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Fortified Wines
During the fermentation process,
yeast cells continue to convert sugar
into alcohol until the must reaches
an alcohol level of 16%–18%. At this
level, the alcohol becomes toxic to
the yeast and kills it. If fermentation
is allowed to run to completion, the
resulting wine will (in most cases) be
low in sugar and will be considered a
dry wine. The earlier in the
fermentation process that alcohol is
added, the sweeter the resulting wine
will be. For drier fortified wine styles,
such as sherry, the alcohol is added
after the end of fermentation or
shortly before the end.
Established in 1756, the Port Wine-producing Douro region is the
third oldest protected wine region in the world.
Port became very popular in England after the Methuen Treaty of
1703, when merchants were permitted to import it at a low duty,
while war with France deprived English wine drinkers of French
wine. The long trip to England often resulted in spoiled wine; the
fortification of the wine was introduced to improve the shipping
and shelf-life of the wine for its journey.
The continued English involvement in the port trade can be seen
in the names of many port shippers: Cockburn, Croft, Dow, Gould,
Graham, Osborne,Offley, Sandeman, Taylor and Warre being
amongst the best known.
History
Port Types
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Tawny ports are wines made from red grapes that
are aged in wooden barrels, exposing them to gradual
oxidation and evaporation. As a result, they gradually
mellow to a golden-brown colour. The exposure to
wood imparts "nutty" flavours to the wine,
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Ruby Port After fermentation it is stored in tanks
made of concrete or stainless steel to prevent
oxidative aging, and preserve its rich claret color. The
wine is usually blended to match the style of the
brand to which it is to be sold. The wine is fined and
cold filtered before bottling, and does not generally
improve with age.
White port is made from white grapes. There is a
range of styles of white port, from dry to very sweet.
Late Bottled Vintage (often referred to simply as
LBV) was originally wine that had been destined for
bottling as Vintage Port, but because of lack of
demand was left in the barrel for longer than had been
planned.
Vintage port is made entirely from the grapes of a
declared vintage year and accounts for about two
percent of a year's total port production. Not every
year is declared a vintage in the Douro.
Tio Pepe
Tío Pepe ("Uncle Joe") is a brand of Sherry,
the best selling brand in the world. It is best
known for its fino style of dry sherry made
from the palomino grape. The Tio Pepe brand
is owned by the Gonzalez Byass Sherry
house. Tio Pepe has based its recent success
on promoting itself as a very dry white wine to
be served with food, in doing so aiming to
differentiate itself from poor quality sherries
and their downmarket reputation. The Tio
Pepe soleras were established in 1844 and
have run uninterrupted since that time.
$32.99
Tyrells Aged Tawny
Special Aged Tawny is showing medium
amber/brown colour and is in brilliant condition.
The raisin-like nose is given more intensity by
a slight spirit lift. The palate has rich fruit and
good acid, which provides a well balanced
finish. The raisin-like nose is given more
intensity by a slight spirit lift. The palate has
rich fruit and good acid, which provides a well
balanced finish. A blend of Shiraz and
Grenache which has been aged for a minimum
of 5 years in small oak (barriques).
$27.42
Taylors 10 Year Tawny
• An exceptionally fine old tawny blend, aged
for 10 years in oak casks. Elegant and
smooth, combining delicate wood notes and
rich mellow fruit, it is bottled for immediate
drinking. A superb dessert wine, particularly
with dishes made with chocolate, coffee or
almonds, Taylor's 10 Year Old Tawny may
also be served at the end of the meal in the
same way as Vintage Port. TAYLOR 10
YEAR TAWNY PORT- was $44.50, now
$36.50 375ml- 93/100 Parker -in my opiinion
Taylor is the best of this type with more
aromatic personality,greater fruit and ripeness
with wonderful sweetness and lehgth. A
bargain for this genre.
$36.50/375
Fonseca LBV 2003 Unfiltered
• A robust, old-fashioned LBV with exceptional
body and grip produced primarily from foottrodden wines from Fonseca's vineyards.
It is intense, firm and long on the finish, with
impressive depth and complexity in the rich
Fonseca style.
• Poor mans Vintage Port for enjoying over the
next 10 years-sweet, intense and full-bodied with
attractive, supple, spicy, chocolately, blackberry
and cherry flavours.Velvety and well
structured,with a lovely intense finish
$39.95(was $65)
Taylors 2003 Vintage Port
• Taylor's Vintage Port 2003: Lovely nose,
with a typical Taylor's feminine, elegant
style, alongside dark fruits and beetroot
notes. Concentration here, but with finesse.
A slightly raw edge to the tannins, but with
good firm acids, and a feminine fruit style.
Has the style, and the structure to go the
distance. Good potential. 18+/20
• 98+/100 Parker-Remniscent of a stellar
vintage of Ch Latour,it is full-bodied,hugely
dense immensely rich as well as thick.
Armed with exceptional power, depth and
purity this Taylor is equal to the finest ever
crafted!
$134.50 (was $225)
Warres 1985 Vintage Port
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18.5 out of 20 Points
"Very very dark. Sweet, spicy, liquorice
nose. Very broad start to the palate and
then dried fruits on the finish. Lots of firm
tannins still. Still relatively embryonic.
Heat on the finish. Lovely spice on the
finish. Not the most stereotypically
feminine Warre style of wine. Powerful
finish. Almost brawny with some wild
fruit and flower flavours on the nose. Still
chewy."
Jancis Robinson, 18th September 2006
• Wine Spectator retasted in 2008- 91/100 – still
mellowing
$125