For The Love Of Port

I already posted this to the Basics section but it was advised that I post here as well for some discussion.

Hi all, and so glad am I to have found this place so that I can educate myself more about a relatively recent realization that port is just an absolutely beautiful drink!

In two weeks I will be going to a dinner with someone who like myself is a fan of port. Her palette and knowledge is much greater than mine however.
The restaurant has the following VP's on their list;

1980 Gould Campbell : 150$ CDN
1980 Smith Woodhouse: 152$ CDN
1985 Warre's: 179$ CDN
1994 Grahams: 214$ CDN
1977 Warre's: 245$ CDN
1980 Grahams: Price unknown

I was wondering which you would recommend from the first 3--I can't afford the other two at restaurant markup!

Also, should I alert the sommelier the day before of my intention to get a particular bottle so that he can prepare... standing the bottle up, decanting ahead of time etc.

Any advice etc would be most appreciated for someone who is trying to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible!

Thanks

I'll stick to my first recommendation of SW 1980.

Do speak to the restaurant manager or sommelier to arrange to have the bottle decanted properly ahead of time, so it will be "at its best" when you are ready to drink it at the end of your meal.

Good luck!



P.S. In the future, please only post a topic in one Forum or the other. No harm no foul, just a gentle reminder to all.

Bernard,

Why not just tell her you love her and be done with it! - then you can both enjoy all the port you want forever

Derek

well, that sort of is the plan for that weekend :)

Bernard,

Here is an alternative plan - find out which year she was born and, assuming it was a declared vintage year and you can find one, buy a bottle of VP from that year from anywhere you can find it. Take the bottle to the restaurant the day before and offer to pay the corkage on the bottle [if corkage doesn't translate to Canada let me know]. Much better than picking something off the wine list.

However, you would be taking the risk that your lady will be offended by you making any reference to her age :? - could be worth the risk if it helps with your longer term romantic intentions

Derek

Roy - this could be your first Forum wedding story

I had thought of that... unfortunately, I don't believe that 1971 was a vintage year... well, in the way that my girlfriend turned out it definately was! [/b]

Bernard,

Unlucky - looks like you'll have to stick with Plan A - best of luck

Let us know how it goes

Derek

It seems Roy and I differ often but, I would go with the Warre 1985.
There are good choices there. If the 1980 was in line with the other 1980's on price that would be my alternative.
I agree on asking the sommelier to decant ahead of time for you.
If you are having other wine with that meal, I also suggest you take a taxi! A 750 of port for two folks is a lot of ethanol in and of itself.

Do they have any 375's on the list?

They don't have any smaller bottles. Ontario now allows you to bring your own now however, so I believe a benefit of that is that you might be able to re-cork an opened bottle to take home...not entirely sure of that, but will ask.

Thanks for the replies so far...this is fun and there is a massive amount of knowledge on here that I am trying to soak up.