Sunday, January 17, 2021
Eastlife
  • Home
  • Counties
    • Beds
    • Herts
    • Cambridgeshire
    • Essex
    • Norfolk
    • Suffolk
  • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Where to pickup your FREE copy of eastlife
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • What’s on
No Result
View All Result
Eastlife
  • Home
  • Counties
    • Beds
    • Herts
    • Cambridgeshire
    • Essex
    • Norfolk
    • Suffolk
  • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Where to pickup your FREE copy of eastlife
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • What’s on
No Result
View All Result
Eastlife
No Result
View All Result

How to choose the perfect Port

Matt Dicks by Matt Dicks
March 9, 2020
in All Counties, Food & Drink
0 0
0
Home All Counties

wine tipsChristmas is almost upon, and it’s time to take the Port out of storage. If you’re in need of a refill, our wine specialist Matt Dicks, WSET qualified Beers, Wines and Spirits Specialist for Waitrose, picks his selection of the best Ports on the shelf this festive season…

Before starting this article, we must beg the question what do two ports make? The answer is simply a harbour. Whilst this may not be the best joke to be pulled from a Christmas cracker, nor from my joke book, it does give us a reminder that the festive season is fast approaching and some of use may be on the lookout for warming drinks to serve during the colder months. However, there’s more to port than merely a boring, last-gasp tipple at the end of an illustrious meal. You may also have previously tasted it and thought of it as a sickly-sweet beverage which is confined to a thimble sized glass. 

In the past this fortified tipple may have had a whiff of nostalgia about it, coupled with shrinking sales worldwide, one may point the finger towards port’s demographic of maiden aunts, members of musty men’s social clubs and characters in a Agatha Christie novel sitting in leather-clad armchairs smoking a cigar. But, all is not lost as there are a new generation of port fans skipping merrily towards Lisbon, on the trail of something new, exhilarating and exciting. Gone are the days where port was the tipple of choice to pair with Stilton on a yuletide evening, it is now accepted by the masses as an all year-round trendy drink. 

Putting our own thoughts and encounters with port aside, this historic drink is produced in one of the most picturesque parts of the world, the Douro Valley, where vines are grown gracefully on terraces lining the sides of this steep sided valley. Comprising of the majestic rain-swept city of Oporto at the western end (the rainfall totals here are like those of Manchester) and the baking hot Douro Superior at the other, close to the Spanish border, this is a product the Portuguese are justifiably proud of.

The sheer steepness of the granite-laden valley sides means that most of the work in the vineyard must be done by hand and a blend of indigenous black grape varieties is used, with Touriga Nacional recognised as an important variety. Traditionally, grapes were trodden by foot in large, concrete lagares. Whilst this still happens, mainly for marketing purposes and for some top-end ports, the use of mechanisation is now the standard production procedure. In the spring after harvesting the wine is shipped down the river to the coastal town of Vila Nova de Gaia, where it matures in aerated lodges. 

With so many styles to choose from, it may be hard to know where to begin, so here are my top tipples for pure port pleasure: 

Cockburns Fine Ruby Port 

Ruby ports are a blend of young wines from different harvests that are aged for an average of two to three years in oak vats before being blended and bottled. This full-bodied port, with ripe red fruit flavours of fresh cherry and raspberry is complimented by a long, elegant finish. 

Taylor’s Late-Bottled Vintage Port 

Ports labelled as late-bottled vintage emulate the vintage-style, however they do not throw a sediment (or crust) are therefore ready to drink. Rich and full-bodied, this fruity port is aged five to six years in wood prior to bottling. Displaying layer upon layer of fruit and spice, firm tannins and a very long, harmonious finish. The perfect pairing for a slice of homemade fruitcake. 

Graham’s 10-Year-Old Tawny Port 

This delicious port has spent a minimum of 10 years ageing in seasoned oak casks turning it from bright ruby to a deep, glowing tawny colour. Toasted nuts and dried figs on the nose are followed by mellow caramel and toffee richness on the mouth. Delicious when served chilled as an apéritif. 

Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage 1998 

This second wine of the renowned Fonseca house is from an undeclared but very good vintage. Big and vibrant in flavour showing notes of dark and ripe cherry, plum and damson with hints of liquorice. The voluptuous fruit needs a well-flavoured partner so try with strong cheeses or rich chocolate desserts. 

Offley Rosé Port 

Here is the result when you combine the freshness and delicacy of rosé wine with the elegance and charisma often associated with port. Pushing the boundaries of port into unchartered territory, this vibrant and fruity port is bursting with red cherry, raspberry and poached plums and doesn’t require decanting. Try with baked Camembert. 

Taylor’s Chip Dry White Port 

If you are looking for a great tipple to serve when greeting friends at your home then this benchmark dry white port should be firmly at the top of your shopping list. Taylor’s pioneered the white port style more than 50 years ago and it has been a favourite in households to this day. Serve well-chilled over ice with tonic and a sprinkling of fresh mint leaves for that perfect refresher. 

For more wine tips follow Matt on Twitter @vinopatrol

ShareTweetShare
Matt Dicks

Matt Dicks

Matt Dicks has been a Drinks Specialist for Waitrose & Partners since 2006, where he was given his first opportunity to explore the industry. Often seen presenting across the country at various national events, he holds a variety of Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) certificates. With a desire to study in the capital, he became a student at the London International Wine and Spirit School and graduated the WSET Diploma in 2019. Matt is also a judge for a variety of drinks competitions and also teaches new Drinks Specialists for the Partnership.

Next Post

5 reasons to visit Saffron Walden this Christmas

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

A walk around Saffron Walden and Audley End Park

May 22, 2020

Six safe and secure dog fields

March 27, 2020

10 of the Best Essex Villages to Visit

March 11, 2020

The Best Dog Walks in Suffolk

March 12, 2020

The best ghost tours in East Anglia

1
The Best Farm Shops in Bedfordshire

East Anglia’s Best Farm Shops

0

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Essex

0

Eastlife’s editor reviews the Cambridge Food Tour

0
The Best Farm Shops in Bedfordshire

East Anglia’s Best Farm Shops

January 15, 2021
How to be vegan 3 days a week

How to be vegan 3 days a week

January 12, 2021
Valentine’s Day in Cambridge

Valentine’s Day in Cambridge

January 12, 2021
How to achieve more income from your holiday let with less work in Norfolk

How to achieve more income from your holiday let with less work in Norfolk

January 8, 2021
Eastlife

East of England’s essential guide for what’s on around the region! Allowing you to make the most of where you live.
Read more

Categories

  • All Counties
  • All Sections
  • Around the Region
  • Arts
  • Beds
  • Beds, Bucks & Herts
  • Cambridgeshire
  • Competitions
  • Consumer
  • Dog-Friendly
  • Education
  • Essex
  • Fashion
  • Featured news
  • Food & Drink
  • Health
  • Herts
  • Lifestyle
  • Little East
  • Motoring
  • Norfolk
  • Other
  • Property
  • Publications
  • Seasonal
  • Suffolk
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Weddings

Tags

48 hrs afternoon tea Christmas CPPF Dogs Easter family days out Farm shop Father Christmas festive days out Half Term Halloween ice skating keep Livelife Magazine Martin Lewis merge Mothers Day New Year shopping Theatre Tour Guide win Wine winter walks

Recent News

The Best Farm Shops in Bedfordshire

East Anglia’s Best Farm Shops

January 15, 2021
How to be vegan 3 days a week

How to be vegan 3 days a week

January 12, 2021

© 2020 Local Media Publishing - Site managed by Doug Dawson Creative.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Counties
    • Beds
    • Herts
    • Cambridgeshire
    • Essex
    • Norfolk
    • Suffolk
  • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Where to pickup your FREE copy of eastlife
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • What’s on

© 2020 Local Media Publishing - Site managed by Doug Dawson Creative.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In