Hosting a Port Tasting - Need Recommendations

[Van W]

Jeff,

While I love wine and food pairings as well, this event is focusing on the tastings (items #2 and #4). The two tasting flights will either be double-blind or single-blind, but I'm thinking of the latter. We all take notes and then start to discuss. We'll have the reveal at the end of each flight.

The food is just to give us a break between the two tasting flights, keep our tummies filled, help keep us sober, and make the evening even more pleasant.

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll consider them. Of course, I forgot to mention it, but the dessert must include some Stilton as well!

[Glenn E.]

Since your event is meant to show the differences between the Ports, I'd avoid food with the Port flights. It's also educational to do Port and food pairings, but that's an entirely different tasting. However, if you can find a reasonably priced 40 Year Old Tawny Port, that'd probably go really well with your desserts. Taylor's is pretty good and would sort of fit with the theme of your evening.

Your flights look wonderful - I wish I could be there!

[Jeff G.]

Since your event is meant to show the differences between the Ports, I'd avoid food with the Port flights. It's also educational to do Port and food pairings, but that's an entirely different tasting. However, if you can find a reasonably priced 40 Year Old Tawny Port, that'd probably go really well with your desserts. Taylor's is pretty good and would sort of fit with the theme of your evening.

Your flights look wonderful - I wish I could be there!

that's true

I can say we suually do all of our tastings up front

and then follow up with a food and port pairing usually reserving the very best for the end of the meal.

[Van W]

So tomorrow's my tasting. I'm going to come home from work early and pop open the bottles and decant them. (Ha! Easier said than done, I know!) I plan to follow Roy's guidelines, as follows:

<= 7 years old 10-12hr
8-15 years old 8-10 hr
16-25 years old 6-8 hr
26-35 years old 4-6 hr
36-45 years old 3-5 hr
46-60 years old 2-3 hr
60 years old 1-3 hr

Are there any particular ports in my lineup for which I should deviate from the above table? For reference:

Taylor '07, '94, '85, '77
'85s: Fonseca, Graham, Dow, Warre

Thanks!

[Glenn E.]

Are there any particular ports in my lineup for which I should deviate from the above table?

Yes.

About 6 hours should work fine for the 1985 Graham and Warre, but the Dow and Fonseca need longer. I'd give the Dow 8-10 hours and the Fonseca at least 12. 16 wouldn't hurt the Fonseca, it's a beast.

4-6 hours sounds about right to me for the '85 and '77 Taylors. The 1994 is an odd bird - I find it relatively approachable with relatively little decanting, but given the time I'd decant it for 12-16 hours. Huge wine. The 2007 Taylor should probably be decanted the night before when you go to bed (which means tonight). 16-20 hours won't hurt it, it's just that young.

[Van W]

Thanks, Glenn. Except for the Taylor '07, I think I will be on track or pretty close to it for all of those decanting times.

By the way, since the question will probably come up: What was the difficulty that Taylor had throughout the 1980's?

[Glenn E.]

What was the difficulty that Taylor had throughout the 1980's?

I don't know, but if you compare the Ports released by Taylor in '70, '77, '87 (Vargellas), '92, and '94 with the ones produced in '80, '83, and '85 you'll probably find that the early '80s Taylor Ports don't hold up to the ones that came before and after.