Event: Port tasting, 6 Ports, 40 participants!

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Assisted in a port tasting downtown Thursday night. Good turnout, a few port rookies and some very nice ports.

1) NV Croft Pink Port. Very good nose, pleasant, watermelon. Nice mellow finish, strawberry. Go to croftpink.com for cocktail recipes. $27 Cdn.
2) Quinta do Infantado 10 year Old Tawny Port. Not well received, very hot finish with not enough true tawny flavors ie raisins, dried fruits. $45, ouch.
3) 1982 Messias Colheita. Close to WOTN. Excellent, smooth, sweet caramel on nose. Solid, not too sweet on palate, roasted nuts, light molasses. $87.
4) NV Senhora do Convento Ruby Port. Small house, quintadehonor.com. Quite a big turn-around in the glass after an hour. Initially thought closed nose, needs more structure, too much acidity. But later some chocolate and rich ripe fruit and much better balance overall. Good tannins, good price at $29.
5) 2006 Quinta Nova Senhora do Carmo LBV Port. I am a big fan of the reds from here! Not a very expressive nose here, closed? Soft finish, drink now. Not a big style, needs more dark fruits but good tannins. New operation, bound to get better in time. $33.
6) 2007 Quinta do Portal Vintage Port. Roy H likes this, I seem to remember. My WOTN and true for many present. Big thumbs up, very good tannins, dark colour. Exceptional length, sweet red fruits on the nose, spice. Palate showed chocolate, plums, cherry and blackcurrant.
$62 but also available in splits. Go buy!

[Andy Velebil]

Very cool assortment of Ports, some not often seen in these parts, and a great mix for people new to Ports to try.

The Infantado I'm not a fan of, actually, never really been impressed with much of their Ports.

2006 Quinta Nova Senhora do Sarmo LBV Port

Just noticed a typo...it's Carmo, not Sarmo. A house that is getting better each year and a house to keep an eye on in the future for sure. They've got some stellar dry wines already and their Ports are also generally getting better with each passing year.

The Convento Ruby was a little pricey then I remembered you're in Canada...nuff said