3-4 value ports for a nice beginner-oriented tasting

[Terry M]

Hi all,

I'm getting married in a few weeks, and our venue has an excellent option for a tasting bar - BYOB. We have been talking about using it for a small port tasting, which we're excited about, though we're relatively new to the world of port. (We did several tastings when we were in Porto a year ago, so we know the basics, but little about practical value options.)

I'm hoping to get some help from the experts here.

We're thinking of having 3-4 different options for people to sample. Our thoughts now were to have one ruby, one tawny, and once nicer vintage port. We're looking to get bottles that are nice enough for everyone to enjoy but also accessible and reasonably affordable (nobody is a serious aficionado who will appreciate a superior bottle).

Based on some basic research, here's what we're thinking:

• Six Grapes (or a ruby in the $20/bottle range)
• Taylor Fladgate 10 year tawny (or a tawny in the $30/bottle range)
• Considering 2001 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port (or vintage in the $50/bottle range)

We've also been considering something like a LBV in the $30/bottle range and a 20+ year tawny for the $50/bottle.

Any comments or suggestions you have would definitely be appreciated.

Thanks!
-Terry

[Eric Menchen]

Those are some nice choices. I'm a little worried about the 2001 Taylor. While Vargellas should be an earlier drinker than a straight Taylor VP, the last one I had, a 1991, was still pretty powerful. An LBV would be a very good option, and some bargain hunting might turn up a VP that is more approachable.

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[Andy Velebil]

Hi Terry,

First, congratulations on your upcoming wedding! And also, welcome to the forum!

You've picked out some nice bottles already to do a tasting with. I'm not sure how many people will be at the wedding/tasting, and not sure what is available near you in good quantities at decent prices. Could you let us know your general area (even just a state would help).

As Eric mentioned. I love the idea of using a young VP such as the one you mentioned. My only concern is it being still quite young and tannic to the point most people, unless they drink lots of Port already, may not enjoy it. Maybe better off to go with a slightly older VP, but then there is probably a significant uptick in price (though 1997's VP's can be found at good prices) or Going with a good Unfiltered LBV may be the better way to go. Anyways, here are some suggestions in each category.

RUBY RESERVE:
Six Grapes
Fonseca Bin 27
Ramos Pinto Collector
Sandeman Founder's Reserve

10 YEAR TAWNY
Sandeman
Ramos Pinto
Niepoort
Ferreira

UNFILTERED LBV (any vintages unless indicated)
Quinta do Crasto
Niepoort
2008 Taylor's or Fonseca (both filtered but very good)
Warre's
Smith Woodhouse
Quevedo

VP/SQVP:
1997 VP's can usually be found at good prices and are maturing faster so will probably show better.
1991's from Warre's, Graham's, Dow, are more mature and drinking well with now and aren't horibbly expensive (probably in your range). They will also give a showing of what a more mature Port will start to taste like.
If you want to stick with a younger non-classic year VP/SQVP then I would suggest most any one from these normally reliable producers. Taylor Quinta d. Vargellas, Fonseca Guimaraens, Quevedo, Graham's Quinta dos Malvedos, and Quinta do Vesuvio.

[Roger L.]

Congratulations!

With the proviso that "I know nothing" and am, myself, somewhat new to port.
And the additional proviso that I live in Portugal, so any pricing I see here may well not be reflected where you are...

Because your title was "...value ports..."...
I'd recommend the Sandeman Vau 2011 Vintage.
It's not a "characteristic" vintage port (from the little experience I have of such), being so very very young, but it's an incredible drink after a fair few hours in the decanter. I can get them here (and have a goodly number) for under 22 euros - which compares very favourably to the price here of "decent" LBVs.

I've served it here to a few sets of friends, all of whom (none of them really port people up until then) have been very impressed - one is now sitting on a stash of 6 of his own.

If any experts here think this is a stupid idea - feel free to jump on me from a great height.

But if I had only 22 euros in my pocket and was near my wine shop, and I heard the 24 hour warning of an impending asteroid strike that was set to destroy the world, that's what I'd buy, decant, and start drinking with 6 hours to go.

[Andy Velebil]

But if I had only 22 euros in my pocket and was near my wine shop, and I heard the 24 hour warning of an impending asteroid strike that was set to destroy the world, that's what I'd buy, decant, and start drinking with 6 hours to go.

At that point, who cares how much money is in my pocket. I'm taking the best bottles in the shop and enjoying them while I watch the asteroid get closer and closer and closer.....

[Roger L.]

But if I had only 22 euros in my pocket and was near my wine shop, and I heard the 24 hour warning of an impending asteroid strike that was set to destroy the world, that's what I'd buy, decant, and start drinking with 6 hours to go.

At that point, who cares how much money is in my pocket. I'm taking the best bottles in the shop and enjoying them while I watch the asteroid get closer and closer and closer.....

Well I'd like to think, having spent many thousands of euros at this shop over the years, that they'd crack open one (or several) of the "good ones" for me, but I don't think that expresses quite how much I've enjoyed the Vau

[Steve Pollack]

Congrats, Terry!

I would strongly recommend a 20 year tawny instead of the 10 year. To me, there is a huge jump in quality and complexity that is well worth the price differential.

Sandeman and Ferreira Duque de Braganca are two that I can suggest, though there are other good choices as well.

Vintage port may not be the best option in my view, as young ones may be hard and unpleasant in their youth, and mature ones are more difficult to find and are more expensive. (And I just like wood-aged Ports more!)

[John M.]

Hi Terry;

Can I get invited???...just kidding....

I agree with Steve--get 20 Year Tawnies, much nicer than 10 year olds, for a ruby for novices I'd do Warre's or Smith Woodhouse LBVs. (20 year old in the $40 to $55 range mostly---LBVs in the $25 to $32)

[Glenn E.]

Terry,

Everyone has given you great advice so far. But... it's your wedding! Splurge a little bit!

That said, I do understand your concern that people might not sufficiently appreciate high-value bottles. So there's a balance to be struck, but I think you're aiming too low. Your last thought is probably the best idea - go for an LBV in the $30 range for your ruby Port, a 20-yr old tawny in the $50 range for your tawny Port, and then either a nicely aged Vintage Port or possibly even an aged White Port for your third bottle. It's relatively easy to find superb Vintage Ports from 1985 for around $80, and those will be blockbusters that even a novice will be able to tell apart from the LBV and 20-yr old.

For the LBV, see if you can find Smith Woodhouse's latest release. They hold their LBVs back before releasing them, so their current release is likely something from around 2001-2003 compared to current releases from other houses that would be from around 2008-2010.

For the 20-yr old, look for Ramos Pinto Quinta do Bom Retiro, Ferreira Duque de Braganca, Quinta do Noval, or Sandeman. But really, it's hard to go wrong in the 20-yr old category. Taylor and Fonseca both make very good 20-yr olds that you can find just about anywhere if you can't find one of the others I've listed.

For the 1985 VP, the two best are Fonseca and Graham. Both can often be found for $80-$85 using winesearcher.com and I've ordered from many different internet retailers with great success. If you do order over the internet and have it shipped, make sure you allow at last a few days for the bottle to stand up so that the sediment can settle back to the bottom. 2-3 weeks would be best, but a minimum of 3-5 days if you can't manage 2-3 weeks.

Or if you want to find an aged White Port, Kopke and Andresen both do a 20-yr old white and they're both supposed to be very nice. I haven't had the opportunity to try either of those yet, but have had older White Ports and they're excellent.

[Miguel Simoes]

Congrats on getting married. And on making Port such a large part of it!

My two cents...

We're thinking of having 3-4 different options for people to sample. Our thoughts now were to have one ruby, one tawny, and once nicer vintage port. We're looking to get bottles that are nice enough for everyone to enjoy but also accessible and reasonably affordable (nobody is a serious aficionado who will appreciate a superior bottle).

Think there is prob some overlap there bw all three if the tawny is too young and/or if the VP is also too young.

Depending on your budget, you may either go w a basic ruby and a 20 Yr Tawny, or w the youngish tawny and an older VP.

Basic ruby I'd go straight to an LBV. Got several cases of Fonseca 2007 LBV for under $20/bottle last year.

20 Yr tawny, like other said, it is hard to go wrong. However, if you like them sweeter, the Andresen, Kopke or Ramos Pinto are delicious. If you like them less sweet, the Ferreira 20 Yr is the clear winner and .

Older VP... you can do some research, but 1985 Ferreira or Warre goes for $55. You have a bunch of 1994s for under that on wine-searcher...

[Terry M]

Hi all,

Thanks for all your suggestions. Definitely a lot to think about here.

One of the simultaneously great and terrible things about weddings is that there are so many opportunities to splurge! You really have to pick and choose, and as the port tasting will only be a side attraction, we're trying to stick to our budget. It would be great to get a bunch of $50-80 bottles, but we really don't want to end up spending many hundreds of dollars. (We're looking at probably 3-4 bottles of each, assuming 1.5 oz. pours and not everyone tasting.)

Two main themes I've seen are that a 20-year tawny would be much better than a 10-year tawny and the 2001 vintage is probably a bit too young. Unfortunately I'm having trouble fitting both of those upgrades without blowing our budget.

We're in the Bay Area (USA-California). I've generally been checking Wine Searcher and am happy to purchase online, though I'm finding shipping can be as much as $25, which kind of defeats any online bargain for limited quantities.

Here's another practical option in our budget that includes a 20-year tawny.
• Warre's Warrior ($20 @ BevMo)
• Smith Woodhouse 2001 LBV ($30 @ BevMo)
• Taylor Fladgate 20-year tawny ($56 @ BevMo)

I'm having trouble finding all of the $50 options for a vintage 1997 or before on Wine Searcher. I see a number of options in the $55-60 range, plus shipping, bringing it closer to $75… am I missing something? (I can't find a way to just search for 1997 vintages or 1994 vintages.)

Thanks for all the advice!

-Terry

[Eric Menchen]

Keep searching! Sandman Vau and Quinta do Noval Silval VPs might be found for around $30. The SW LBV is a good option. The liquor store near my Costco has it pretty reasonably priced. Shipping for me CA->CO is typically $30/case, or less than $3 each bottle, ground. I would think you should expect to pay less where you are. At least one CA store had free shipping in state, and you could pick up from a number of places. BPW ships a case for $9.

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[Glenn E.]

(We're looking at probably 3-4 bottles of each, assuming 1.5 oz. pours and not everyone tasting.)

Aha! I misunderstood - for some reason I was thinking that you only needed one bottle of each. Yes, that does make things a bit more difficult.

In that case, Taylor Fladgate's First Estate Ruby Reserve is very very good for a Ruby Reserve. We did a "taste-off" in 2012 during which we held 6 separate tastings in 6 different cities, and it won every time it was included (either 3 or 4 of the tastings... I can't remember off the top of my head). That surprised everyone, because we were actually conducting the taste-off to determine whether Graham's Six Grapes or Noval Black was the best Ruby Reserve yet they both finished mid-pack.

It is possible to find 20-yr old Tawnies for less than $50. Sandeman's is very good and I've seen it for as little as $40.

The VP is going to be difficult simply because it is Vintage Port. That category is the pride of all Port producers, so finding one with some age that is also inexpensive is a trick. It happens, but it's usually just lucky timing more than anything else.

winesearcher.com is your friend! Spend some time just browsing around with various searchers and you'll eventually figure out the key words you need in your search. :)

[Paul Fountain]

Everybody else has covered this pretty well, but I can add a little bit on the 2001 Quinta de Vargellas. I've had it twice in the past 12 months, the last time being a couple of months ago, and while young, it still drank pretty well . I'd given it about 8 hours in the decanter I think.