"port" from other places

[Richard Henderson]

I appreciate Roy's explanation, and I was not trying to divert the topic. I think the idea of having a separate forum for other port style or even other dessert wines would be great. "other discussions" seems a little too generic.

On the specific topic in which Andy asked what other non-Portuguese port we have tried and enjoyed lately....
One is the Alasia Commandaria from Cyprus which claims to be the first wines of its style ever made claiming 4000 years. It was drunk during the Crusades by Crusaders . It is widely used as a communion wine in the orthodox church. It is not a fortified wine but the color and taste are very much like port. It has a pale ruby with slight amber tints color and tastes like port to me. Sometimes it seems like ruby and other times like a tawny, sort of a hybrid, maybe colheita is a better comparison. It probably would not fool someone like Roy, but I think a lot of port lovers tasting it blind would think it is port. The alcohol is stated at 15%. It is surprising that they get it that sweet with that much alcohol without fortifying but they let the grapes get overripe and then sun dry them to get more sugar and they must have some strain of yeast that survives that much alcohol.
It is quite good about 90 points. Great value if you can find it around $20.
I also like the Heitz Cellars Ink Grade, another 90 points and the wine I think for which I was told years ago in this forum would not fit on this board under "port". Glad it now "fits".
The Heitz states on its label that it is fortifed (18%) and is following a specific blending of tradtional port from Portuguese grape varietals. That is a curiosity in itself as one does not think of those varietals being grown or otherwise being present in Napa.

[Roy Hersh]

Richard, thanks for understanding. I may consider adding an area for non-Portuguese port-style-wines, but won't knee jerk that for now.

I have had some fantastic Heitz 1994 vintage port-style wine that I've really enjoyed tremendously. Have one or two left. Really excellent quality.

Like Eric I., I am a big fan of Ficklin. Their 10 year Tawny rocks and I've had some spectacular vintage date juice ... I think 1991 comes to mind. About four or five years ago, one of Ficklin's bottlings not only won the "best of class" for Fortified wines, but then wound up taking the entire enchillada and won one of CA's major wine competitions. I was on the dessert wine panel that year and was very happy to see that happen.

[David Welch]

I like the Aussie takes. Trevor Jonesy "Jonesy" Rare Tawny is a personal QPR favorite of mine, very hard to find nowadays. Yalumba, R.L. Buller, and Campbell's all make excellent fortified wines.

I saw a name I have not seen in long time, Fickler. I might give them another spin, have enjoyed them in the past.

As much as I like these, they don't compare to a well aged VP.

Cheers,
David W.

[Eric Menchen]

Received my Ficklin 2003 horizontal today, 1 bottle each of "Vintage Port," "Tinta Cao Single Varietal Port," and "Touriga Single Varietal Port." I wonder what varietal the "Touriga" is. I'm guessing Touriga Nacional, but that's just a guess.