On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 17:11:47 -0500, Mark Lipton >
wrote:

>Hunt wrote:
>
>> In the "ruby" area, I'd try the "branded" Graham's Six Grape, and also begin
>> branching out toward vintage with some of the LBV (Late Bottled Vintage)
>> rubies, that are much less expensive, than vintage, but quite good. Most are
>> closer to a weak vintage, than to the normal rubies.
>
>One thing to add to your good advice: LBVs, unlike tawnies, do not last
>long once opened.
>
>Mark Lipton

Too true. It isn't that they go bad, it's simply that they get
consummed. A snowy winter's evening and a fire in the fire place will
almost always be good for a second glass....

But, on topic, I like the reserve tawnies, Taylor Fladgate and others
produce them in 10, 20 and 40 year styles and for my taste the 20 year
is the best value for the money. I've tried some of the LBV's and find
too much variation for me to get a sense of what they are about.
Typically they come across as more ruby than tawny and not what I
prefer. And, having entered the serious port game too late in life, I
didn't lay down bottles of vintage ports when young to be enjoyed now
and I can't afford vintage port that is drinkable which someone else
has laid down.

Fallback position for me has been a dependence upon the Australian
"ports" which are mostly in the tawny style (at least what shows up in
my area). For $8-20/bottle, I get a warm, comfortable port that I
don't hesitate to consume. Clocktower is a pretty good example as is
Whiskers Blake which I usually throw in the shopping cart whenever I'm
in the giant liquor emporium whether I need it or not.

Recently I bought four bottles of Quinta Noval Silvado 2000,
recommended by Sam's in Chicago. Don't know what is in store, but will
probably pull a cork on the first cold night in Colorado this fall.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
"Phantom Flights, Bangkok Nights"
Both from Smithsonian Books
***www.thunderchief.org