Port wine recommendation

[BLACKHORSE 6]

Looking to see if anyone has a recommendation for a good port wine.

Thanks!

[Chrasmus]

Depending on how much you want to spend, I would go with a good Tawny. Less risky than a Vintage Port, and easier to open the bottle ��. I like the Fonseca or Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Tawnys. If you want to spend more, they also have 30 or 40 Year Tawnys.

[Brenngun]

Hi Dave. When it comes to ports most people only consider a tawny or ruby. We love ports and have tried a number o them over the years. If you want to try something a little different consider a white port. There are a number of fully aged fortified white ports that are aged in the exact same way as a good tawny but they take on very intense but elegant flavors. One thing you'll notice is well aged white ports will take on darker color so they can look like a tawny but the taste is the difference.

Here's a couple of our favorites: Quevedo 30 year, Bulas 20 year & J H Andresen 40 year

[996marty]

You can do a search as to which years were the best years ( growing condition wise)personally Id do that. As you are buying the standout year from maybe two or three a decade. From memory 1983 1985 were good years but don’t quote me on that

[GB-man]

With big brand tawnies my opinion 20 is good but 30 is the sweet spot. Don’t overspend on 40. I don’t find the taste improved at all, quite the opposite.

Graham 30, Dow 30, Sandeman 20/30, cockburn 20 some of my go to bottles.

[Andad]

We have 80 wineries within 50km from home.

Most make a port. Come over and try some Dave..

[BLACKHORSE 6]

Thank you all for the replies!

[BLACKHORSE 6]

Originally Posted by GB-man

With big brand tawnies my opinion 20 is good but 30 is the sweet spot. Don’t overspend on 40. I don’t find the taste improved at all, quite the opposite.

Graham 30, Dow 30, Sandeman 20/30, cockburn 20 some of my go to bottles.

This is great. Don’t think my palate is that refined when it comes to any type of wine so the expensive stuff is usually not what I go for. Typically the wife and I will spend between $30 and $40 for a bottle of wine.

[BLACKHORSE 6]

Originally Posted by Andad

We have 80 wineries within 50km from home.

Most make a port. Come over and try some Dave..

Only if the trip includes a run to Alice Springs and back. Always wanted to explore the interior of Australia!

[BNA/LION]

Taylor Fladgate 20 Yr Tawny is a good go-to Port. We've experienced with many and for a reasonable price it is nice. Also, keep several older bottles for special occasions.

[Rock]

Australia makes many great Tawny and Vintage Ports (as well as other fortified wine styles) but I suppose you have plenty of local Makers to choose from.
Vintage Port is interesting but I buy them young and then cellar them for around 15 - 20 years, which is OK for wine hobbyists, I suppose. I find that not everybody appreciates Vintage Port (and doesn't want to go to the trouble of decanting and eliminating the sediment)
Tawny Port on the other hand does not improve in the bottle and so will depend on the age and quality of the source material. Some will claim a lot of aged material but there may be a lot of difference in quality from Maker to Maker. A good 'Rule of thumb' is simply price. Once you are up around $100./bottle you generally get a pretty good Port.
Port styles have changed over 50 years. When I was a young buck there was a lot of big, heavy, rich aged Tawnys on the market for very reasonable prices - now very rare - mostly younger, lighter more spirity styles. Pity.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by BLACKHORSE 6

This is great. Don’t think my palate is that refined when it comes to any type of wine so the expensive stuff is usually not what I go for. Typically the wife and I will spend between $30 and $40 for a bottle of wine.

You’ll find that decent port is more expensive than decent reds or whites unfortunately. If you want to stay around 50 look for the 20 year bottles from sandeman, Taylor, graham etc if you enjoy that bottle I suggest stepping up to a 30 at least once to see if the price difference is worth it to your palate (~90-120). I would avoid going for a vintage bottle unless spending far more. I struck out on a couple.

My wife’s father is Portuguese so I had a crash course in this stuff ten years ago.

[wantonebad]

Warre's Dow Taylor Graham are some producers I prefer for vinyage ports and they need at least 25 years of age preferably more!!