Do you drink Port because you don't like dry wines?

This section is for those who have basics questions about, or are new to, Port. There are no "dumb" questions here - just those wanting to learn more!

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Why do you drink Port?

I love the way it tastes
16
43%
I prefer sweet wines and Port is sweet
1
3%
It is great after a meal
7
19%
I do not like dry red wines
2
5%
It is my favorite dessert wine
3
8%
I prefer to sip it without any type of food
5
14%
It is the best drink to pair with a great cigar
3
8%
 
Total votes: 37

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Roy Hersh
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Do you drink Port because you don't like dry wines?

Post by Roy Hersh »

The thread about white Port came as a surprise to me. A couple of the respondents mentioned they don't drink dry red wines (or at least don't like them) and alluded to this being the reason they drink Port and sweet dessert wines.

So I am curious as to the reasons for choosing Port above other drink options.
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
Todd Pettinger
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Re: Do you drink Port because you don't like dry wines?

Post by Todd Pettinger »

Roy Hersh wrote:The thread about white Port came as a surprise to me. A couple of the respondents mentioned they don't drink dry red wines (or at least don't like them) and alluded to this being the reason they drink Port and sweet dessert wines.
Hmm, wonder who those respondents were... :oops: ;) :hello:

I love Port. I don;t love red wine so much. Particularly dry red wines or those with a ton of oak in them. Overpowering perhaps... or perhaps I just have never been able to try any really awesome ones that I LOVE.

I guess I should qualify the above statement though... In trying more styles of Port, I have opened my mind (and as my palate evolves) my wallet, to trying more and more red wines. Some acclaimed wines are still horrid to my taste. Some I actually have come to learn to enjoy.
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Glenn E.
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Re: Do you drink Port because you don't like dry wines?

Post by Glenn E. »

Todd Pettinger wrote:
Roy Hersh wrote:The thread about white Port came as a surprise to me. A couple of the respondents mentioned they don't drink dry red wines (or at least don't like them) and alluded to this being the reason they drink Port and sweet dessert wines.
Hmm, wonder who those respondents were... :oops: ;) :hello:

I love Port. I don;t love red wine so much. Particularly dry red wines or those with a ton of oak in them. Overpowering perhaps... or perhaps I just have never been able to try any really awesome ones that I LOVE.

I guess I should qualify the above statement though... In trying more styles of Port, I have opened my mind (and as my palate evolves) my wallet, to trying more and more red wines. Some acclaimed wines are still horrid to my taste. Some I actually have come to learn to enjoy.
:stupid:

I went ahead and voted for "because I don't like dry red wines" even though several of the options would have worked.

I've never liked dry wines of any sort. Dry whites taste bitter to me, and dry reds tend to be far too tannic (and also taste bitter). I guess I just have a sweet tooth!
Glenn Elliott
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Bryan Robinson
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Re: Do you drink Port because you don't like dry wines?

Post by Bryan Robinson »

There were 3 options that fit me well, but I went with ‘I love the way it tastes’. Port is also great after a meal, and is my favorite desert wine. While not a fan of dry white Port, dry wines are high on my list, especially the really big red ones.

One other aspect to port not listed above is the longevity once opened. It is nice to be able to have one glass without worry over the rest of the bottle being bad the next day.
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Eric Ifune
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Re: Do you drink Port because you don't like dry wines?

Post by Eric Ifune »

I voted, I love the way it tastes and It goes great after a meal.
I love dry red and white table wines; fortified, sweet and dry; Sparkling wines; botrytis dessert wines; eisweins; most everything. My cellar is pretty eclectic. :D
Luc Gauthier
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Re: Do you drink Port because you don't like dry wines?

Post by Luc Gauthier »

When I joined over a year ago , I would have said : It enhances the " Peanut Butter Experience "
now , one year later , I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt , that It definitely enhances the nutty experience .
Vintage avant jeunesse/or the other way around . . .
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Andy Velebil
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Re: Do you drink Port because you don't like dry wines?

Post by Andy Velebil »

My vote was for "I love the way it tastes."

Since there was no "I love to drink it anytime" option, I only voted for the one above. Port is my favorite drink. It is something I can open anytime and have as much or as little as I want over the course of a few days. Although an open bottle rarely lasts more than 2 days in my house. I love the complexity, flavors, sweetness (I'm a sugar whore :lol: ) and I love aged wines...so Port really fits right in.

However, I also like dry wines. Douro wines are my favorite right now...but that goes without saying :roll: The past year I have been making an effort to get and try more dry wines, to expand my horizons. In that quest I've learned that I don't like all these over extracted super high alcohol Cali wines (rare exceptions of course). I love the "old school" style of Cab's, bordeaux, and Pinot...pinot is not supposed to be some super high alcohol fruit bomb people, it should be delicate like a flower...ok, my pinot rant is over, LOL. These "old school" ones seem to be like VP's that come alive years down the road and change into great old wines. In that respect if anyone wants to help ye 'ol Andy out in his quest to learn more about older dry wines, please feel free to....I'll bring the Port 8--)
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
Gary Banker
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Re: Do you drink Port because you don't like dry wines?

Post by Gary Banker »

I like sweet wines, but not exclusively. I also like fino sherry, sercial madeira, and red burgundy. Good port is pretty easy to find and reasonably priced, especially compared with madeira. Overall, I probably prefer port on its own rather than with food or after a meal.
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Rich Greenberg
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Re: Do you drink Port because you don't like dry wines?

Post by Rich Greenberg »

I love dry red wines (as I type, I'm finishing my last bottle of '02 Robert Craig Affinity.) I also have a few favorite dessert wines, particularly the German late harvest rieslings from the 70's and 80's that my dad keeps pulling out of the cellar!!! :) I am also a big fan of bourbon, and single malt scotch whisky. Tried 'em, liked 'em, keep drinkin' em'!! :)

I voted for "I like the way it tastes", since that's the reason that I drink any of the wines I like. I'm not a big fan of whites, so there's only a handful of Chardonnay in the house for my wife. My cellar is 99% red (California Cab, Bordeaux, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Port dominate.)

I must say I don't really get the cigar/port combination. If I'm going to drink anything while smoking a cigar, it's likely to be a lesser single malt whisky, as the cigar kills off the ability to detect nuance in anything I'm drinking anyway.

I eat and drink what I like.

Rich
Todd Pettinger
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Re: Do you drink Port because you don't like dry wines?

Post by Todd Pettinger »

andy velebil wrote: I love the complexity, flavors, sweetness (I'm a sugar whore :lol: ) and I love aged wines...so Port really fits right in.
Sugar whore... so that is the term to describe what I am huh?? ;) Thanks Andy... I have never heard that phrase before but if the shoe fits... :oops:
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