For The Love Of Port

Preferences change over the years. Some people start on Chardonnay and eventually their palates progress and they move to the big red fruit bombs of Australia and Napa. Later many folks tend towards more complexity, more so called "sophisticated" wine regions like Bdx. and Burg. and some head to newer grounds like German Rieslings or the many great whites and reds from Italy, just to name a couple.

But what about Port?

For most of my Port drinking career, 90% of my consumption was old Vintage Ports and the other 1-% was a blend of Colheitas, Tradicional LBVs, Vintage Character Port (now known as Ruby Reserve) and an occasional 20 year old Tawny Port.

Today, I drink virtually everything except the basic Ruby and Tawny Port which I only drink if someone (like a Port shipper) opens one for me. Whereas I'd never think of opening a Port under 15 years of age, now I will do so. I have grown to enjoy more White Ports over the years, I will even drink 10 year olds if someone is opening one and enjoy Colheitas with ever more frequency, including white ones.

So how has your palate (not your financial means) changed, to help determine what Ports you enjoy drinking?

In the short time I've been drinking Port , I've become accustomed to 30 yr old Tawnys , 40 + Colheitas and young & old VP.
Never tasted a basic Ruby and haven't been impressed with the LBV's tasted ( so far ) .
So , has my palate changed over the year ?
Probably not , since It hasn't been exposed to enough Port .

My palate has definitely changed from the fruity (vintage and LBV) style towards the nutty flavors of the (old) tawnies. - And this in a matter of 5-6 years.