Port problem

[icantbejon]

I tried a port for the first time two nights ago and I was sadly disappointed. I've heard so much about it being a great compliment to cigars. I bought a bottle and it was so sweet I couldn't stand it. My wife had the same impression. So terrible! Has anyone heard of Six Grapes Port? Is that a decent bottle or did I just get a bad batch. I would say that I'm willing to try it a second time but if that particular brand is considered a good one, then I'll just not waste my time.

[skullnrose]

I really don't know much about port but a quick google search turned up this and it might be an interesting read for you. As far as pairing port with cigars i'm of no help.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/419939

[marge796]

Try a good Tawny port from Portugal. They have some really good ones out there in the 18-22 dollar price range. Enjoy :al


Chris

[mosesbotbol]

Has anyone heard of Six Grapes Port? Is that a decent bottle or did I just get a bad batch. I would say that I'm willing to try it a second time but if that particular brand is considered a good one, then I'll just not waste my time.

Six Grapes is not that good. At the lower end of the price spectrum, you are better off buying 10 or 20 year Tawny, or an LBV. Serving port correct is also important. LBV's should be run through cheesecloth. Port should be served just below room temperature.

Madeira is much better pick than port wine for cigars. Madeira has more acid in it and really compliments a cigar better. My first pick for reasonable Madeira would be Broadbent's 10 year or Leacock's Bual.

My picks for Port in what I assume is your price range:

Ramos Pinto 10 year tawny
Ramos Pinto LBV
Warre LBV
Warre Optimo
Kirkland/Costco 10 year tawny
Delaforce Eminence 10 year tawny
Ferreira 10 year tawny

[mosesbotbol]

Six Grapes is way on the sweeter end of the spectrum. Try a nice tawny and you should get more flavor and less sweet. Also Madeira is a much better compliment to cigars and there are a couple of threads about it here. Look for anything by mosesbotbol.

:tu

I put a reply into this thread.

[mastershogun]

Six Grapes is not that good. At the lower end of the price spectrum, you are better off buying 10 or 20 year Tawny, or an LBV. Serving port correct is also important. LBV's should be run through cheesecloth. Port should be served just below room temperature.

Madeira is much better pick than port wine for cigars. Madeira has more acid in it and really compliments a cigar better. My first pick for reasonable Madeira would be Broadbent's 10 year or Leacock's Bual.

My picks for Port in what I assume is your price range:

Ramos Pinto 10 year tawny
Ramos Pinto LBV
Warre LBV
Warre Optimo
Kirkland/Costco 10 year tawny
Delaforce Eminence 10 year tawny
Ferreira 10 year tawny

:r:dr:al:chr

[icantbejon]

Where do you guys regularly go to find these types of Ports? Should I have luck finding them in any wine store or are these hard to find items?

[Ollie]

Where do you guys regularly go to find these types of Ports? Should I have luck finding them in any wine store or are these hard to find items?

You should be able to find a good selection at Total Wine.

[icantbejon]

You should be able to find a good selection at Total Wine.

Unfortunately, that is too far of a drive to find a bottle of something I may or may not like.

[Hardcz]

Six Grapes is great. Lower on the acidic nature, sweet, if you swish it in your mouth, your tongue will tingle, one of my favorites...though I'm new to wine and it's one of the few I enjoy.

[KenS]

Could be a simple matter of "Port is not for you." I happen to like a lot of different ports, including six grapes, but my lovely bride doesn't like port at all, even though we both like very similar red wines (cab, pinot noir, barolo).

I do think it might be worth your while to try a tawny port to see if a little less sweetness does the trick, but in the end, drink what you like and like what you drink. :2

[icantbejon]

Could be a simple matter of "Port is not for you." I happen to like a lot of different ports, including six grapes, but my lovely bride doesn't like port at all, even though we both like very similar red wines (cab, pinot noir, barolo).

I do think it might be worth your while to try a tawny port to see if a little less sweetness does the trick, but in the end, drink what you like and like what you drink. :2

I think that's going to be my move. I'll try one of the recommended tawnys, assuming I can find them, and if that fails I'll just move on to something else.

[kaisersozei]

I think that's going to be my move. I'll try one of the recommended tawnys, assuming I can find them, and if that fails I'll just move on to something else.

The Krogers near us sell port, altho I don't think they stock most of the ones moses identified. You can find Sandeman's Tawny there for about $12, I think--my wife likes that one. I like the Fonseca Tawny, but always get that at Total Wine in Midlothian. They have a big selection, especially in the $15-$25 range.

[mosesbotbol]

Port may not be your tipple, try a nice tawny and report back.

As I mentioned earlier, Madeira is my first choice, followed by Oloroso/Amontillado Sherry or Champagne.

Other sweet wines I just adore are Tokay or Sauternes; both of which are women favorites so you significant other may enjoy them too.

[HK3-]

Port is a love hate relationship.... I for one love it. :al

Believe it or not you can get some nice ports from Sams club. ;)

[Pitmaster]

My wife and I were in Napa last year and I bought some Maderia from this place http://www.vsattui.com excellent with a cigar. Actually everythign we got there eas very good.
Mike

[BC-Axeman]

My wife and I were in Napa last year and I bought some Maderia from this place http://www.vsattui.com excellent with a cigar. Actually everythign we got there eas very good.
Mike
New rules in place make it so they can't really call it Madeira. I still have a couple of bottles of this. I think V.Sattui's regular port style wine is better.

[icantbejon]

I picked up a bottle of tawny port to try. I think it was called Sheffield. I guarantee it's not any of the best, but I'm hoping that it will give me an idea of whether or not it's even worth trying to find a better bottle.

[pnoon]

I picked up a bottle of tawny port to try. I think it was called Sheffield. I guarantee it's not any of the best, but I'm hoping that it will give me an idea of whether or not it's even worth trying to find a better bottle.

Jon - not to rain on your parade but I think your logic is flawed. Buying a cheap (< $10) bottle of port to see if you might like something better is akin to smoking a dog-rocket cigar to see if you might like a premium smoke. It probably isn't going to happen. I hope you like the Sheffield well enough to try something better because a fine tawny port is luscious.

My suggestion is to spend $15-$25 for a nice aged (10 year) tawny port. Fonseca and Taylor Fladgate make a decent one. There are some others as well. The suggestions others have made previously are all good.

:2

[icantbejon]

Jon - not to rain on your parade but I think your logic is flawed. Buying a cheap (< $10) bottle of port to see if you might like something better is akin to smoking a dog-rocket cigar to see if you might like a premium smoke. It probably isn't going to happen. I hope you like the Sheffield well enough to try something better because a fine tawny port is luscious.

My suggestion is to spend $15-$25 for a nice aged (10 year) tawny port. Fonseca and Taylor Fladgate make a decent one. There are some others as well. The suggestions others have made previously are all good.

:2

Sound logic you bring at me Pete. Here's my problem with the whole thing. I spent $25 on a bottle of regular port and absolutely hated it. Therefore, I didn't want to waste that much money again on a bottle I was going to take two sips out of. I agree with you completely that it is a flawed approach. I'm just hoping that this bottle gives me some faith in a tawny at all. If I like, but don't love this bottle I'll be willing to drop more money on one that is more costly.

[pnoon]

Sound logic you bring at me Pete. Here's my problem with the whole thing. I spent $25 on a bottle of regular port and absolutely hated it. Therefore, I didn't want to waste that much money again on a bottle I was going to take two sips out of. I agree with you completely that it is a flawed approach. I'm just hoping that this bottle gives me some faith in a tawny at all. If I like, but don't love this bottle I'll be willing to drop more money on one that is more costly.

I completely understand your thinking. I would be thinking the same way.

I've always felt that port, more than regular wine and cigars, is less desireable at the lower end. (Cheap port is really bad. :2) Some of the suggested tawny ports come in half-bottles for around $12-$15. An affordable tawny port is from Australia and is called Hardy's Whiskers Blake and runs around $13 for a full bottle. Not as refined as the aged tawny in the $20-$30 range but better than the cheapos.

Another option is to find someone (not necessarily a cigar smoker) in your social cirlcle who might want to sample a tawny as wwell and 2 or 3 of you could split the bottle.

You could always come out to the west coast and herf and drink with us SoCal BOTLs. :)

[kaisersozei]

You could always come out to the west coast and herf and drink with us SoCal BOTLs. :)


Or if I ever had time away from this freakin job :hn I could actually herf with the brother who lives maybe 30 minutes away :bh, and bring some good, but inexpensive, tawny.

Like this
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c104/AlmostAddicted/Tawny.jpg

[yourchoice]

...and bring some good, but inexpensive, tawny.

Like this
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c104/AlmostAddicted/Tawny.jpg

She does look cheap! :r

[TheRiddick]

An affordable tawny port is from Australia and is called Hardy's Whiskers Blake and runs around $13 for a full bottle. Not as refined as the aged tawny in the $20-$30 range but better than the cheapos.


Not sure he'll like this one, Oz sweets are mostly sugar and unless you get into high end you won't find much acidity in them.

Perhaps he needs to try a late harvest Zinfandel, they usually contain a nice doze of acidity and also do not have as much sugar. One to try is Dashe, comes in splits (and goes great with chocolate desserts as well). There are a few more great ones, but they rarely make it out of CA.

Another recommendation is to try Spanish Sherries, ones made from Pedro Ximenez grape, I find them more of a cigar drink than most Ports.

[mosesbotbol]

I picked up a bottle of tawny port to try. I think it was called Sheffield. I guarantee it's not any of the best, but I'm hoping that it will give me an idea of whether or not it's even worth trying to find a better bottle.

I guarantee that too.

It's like trying a Optimo for a cigar and saying you don't like cigars, so trying a Cohiba is not worth it...

A least get a tawny that is made in Portugal and has at least 10 years age on it.

[mosesbotbol]

If money is the issue, try some aged tawny by the glass at a restaurant. Great way to decide on spirits without buying a bottle also.

What was it about the $25 bottle you tried and did not like? Perhaps port is not for you? It's not for everyone. PX Sherry is nice with cigars, but you'll only be able to drink a glass or two. Sauternes, Tokay, Late Harvest, Ice Wines are all wonderful, but price is a big deal on these. Sweet wines really need a minimum pricepoint to taste like anything.

I do not recommend port wine from any other country thatn Portugal.

[mosesbotbol]

Another recommendation is to try Spanish Sherries, ones made from Pedro Ximenez grape, I find them more of a cigar drink than most Ports.

I'd say that is true for just about all Spanish Sherry. Poor man's Madeira, lol... Actually Sherry is a give away for the age and effort that goes into it. One of the last hidden gem values in the wine world.

Sherry was one of the most popular wine styles in the USA for a long time, and now it's totally off the radar.

[TheRiddick]

I'd say that is true for just about all Spanish Sherry. Poor man's Madeira, lol... Actually Sherry is a give away for the age and effort that goes into it. One of the last hidden gem values in the wine world.

Sherry was one of the most popular wine styles in the USA for a long time, and now it's totally off the radar.

Some are hit and miss and they are all in different styles (and grapes). Even PX ones are all over the board, some are great and some are too sweet for me with not enough acidity to carry them. But they are relatively affordable for what's in the bottle and are easy on the wallet to try a few to see what one likes.

I was just curious about your quote in the prior post, do you drink more than a glass or two with cigar?

[mosesbotbol]

I was just curious about your quote in the prior post, do you drink more than a glass or two with cigar?

Not of PX, actually not more than two glasses of anything with just one corona size cigar. I actually drink water most of the time with a cigar.

[TheRiddick]

Thought so :-) I know a lot of us can easily handle a bottle or more of dry wines, but when it comes to sweet stuff it is no more than glass, just too much stuffing in there.

[mosesbotbol]

Thought so :-) I know a lot of us can easily handle a bottle or more of dry wines, but when it comes to sweet stuff it is no more than glass, just too much stuffing in there.


I have no problem killing a bottle of port by myself, but with a serious cigar, it's hard to drink as much. Our port tasting are set for a bottle a person. I've gone up to about 2 bottles before... Don't tell me my healthcare provider :al :wo

[tooomanycolors]

bogle tawnt or sandemans reserve arent bad

[SkinsFanLarry]

....or a good tawny port from Australia.

Fonseca does make some very good ones, my first was Fonseca Bin 29.

[Old Sailor]

The best so far for me is Taylor Fladgate 20 yr. Hard to find here though, but well worth it.:2

[mosesbotbol]

Warre's "Nimrod" Port is suppose to be excellent for the price. Have not had it before, but I trust the people who told me.