years of age, they have some age on them.

As to tawnies, the 10s just are very simple, so make sure to have at least one 20 just to set the standard of a good Port.

[Scheiny S]

The temperature swings were part of why I hadn't taken the request seriously. I hadn't thought of keeping them in a cooler, duh. Good idea! An emergency blanket over it will insulate even better.

I would skip the Tawny Reserve. I did a tasting of four last year and was disappointed by all of them.
I wouldn't have thought of a White WIOA or a Colheita, thanks!

Thanks for some names and vintages! I definitely need that help. Would you think of a few for each category so I can post a list and people will have options?
Our people come from all around, mostly the DC area, but also a few North, South, and West, so we won't be limited to what's available in PA.
There are a few bottles of Quevedo Crusted around, it's more expensive than I'd drink without an occasion, but I've been wanting to pick one or two up. Good suggestion!

[John M.]

LBVs:

Many are good. My favorites and solidly dependable are Warre's, Smith Woodhouse and Q da Crasto. Dows is cheap and readily available, but is a step below. Stick to the well known brands and you'll be OK.

VPs:

1995s: Smith Woodhouse Madelena. Grahams Malvedos, Fonseca Guimaerens, Ferreira, Souza, Warres Quinta da Cavadinha (In that order)

20 Year Tawny:
Ramos Pionto Bom Retiro, Andresen, Niepoort

[Roy Hersh]

1985 Fonseca - look hard and find under $100 with ease. I saw a CA reseller offer this for $69 last week. It sells in WA at $88 just a few days ago and it is not inexpensive to buy Port here. This will hold up just fine.

1994 Quinta do Vesuvio is a must for you & friends to drink!

10 year old Ferreira Tawny should be easy to find!! A single Quinta Tawny at that!!

So should 20 year old Ferreira which is a to 5 producer of 20 year old and here is an unknown secret. At some point the Duque de Braganca is going to disappear. Most likely in 2019!!!! This is a legendary Port at around $50.

There should now be at least one if not two different TWAIOA by S. Leonardo sold in PA wine stores. Grab whatever can be found, hopefully the 30-year-old!

For where you live my dear, this list should be doable.


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[Thomas V]

So should 20 year old Ferreira which is a to 5 producer of 20 year old and here is an unknown secret. At some point the Duque de Braganca is going to disappear. Most likely in 2019!!!! This is a legendary Port at around $50.

Care to elaborate on this statement?

[Al B.]

Given the temperatures I definitely think you should keep the bottles in a cooler and serve them chilled.

It might be a case of less is more. If I was doing this as an introduction to Port for people who were experienced drinkers but inexperienced Port drinkers I would focus on decent quality bottles available at sensible priced but try to cover a complete range of styles. My suggestion would be:
* A standard white Port which you can serve with tonic and ice (and mint / lemon / orange) as an aperitif
* A young unfiltered LBV such as Sandeman or Offley (or Quevedo) which can be drunk enjoyable straight from the cooler - this shows what a young ruby is like
* A 1995 Vintage Port is an excellent suggestion; good value for money and drinking really nicely; straight from the cooler but allowed to warm in the glass
* 20YO Tawny - if this is a group of experienced drinkers just go straight to the best QPR point for a tawny
* A White with Indication of Age - ideally a 20YO to contrast with the 20YO Tawny

This way you cover a wide range of styles with some interesting contrasts and comparisons. Personally, I wouldn't include a Colheita if this is a group of people with little Port experience. If you start explaining what a Colheita is you'll see their eyes start to glaze and hear their minds wondering what Port would be like when mixed with Bourbon.