Whites, Rubies & Tawnies family of Ports

Gilles LE CAPITAINE · Post by **Gilles LE CAPITAINE** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:23 am

Hello everybody,
I am trying to observe a list regarding each house of Port. In fact, it will be interesting for me to obtain it through your experience of tastings. For example, which would be the dominant quality or family from Taylor's ?Whites, Rubies & Tawnies Port ? If possible, which selection from the quality ? I hope that you understand my request... Ok, I know of course that they suggest many ports but precisely ?
Thanks,
Gilles.

Stuart Chatfield · Post by **Stuart Chatfield** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:24 am

I think (if I understand your question) this will vary according to taste. All of the main producers will probably cite the VP as their "flagship" and be disappointed that more people outside of the inner circle don't appreciate their tawnies more

.

VP: Everyone has a different view of their favourite VP producer. I'd go for Taylor. However, if you group together all those that say Taylor with those who vote for either Graham or Fonseca you'd probably have a majority of of all port drinkers together as they are the three dominant "favourite" ones (leaving aside Nacional and Vinha Velha etc.).

Single quintas: I'd vote for Bomfim, as despite my liking of Taylors I think it is great due to the sum of its parts and always prefer Bomfim over Vargellas, on their own. (For the "perennial" single-quinta producers everyone seems to be going for Vesuvio, now, as the early declared vintages of that estate are now starting to reach maturity they really seem to be very popular)

Rubies: I don't think we drink as much of those as you do in France. I'd go for Fonseca Bin 27, but there are so many you wouldn't get a dominant 2 or 3 like you do for vintages.

White port: don't really like it and don't know.

Tawnies: I think Taylor and then Graham dominate the market in England. They're both great and in my opinion a cut above all others.

Generally, are you asking which type of port does each producer consider their best, or for each type of port who makes the best?

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:01 am

Gilles,

The book "The Port Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide" written by Godfrey Spence gives a brief history of each producer and information on where their strengths are in terms of the types of port they produce. It is a good beginners guide to all things to do with port.

Another good book with similar but very much more detailed information is "Port and the Douro" by Richard Mayson.

Both of these books are available on Amazon and you often get discount for buying both together.

Derek

Gilles LE CAPITAINE · Post by **Gilles LE CAPITAINE** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 2:17 am

Stuart, Derek, thanks for yours answers but It is not exactely that I wanted...
- This said, could you please informs me, with an aim of avoiding wasting time unnecessarily, I would like that you say to me, according to your sélections/dégustations/ which is the dominant one of quality, for example Quinta do Noval does concern? rather of the family of Rubies, rather of the family of Tawnies, accompanied by examples.
- The Houses of Port which interest to me are : Churchill, Dow, Warre, Graham, Andresen, Hérédias, do Noval, Ramos-Pinto, do Infantado, Burmeister, Baldias, Romaneira, Ferreira, Calèm, Sandeman, Taylor, Romariz, Nieeport, Sao Pedro das Aguias.

Thanks a lot,
Gilles.

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 4:13 pm

Gilles,

From your list of producers and my own experience and from what I have read:

Vintage Port: Churchill, Dow, Warre, Graham, Noval, Sandeman, Taylor, Niepoort

Colheita: Burmester, Niepoort (seem to be excellent at both VP and Colheita)

Aged Tawny: Ramos-pinto, Romaniera, Calem

LBV: Warre, Noval, Andreson, Sandeman

I hope I have understood your question this time :?

Derek

Gilles LE CAPITAINE · Post by **Gilles LE CAPITAINE** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 1:32 am

Thanks Derek,
Yours answers enjoy me, it is not always easy to explain correctly from french to english.
Bye,
Gilles.

Gustavo Devesas · Post by **Gustavo Devesas** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:59 pm

Hellllo, Gilles my friend!
How are you?nice to see you here, in the best Port Wine Forum!
I 'm curious that you've mentioned some small producers names in your list, like Quinta de Baldias, Qta Romaneira and São Pedro das Águias!
Also Derek as mentioned my favorite book :"The Port Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide" written by Godfrey Spence , I have it in my hand but in the Portuguese version it's very good and interesting to read!
I'm happy to see you here, and specially a French that it's really interessed in Port... in my opinion in the 6 years of my bar's life , you were the most entusiastic French customer and the most interesting and easy French customer to speak

eheheheheheheh!
Á la prochaine!