For The Love Of Port

It was in the Warre 1980 thread that Roy Hersh wrote:Morten,

Thanks, now I totally get what you meant and agree that it is good to be clear which system folks are using. But ultimately, I don't know that the WA and WS are really all that different. Most of their scores are pretty darn close at the end of the day. Both have their own preferences, but aligning one's palate is not always easy. You mention your tastes are different from most of ours ... in what way? What style do you enjoy?

Firstly, I don't really know WA and WS that well at all, but my point was that they are probably comparable versus the Parker score. I get your point on whether there's really any significant difference between the three systems, but as I don't think too much about the score I don't care too much about it. I think the major "issue" here is the inflation of scores, not the difference between the systems.

My taste. Well, I'm a Port rookie and I tend to go for the pleasers at the moment:
- fruit bombs like LBV's or cheap, young (SQ)VP, for example the Portal 2005 SQVP (at $35)
- I like my tawny rich on nuts and toffee

For example, I recall that I preferred the 10 YO Otima over the 20 YO Otima simply because of the difference in flavor. I think that the 10'er is too sweet and that the alcohol is too evident, but I just can't help liking the nuttiness of it . If I remember correctly then Warre's regular 20 YO tawny is right up my alley.

In Denmark it's much easier to find a good, aged tawny for a reasonable price than a good, aged VP. This should also be taken into consideration. I can see that this is a UK vs US issue as well.

I'm always on the lookout for nutty tawnys. I guess I just have to drink through all the 20 YO's and colheitas in the 15-25 year range I can find

Anyone out there with tastes like mine?

Morten,

I have to say I prefer the VP style of Port, but like your country, it is extremely hard to find reasonable bottles of aged VP in Canada.

Every now and again I do have a serious hunkering for tawny style - and when that happens I usually end up drinking 3-4 bottles of Tawny in a row.

When I do have one of these cravings, I do enjoy nutty Ports but find my tastes lie to the extra rich and sweet ones. I seem to prefer the 20 year Ports to 10 year for the QPR... 30s and 40s are rare and expensive here in Canada. Sandeman 20 is a favourite (although sadly, I have only one remaining from my last . Otima 20, Taylor 20.

My staples for the 10 year variety are Taylor 10 (I find a couple of days in teh decanter takes off some of the over-spirity edge that myself and many others repeatedly report on this Tawny) and Noval 10 (probably my favourite.) Otima 10 is also good, but I buy less of it becuase most Canadian retails take advantage of the "odd sized" 500 mL bottle and charge a premium for it (around or more than the price of a 750 of another comparable tawny.)

I do find most 10 year examples a bit high on spirit, I find 20 is the age where you really notice a true integration of the spirit and the result is smooth, mellow.


Speaking of tawny, I do have a bottle of the 40 year old Taylor that I caught a nice deal on here locally. Still more expensive than bringing one up from a decently-priced retailer in the US, but I have a wife who has a birthday coming up in August and loves tawny, and no trips to the US planned until Spetember. (Although if I get the new job I interviewed over the last couple of weeks, this bottle may get sacrificed as a celebration prior to her b-day!)

Todd

Morten O wrote:I recall that I preferred the 10 YO Otima over the 20 YO Otima simply because of the difference in flavor. I think that the 10'er is too sweet and that the alcohol is too evident, but I just can't help liking the nuttiness of it

Yesterday I had a glass of Warre's 10 YO Otima (bottled 2007) and I was very surprised to learn that it wasn't at all as I remembered it. Gone what the heavy taste of nuts! I must say I didn't really like it that well (especially not when comparing it to the cost!) as it was too sweet and with the alcohol showing too much -- and without the rich nutty flavor. Interesting. I recall that the label on the Otima I tried before this one was different and if I remember correctly, it was bottled in 2006. I wonder if there's really a great difference between the two bottles or if I'm just bad at extracting the flavors of the wines :help:

Morton,

I'd say your palate is getting better. There is a huge difference in quality between the 10 and 20 year Otima. IMO, the 10 year is aimed more at the beginner Port drinker where it is simpler and does it job well in that category. But for the more serious drinker, well to be blunt, it sucks. The 20 year on the other hand, is stellar juice and has never let me down. But don't confuse the 20 year Otima with their regular Warre's 20 year old Tawny (yes they make both for some reason). The Otima comes in its normal clear bottle, where the regular 20 year comes in a standard darker 750ml bottle and does not say Otima on it. The regular 20 year is not up to the quality of the 20 year Otima.

I know Warre's tawnys in the 10-20 year range as I've had both Otima's and the regular 10 and 20 YO (half a year ago, though, only with scarce notes written after quite a lot of port). I prefer the regular 20 YO of the four as it's the one with the most nutty taste and nose, as I recall it. But since I've changed my view on the 10 YO Otima, I might as well have changed my view on the regular 20 YO, so I better buy one of those and see how well I like it now. You may very well be right about my changing palate, Andy.

Sandeman 20 sounds like the perfect tawny and is one of my favorites. Dow 20 is worth picking up if you haven't tried it.

I find the Sandeman 20 to be overly acidic - the acidity is VERY prominent to me in that particular wine, at least in the one bottle that I have opened. If that's what you like, though, then you'll love the Sandeman.

The Ferreira Duque de Braganca backs that off a bit, and while the acidity is still lively and present it's not quite as in-your-face as with the Sandeman.

My favorite is still the Ramos Pinto, where the acidity is present but not prominent. I like just enough acidity to balance the wine, but I don't want to actually notice it when I'm making tasting notes.

All three show a lot of dried fruit, with the Ramos Pinto being closer to "mellow and subtle" and the Sandeman being closer to "citrus and lively" in the flavor profile.

Funny the differences that three or four people can pick out of the same wine... :) Mind you, not the same bottle - that is the real test, same bottle, same storage/shipping details.

I have not noted an over prevalence of acidity in the Sandeman 20, although to be fair, both of my bottles are sourced from the same spot that Moses would get his... one WAS the tail end of his bottle and the other from the store where he would purchase. So perhaps if the Port had to shipped across the continent to get to me here in Edmonton, I would have a slightly different experience.

Mind you, I also tend to disagree with Andy's assessment of the Otima 10, as I find it quite good. Very good for a 10 year and maybe one that I would rate in my top 5 10 YOTs.

But that is the beauty isn't it gents? We can all taste relative similar products and come away with different and unique impressions and at the end of the day, we certainly won't start any wars over it! (will we??? :? )

Todd