For The Love Of Port

Hello Experts!

Please excuse if this question has been asked previously, but a friend of mine is planning a short trip to Oporto. He knows little about Port but has been subjected to my new-found fascination with it. He is looking to buy himself (and me!) a bottle or two of something (VP, colheita, 20-year tawny, or something else) and has asked if there are producers that he should look for that have little or no availibility in US.

Could anyone give some suggestions??

Many thanks!!

David Sweet

Without knowing which ports are being exported to the US, I would suggest looking for ports from small independent producers. You will find some very nice surprises! Look for posts by Gustavo (from Vinologia), he posted some very useful lists of good ports by different producers.

Gustavo, who works in a restaurant/bar in Oporto recommended several ports that are not familiar to most folks outside of Portugal in this thread...

http://www.fortheloveofport.com/forum/v ... .php?t=719

Also read-up on one of Roy's trips to Oporto...I think there are some ports mentioned in one or two of them that are a little obscure as well.

Mike.

And if your friend has the chance to actually visit Vinologia, make sure he mentions that he was suggested to visit by this website.

Whatever he brings back with him, if it comes from Vinologia it will come with all the expertise that Gustavo and the others in the shop can clearly demonstrate.

Let us know what it is and how it tastes!

Alex

Hi David, what I'd suggest you is giving a list to your friend of what you want him to buy and a target price for each bottle. It is so easy to find bottles that are priced two times what they should in Oporto and Gaia.

When I'm in Portugal I'm also looking for these hard to find/limited production products. Here are some high quality hard to find products, at least for me in Québec that worth seeking for in Portugal.

Niepoort Colheitas: Look for 74,78,79,83,87 these are all great years. Prices should range from 40 euros for 87 to 80 euros for the 74.

Niepoort Table Wine : Look for Batuta, all vintages are excellent, can range from 60 to 100 euros. DON'T pay over that.

Quinta do Valle Meao. Both table wines and Port are excellent. Should be more in the 50-60 euros price range.

Pintas : Again in wine and Port, should be around 40-50 euros.

Noval Colheitas: Look for the 71,74,76 They are very good right now.

Crasto red wines: Vinha de Ponte, Maria Theresa are very rare wines. You can easily pay up to 90 euros for these wines.

Do send your friend to VinoLogia. It is that good, albeit not inexpensive. But you pay for their expertise and they do know their stuff. I would not have spent as much time endorsing them if that was not the case. Gustavo, like our own Fred (here on the Forum) is a fairly young man who has dedicated much time to reading and tasting Ports. They have Ports there that I have no clue about from producers that are small and NEVER leave Portugal. In my upcoming follow up newsletter, you'll find a couple of small and very obscure producers with tiny production. Please do support the garagiste operators as they are a dying breed.

My biggest concern with the Douro is that in a decade there will be 5 major players and less than 20 small producers still in business. It can definitely happen and that is why I urge people to try the small producers. Diversity of choice is a good thing, no matter how much I like and respect the large families and consortiums that are leading forces in the Port trade.

For the record, I have small Port producers email me on occasion and sometimes frequently (circa three years ago) to assist them in finding importers/distributors here in the USA. Sometimes I am willing to go out on a limb (if I have tried and like their Ports). All of this is done FOR THE LOVE OF PORT, when I have helped out and I have never sought favors or payment from any such assistance. It is not easy for a small Portuguese producer to get a foothold here in the USA and without help, they normally wind up with a group that has less than the proper motivation in mind.

Wow--what a fantastic Board this is!!!

A world of thanks to everyone--this will provide a marvelous shopping list!

Most appreciatively,
David