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In article >,
says...
>
>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

Ed,

In the "old days" Applejacks in Littleton, had a wonderful Port section with
many, many older Ports are reasonable prices. Last time I was up there though,
they were more BnB wine, and not even a shadow of their former self. However,
in Denver, The Vineyard, in Cherry Creek N had a very nice selection of Ports
with a few years on them. The prices were a bit up from Applejack's, but still
affordable.

It's getting to the point now, where I question the acquisition of recently
released Vintage Ports, because I won't live to enjoy them - so glad I put in
tons of '63s, '70's, '77s, "84s (never quite lived up to my expectations), and
'94s. I wish now I'd done even more '94s, but hey, we all know about
hindsight.

The guys up in Boulder (both Master Sommeliers), whose company's name I cannot
recall, also had some very nice aged Vintage Ports. How I miss my old
selections, because in AZ, the prices are over the top, and the selections are
in the cellars (figuratively).

I, too, think that the Taylor 20 yo Tawny is the top of the Tawny list.
Another that I'd recommend is the Porto Barros 20 Anos (obviously with the ~
on the n). Those two are as good as it gets, and the Porto Barros is so rare
here, that it is the cost of anyone from Denver coming to stay at my place and
play Winter golf!

To Port,
Hunt