Is it being a Port snob if you choose not to drink ...

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:01 pm

... regular bottles of ruby, tawny or even Ruby Reserve Ports?

Some might think it is looking down ones nose, others might think it just silly while others might think it is the only way to go. Your thoughts?

Lars F · Post by **Lars F** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:34 pm

If you don't drink them just because they don't have age, I'd think you were a snob.

Personally I tend to avoid them simply because I prefer aged ports which gives you much more value for money. I have of course come across rubies which were very nice, but in general they tend to disappoint.

-and then I have to admit that it has a better ring to it to say that you've been drinking a nice 1986 colheita than a regular ruby

-Lars

Moses Botbol · Post by **Moses Botbol** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:02 am

No one should drink something they do not like; there's nothing snobish about that. To qualify your reason to somebody offering would be snobish.

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:29 am

Since I have limited budget, I put my money on stuff I really like. I will buy 2-3 times per year some regular Port for the fun or to bring somewhere I know people will drink it only for the alcohol

Luc Gauthier · Post by **Luc Gauthier** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:10 am

The way I see It , If It tickles my fancy , I drink It !! No matter what . . .

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:14 am

No, drink what you like. Life is too short to force yourself to drink things that aren't appealing. Over the past year, I have consumed less and less basic rubies and tawny's. I would rather pay a few dollars more per bottle, and have one or two fewer bottles per month, than drink something that doesn't quite tickle my fancy.

Rich Greenberg · Post by **Rich Greenberg** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:15 am

I'm definitely with the drink what you like crowd! I've never been overly impressed by labels, brands, prices, etc. If you like it, and make the choice to afford it (or not) based on your own situation, likes, dislikes, etc., then the rest doesn't matter. If you don't like it, DON'T DRINK IT (excepting, of course, the circumstance where it may be impolite to refuse.)

R

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 12:07 am

Yes it is snobbish - if the only reason that you don't drink them is because they are basic rubies, tawnies or reserve rubies. If you don't drink them because you prefer other variations of port and find those other variations offer more enjoyment, then go for the others.

I have been pleasantly surprised by (some) ruby blends when I have drunk them, especially where they have had 2-3 years in the bottle to develop, but why pay £12 for a Fonseca Bin 27 when I can pay £5 for a Warre 1995 Traditional LBV or £8 for a Morgan 1991 Vintage Port?

Alex

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 12:40 am

Richly written Rich.

Alex, you make it so darn hard to disagree with you.

Scott Anaya · Post by **Scott Anaya** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:02 pm

I'm with Andy. I'm drinking less and less basic Ruby Port these days and almost immediately in my Port drinking career I gave up on basic tawny's. It does mean that less Port goes down the hatch, but more 'enjoyable" Port crosses my palate. I guess I'm spoiled by the good stuff, or at least better stuff!

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:58 pm

This is a funny topic Roy. I have to admit, I would be outright lying if I told you I hadn't had thoughts of this exact nature before... It has all been internal dialogue with myself though, so I suppose I can try to retain some face in spite of this admission.

I have found myself staring at certain bottles and wondering why I have never tried them (a Fonseca 'regular' Tawny is one to be precise.) I tried asking myself if I just was being a snob (to myself if that makes ANY sense:?) and I answered myself with a "no, I'd just rather spend $2 more to have that Taylor LBV 2001 over there." I have made it a point to try some of the reserve rubies and have found that my liking of them is usually on the far end of the scale: NOT AT ALL. But then I also discovered that a particular one I tried for a Virtual Tasting earlier this year improved a lot after 2 weeks of decanter time that I have forced myself to revisit other bottles that I have not typically liked and found them to be better with some extra decanting time allowed.

One of the reasons I have not typically liked many of the Rubies I have tried is simply the lack of body and complexity. Perhaps if I had never tried unfiltered LBVs or VPs, this type of Port would be fine with me... but as soon as I allowed VP and quite a few good LBVs now, I cannot seem to enjoy the thin-bodied, one-dimensional Rubies nearly as much.

Then again, take a month off Port altogether and Taylor First Reserve (hated it out of the bottle and for nearly 2 days!) seems like it could be a fine 30 year old VP.

Todd

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:27 pm

Todd,

Just wait until you are fully jaded by having a couple of great old Colheitas from sometime before the men landed on the moon.

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:26 am

Roy, I can't wait. I have had my eye on an older bottle of Colheita (I think it is Krohn's but it may be Barros, just can't remember which at the moment) from deVine's but every time I have saved up the necessary cash for something like this, I find something else in the VP realm to spend it on. Being that the VP is so pricey, I almost always explore my options in that realm due to me really just recently having discovered it and falling in love.

I have no doubt the same will happen when I begin my discovery path with older Colheitas as well. The 4 or 5 that I have tried thusfar all have been 16 years of wood-aging or less (most less) so really, it is nothing more than a 10 year tawny at that point (and from what I understand, the complexities will not be evident until around 30-40 (or a LOT more) years in wood.)