Port, Sherry, Fortified wine drinkers

masraum · 03-12-2007, 01:56 PM

Anyone around enjoy any of the fortified wines? What are your favorites?

I've had some Sherry Fino and some Tawny Port. I don't care for completely dry stuff, so the Sherry Fino wasn't my thing. The port was yummy though.

I've done some research on them recently because I didn't know much about them and was curious. I'm curious what other's thoughts and experiences are.

I actually spent a couple of summers in the Andalucia region of Spain. It's a beautiful area. I didn't try much of the Sherry while I was there, but loved the Sangria at the various restaurants. It's unfortunately that most Sangria in the states is crap. Much easier to make your own.

stomachmonkey · 03-12-2007, 02:13 PM

I drink 20 yr old Tawny Ports like they are going out of style.

My wife describes the experience as "it hugs your mouth".

Just try different labels and you'll qquickly find your fav. It's actually hard to find a bad one.

Zeke · 03-12-2007, 02:17 PM

Jeez, I thought you were gonna ask me about my Thunderbird habit.

Jim Richards · 03-12-2007, 02:20 PM

Well, since you brought it up...

304065 · 03-12-2007, 02:26 PM

I made it through every Tutorial at Oxford with Tio Pepe. I highly recommend it.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Mount Palomar Sherry from Temecula, CA is my all-time favorite!

holtjv · 03-12-2007, 02:32 PM

Look for the cheapest vintage port--doesn't necessarily mean you'll like it the most but it works for me.

It took me years to try port wine again after having the most foul crap invented during Marine Corps Mess nights. Makes thunderbird look like..well, it makes it look better. If I recall, we paid $4/bottle for it. Maybe $9.

Good luck--port is great stuff, especially with a cigar after a big steak meal.

Jack

tabs · 03-12-2007, 02:33 PM

Mr Galliano of Mira Loma makes some fine Fortified wines. He usually wins the Gold and Silver Medals at the CA State Fair and has high rating with Wine Spectator.

I was out at his Winery in Mira Loma for Cigar smokers on several occasions, in which we wandered around from barrel to barrel tasting the various offerings late at night. He would say, "Try this one, its not quiet ready yet, maybe another year."

holtjv · 03-12-2007, 02:34 PM

should have clarified 'vintage' for any other former Marines out there like me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_wine

Zeke · 03-12-2007, 03:05 PM

Ficklin "Tinta" Port is good. The reserve stuff is way good.

DByers · 03-12-2007, 03:25 PM

Warres Vintage Port works for my house. Daniel Ghers Fireside Port is a local brand from the Santa Ynez Valley that is also quite good.

cbeers · 03-12-2007, 03:59 PM

Ports are like anything else, some good well made ones, some cheaper to the masses.

Also, check out Madeira. Similar but very different and I think you would enjoy it.

Then, look at late harvest dessert wines of both white and red varietals. They are becoming more and more available as the wine buying public becomes more and more educated and begins searching out new wines.

Typically port is non vintage, blended from many in fact. To be a vintage, it has to be 'declared' as such and is usually reserved for the better years. All generalities.

Also, many wineries make ports as projects and often you can get them through the winery but not in the general stores.

Have fun, but limit your consumption, the sweetness can give some nasty feelings the next day

-Chris

MikeSid · 03-12-2007, 04:19 PM

Fonseca Bin 27 is a decent daily driver.

Sandman is absolute crap. Lower priced Warres is rough too.

Beyond that... I haven't found a 20 year tawny that I didn't like.

Vintage stuff can be overrated. Had a 62 Cockburns, wasn't impressed and damn glad I didn't pay for it. Never had a Colheita though. Might change my mind. But I can't see how a vintage in a fortified is all that important.

For my dollar, I'll take a Tawney with some age on it from a reputable house, Fonseca, Noval, Warres, Rocha, Cockburns, etc.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Trader Joe's sells some decent ports

RallyJon · 03-12-2007, 06:05 PM

Yeah, 20 year tawny is the price/performance sweet spot. It will also hold together for a few weeks if you vacuvin it.

Vintage port is just too much money and effort. Either you spend $60-100 and wait a generation, or you spend a fortune and roll the dice with an old bottle.

Something else that's interesting: Vin Santo. Made in the hot attics of Chianti producers by adding new Malvasia to an often century old "mother" of freaky mutated yeast.

Zeke · 03-12-2007, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RallyJon
Yeah, 20 year tawny is the price/performance sweet spot. It will also hold together for a few weeks if you vacuvin it.

Vintage port is just too much money and effort. Either you spend $60-100 and wait a generation, or you spend a fortune and roll the dice with an old bottle.

Something else that's interesting: Vin Santo. Made in the hot attics of Chianti producers by adding new Malvasia to an often century old "mother" of freaky mutated yeast.

Wow. Sounds like you're well informed on this subject. I just knew that Fickin was more or less responsible for bringing a decent port to market 50-70 years ago. Just like E and J Gallo did with Thunderbird, huh?

The story behind TB is interesting. Winos were cutting cheap fortified wine with lemon juice when Ernest found out. He had TB formulated to sell to that market. There were even some lyrics to an old song, "WPLJ, really tastes good to me." White port and lemon juice. I can find the recording if anyone is interested.

Not a highly altruistic endeavor on Gallo's part, mind you. Gallo became the 2nd largest producer and distributor of wines due to this type of thinking in the 50's and 60's. They went on to own several brands and qualities of wines in their success. Earnest Gallo died recently at 90 something. His one brother, Julio, was killed in an auto accident in the 80's. The other left the business early on.

They used to have a running competition, if you will. Julio would say, "I can make more wine than you can sell." To which Ernest would reply, "I can sell more wine than you can make."

A partnership made in heaven. No wonder the 3rd brother left. The younger Gallo generation now runs what I think is still a privately held entity and amounts to a top 400 Fortune 500 company.

(A lot of my info came from an LA Times article about EG's death. So, if I got any of it wrong, well.......drink some wine.)

masraum · 03-12-2007, 06:58 PM

Great info guys, thanks.

ledhedsymbols · 03-13-2007, 09:00 AM

Warre's Otima is the usual I have around the house. A friend of mine makes his own port style wines. Every year he gives me a few bottles for Christmas.
He made one in 2003 with different berries as well as grapes, and fortified with cognac. Every time I open a bottle it gets better and better. I only have one left and I just can't decide when I should open it.
He calls it Mellizo which means "twin" IIRC

Micah

cashflyer · 03-13-2007, 09:15 AM

Although Thunderbird was one of Ernest's earliest offerings after prohibition, and arguably one of the best sellers at the time - You may note on your Tbird bottle that E&J does not appear as the vintner or distributor. Even their website fails to mention TBird.

This was because of a move by the Gallo company to become more "upscale" in it's offerings. The label says it is made by "Thunderbird, LTD".

What's the word?

Here's some good Port info:
http://www.roadkill.com/~davet/portWineFAQ.html

Wine Spectator indicates that 1994 vintage is the best in recent stock.

M.D. Holloway · 09:40 AM

Tawny, Ruby...heck, any Port in a storm. A nice cordial of Grandes seems to work pretty well. I have had 1927 Port ($800/bottle) and some stuff from Taylor ($25/bottle) and both were good.

Feel free to send me any sample you would like me to try.