For The Love Of Port

OK, we all know Peter Meek's is Warre's Nimrod Tawny Port and Andy Velebil's is Graham's Six Grapes.

But what about the rest of you, what is the "cellar defender" when it comes to Port? <-- He doesn't count.

I usually keep a couple of half bottles of Broadbent Auction Reserve and an LBV or two around for that purpose on the Ruby side, and an eclectic assortment of 20-yr olds for that purpose on the Tawny side.

Right now my contingent consists of two Portal 20-yr olds, a 2003 Taylor LBV, a 375 of 1999 Quinta de la Rosa LBV, and a 187ml Graham's Six Grapes. The second line of defense contains two 1994 Delaforce Colheitas and six 1997 Quinta do Tedo Vintage Ports.

At the moment, one Broadbent Auction Reserve and a variety of LBVs, 1999 and 2000 Kopke, 2002 Broadbent, 2003 Quevedo, 2003 Taylor, and 2004 QUinta do Crasto, are holding the fort.

I've been using LBVs for that purpose so at the moment I have Taylors 03 and 04 LBVs on hand for the job. I've also got a few bottles of Australian muscat and tokay on hand so I'll sometimes open one of them instead. My other strategy is to keep an eye out at the auctions for bargins for immediate drinking - these tend to be old Australian fortifieds from the 70s or 80s. The best defence though is keeping most of my port in off site storage.

We keep a stock ox Six Grapes and 20 year Taylor fir basic consumption. For better occasions we have Bermeister 20 or 30 year.

Frankly, my Nimrod supply is dwindling, both in quantity and taste/aroma. (The youngest it could possibly be is 3 years since bottling.) My new "defender" is Ferreira 20 year. I have 3 or 4 cases (ordering error) in there now. It's a pity - the Nimrod was about 50-60% the price of the Ferreira.

I do have a back-up case of 2007 Warre's, but it won't be "ready to defend" for another 20 years or so. (More like 30 to get to where I like it.)

reaslistically its usually crown rocks or one of a variety of 20 scotch or irish I have handy...

1994 Osbourne LBVP, some younger Fonseca and Taylor LBVPs but I am waiting for them to mellow out a little more.

2005 Dow LBV has been this year’s cellar defender. $13 at Costco it’s hard to justify not making it a cellar defender. I can’t think of a better port value at a retail store ever than that… On my third case since the Holidays.

Moses Botbol wrote:2005 Dow LBV has been this year’s cellar defender. $13 at Costco it’s hard to justify not making it a cellar defender. I can’t think of a better port value at a retail store ever than that… On my third case since the Holidays.

Zoiks! $13 a bottle--that's a great price for a nice, everyday LBV. I got to get to a Costco in Mass!!!

My primary cellar defender is Noval Black. I also have some Cockburn Special Reserve, Andresen LBVs & some young Krohn colheitas that form my final line of defense.

Marc J. wrote:My primary cellar defender is Noval Black.

I've seen Noval Black for $16, is that around what you pay? MA has no sales on booze either!

The last 1/2 case was $14.65 a bottle. Sixteen bucks isn't bad since I've seen it as high as $20 in some local wine shops.

Not real Port, but a decent substitute, Ficklin's Old Vine Tinta and their 10 year old Tawny.

Six Grapes is always a staple, but lately it's been Quevedo 2003 LBV, Special Reserve, and the 1996 Colheita from the FTLOP buying op.

Went through almost a case of Noval's Black and have been meaning to restock on that one for some time now.

Why mess with Six Grapes and Noval Black when you have those Quevedo bottles?

Eric Menchen wrote:Why mess with Six Grapes and Noval Black when you have those Quevedo bottles?

Cause they're almost gone :)

Andy Velebil wrote:

Eric Menchen wrote:Why mess with Six Grapes and Noval Black when you have those Quevedo bottles?

Cause they're almost gone :)

So you need defender defenders then?

LBVs from supermarkets priced below 15 Euros (Graham´s, Crasto, Dow´s, etc).

Moses,

I wish I could find that price on the 2005 Dow's LBV. Awesome juice, just love it.