I need a recommendation

Post by **Glenn E.** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:45 am

Most of the Ports that I enjoy are tawnies or colheitas. I would like to experience a really good ruby, though, because I suspect that part of the reason I prefer tawnies is that I haven't tasted a really good ruby.

So... some background on my preferences.

I'm not a red wine drinker - the tannins aren't to my liking. I enjoy tasting them for comparison purposes, but I can't recall ever finishing an entire glass of red wine.

I'm also not really a white wine drinker because they're generally too dry for me. I've had a few Rieslings - particularly the sweeter grade German wines - that I have enjoyed, but those are rare as well.

I do enjoy dessert wines as long as they're not too syrupy. Trockenbeerenausleses and Beerenausleses (the two sweetest grades of German white wines) are among my favorites.

My favorite Port so far is a 1977 Porto Rocha Colheita. But the 20-yr old Quinta do Bom Retiro from Ramos Pinto is right up there. The Rocha is, to me, exceptionally smooth and well integrated which I find appealing. The Ramos Pinto has bolder - perhaps rounder? richer? - flavors. I might eventually switch to it as my favorite, but since I've only had it once (and that was in Portugal sitting on a terrace on a stunningly beautiful afternoon, so my opinion of it might be slightly biased

) I'm not ready to proclaim it the best I've tasted.

I have tasted a few rubies and can tell the difference between various house styles, but I'm not yet capable of describing those differences to others. Which makes it difficult to describe what I think I might like.

So... I'm reasonably certain that the softer the tannins the better. I tend to prefer fruitier flavors, but not to the point where they're smacking you in the face (or becoming "grapey"). And I also seem to like wines and Ports that others describe as "mellow" or "smooth." Which in my brief experience seems to come with age.

All that being said, what would you recommend? I suppose you'll need a price range, so let's try to keep it under $100 for a bottle. (Recommendations over that price are welcome, though, as I'll keep them for future reference!)

Kris Henderson · Post by **Kris Henderson** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:08 pm

Hi Glenn,

I can think of a couple things to try. First would be a basic ruby Port from any of the producers. Graham's Six Grapes is a good bottle in this style. It will have sweet supple tannins. Noticeable but not overwhelming. This may be too fruity and grapey for you though. A bonus is that it's cheap (less than $20) so if you do not like it, it's no big loss.

Moving up in quality, you could try a LBV. Some of my favorites are 1998 Ramos Pinto, 2000 Ramos Pinto, and 1995 Warre. These are ready to drink when released and usually aren't too tannic. The bottles I mentioned above have been on the market for awhile so have some bottle age and a little extra time for the tannins to integrate. These are still affordable at around $25 a bottle.

If you want to try a Vintage Port, you'll need something with age on it since these can be fiercely tannic when young. I recently opened a 1977 Warre that was very nice. It had well integrated tannins, was smooth and supple on the palate with nice but not overpowering fruit flavors. wine-searcher.com shows it is available from three retailers for less than $100.

Moses Botbol · Post by **Moses Botbol** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:16 pm

Sandeman 20 year tawny

Richard Henderson · Post by **Richard Henderson** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 4:15 pm

Look for a ferreira 1985 or 97. SHould be within $100

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:10 pm

Glen,

When you use the term "ruby" are you including the Reserve, LBV, Vintage and Crusted styles or are you just talking plain old Ruby Port?

On the assumption that you are including all of these I would suggest you would find the characteristics you are searching for in most Single Quinta Vintage Ports of around 20 to 25 years old. The very best of these will still have big tannic backbones but most should have reached full maturity and be soft, mellow and delicious.

I'm not sure what you can buy for $100 where you are but in the UK that would buy me at least 2 bottles of most of these wines

Derek

Post by **Glenn E.** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:04 pm

Thanks for all the replies!

Kris - I've tried Graham's Six Grapes and it was a little too fruity, as you said. It's one of the better "basic" rubies that I have tried, though. I've sort of skipped LBVs for the most part, though I did try one while in Portugal that was pretty good. I'll have to give the bottles you recommended a try.

Moses - I had the Sandeman 20-yr old at the lodge and it was great! The 20-yr old tawnies seem to be the top of the value curve for me. The older ones are somewhat nicer, generally, but the cost goes up out of proportion to me.

Richard - Will the '97 be old enough yet, or is that one that I would need to lay down for a couple of decades? I'm not opposed to that, but what I'm really looking for at the moment is something I can try now that would tell me whether or not I should occupy more space in my wine cellar for a case of '94 or '97. Even if those are superb vintages, it doesn't make all that much sense for me to lay down a case of a style I'm just not that fond of.

Derek - I use that to mean all of the above (ruby vs tawny), but in this case was really only thinking of Vintage Ports. I have tried a handful of the plain old "Ruby Ports" and haven't been fond of them... I think my tastes are a little more expensive than that. I have a hard time finding anything 25+ years old under $100 around here, but could always order over the internet. Shipping a VP seems like it would disturb the sediment something fierce, though, which I suppose isn't a problem as long as I can resist the urge to open it right away.

Richard Henderson · Post by **Richard Henderson** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:16 pm

Ferreira tends to be forward or drink just fine after 10 years. My very first VP was 77 Ferreria tried in 1987. At 11 years I think it is ready now and in a style you are describing. Buy one bottle , open it decant 4-6 hours and try it.

Bill Crann · Post by **Bill Crann** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:39 pm

Dow's makes a nice basic ruby. For $10 or $12 it's a nice easy but very good ruby. It's not as fruity as Six Grapes which I never cared for.
A traditional LBV would probably be a good experience for you and it would cost only about $25. Look for Warre, Niepoort, Noval, and Smith Woodhouse, in no particular order. They all make high quality unfiltered LBV.
Good luck trying them out.

BC