For The Love Of Port

I just had an interesting opportunity. Every year, a friend of mine gives a New Year's Day party. I generally bring a couple of bottles of some nice red wines, AND I bring Paul a bottle of Tawny Port (Nimrod)

Now Paul isn't much of a drinker. He only drinks Tawny Port and only drinks it rarely. When I gave him this year's bottle, he asked if I'd like a drink from a bottle that was already open. He had not got around to opening last year's bottle until this past summer, when he finished the bottle I gave him on 1/1/2008. (That one was open for 18 months! but I never got to taste that one.)

I was a bit leery, but said, "Sure." I was surprised. It was drinking very nicely. Paul said, "We DO put the cork back in before we put it back in the cupboard." Whatever, it was very nice after being opened 6 months ago. Very smooth and nutty, with almost all the fruit gone. Very little tartness, tannins or heat, just the slightly astringent taste of a great, nutty Tawny with some of the oxidized character of a Madeira or ancient-solera Sherry. All-in-all, I quite liked it but I can't imagine how I might duplicate this regimen of aging around this household. (Pour out a glassful and then recork it and hide it in a closet somewhere?)

but I can't imagine how I might duplicate this regimen of aging around this household. (Pour out a glassful and then recork it and hide it in a closet somewhere?)

I love when people answer their own questions and make our job so much easier.

The fact that the Nimrod or almost any Tawny with an indication of age ... can "survive" is not all that surprising. The fact that it was Sherry or Madeira-like, may have made for an interesing, nuanced science experiment of a drink, but that is far from how most of us want to "enjoy" this type of Port. Again, given the fortification/aguardente added ... this probably could "last" even a full year as mentioned after six months ... but it would not deliver even close to a similar level of pleasure this wine is capable of during its first month of being open. So although intriguing to taste, even to read about ... I am not sure I'd (I shouldn't speak for others on this) ever consider trying this experiment for myself. Thanks for taking one for the team.

Well, I bet there is still 1/3 of that bottle left. I may just take a fresh bottle out there and ask Paul if he would like to participate in a side-by-side. Or, possibly he might swap that one for a fresh one.

It might be worth the exercise. You'll certainly learn something from it no matter how the comparison turns out.

A house across the street from my parents' house on Cape Cod was hit by a cannonball from the HMS Nimrod in 1813. Just found out about this recently.

As I have often said, only in the US does "Nimrod" mean a foolish person. Everywhere else Nimrod is "a mighty hunter". Warner Brothers has a LOT to answer for. OTOH, most of us know a lot more about opera music than we would otherwise, given our exposure to several bits of great operas in various WB/Loony tunes cartoons. (Notably, bits of Wagner, Barber of Seville, etc.)