White Port question

[Andy Velebil]

This may be wierd, but last night I found several OLD bottles of Gallo "White Port" at an out-of-the-way liquor store in the city where I work. The clerk said she has had them for a real long time and not many people drink it anymore, no kidding!! THe price was $3.00 for a 750 and the price tag was as old as the bottle. There was no date, bottle date, or any other indicator of its age. I didn't know Gallo ever made white port...i learn something new everyday. Has anyone tried this before?

I couldn't buy one to try because it is a big no-no (like getting fired) at my job to purchase alcohol on duty. Although i may go back this week when I am not working just to get one and try it, for the heck of it.

[Jason Brandt Lewis]

I had no idea your beat was Skid Row, Andy!

To the best of my knowledge, Gallo STILL makes White Port, but it's got more in common with Thunderbird and Night Train than it does with Churchill's . . .

Cheers,
Jason

[Andy Velebil]

Jason,

Beat nothing...Heck most of my city is not the best of neighborhoods...Thunderbird Huh! I think I'll skip trying it then

[Shawn Denkler]

The first wine I can remember drinking was Gallo Ruby Port as a teenager. It was so horrible that I could hardly stand to drink it. Back then it was the biggest bang for the buck for a poor teenager with limited access to alcohol, and it still is a skid row favorite for that reason.

Forty years later I still remember it vividly as tasting like cough medicine that was sickeningly sweet with a high alcohol burn. After drinking that swill, it is hard to believe port is my favorite wine.

Gallo White Port should be very similar. It probably is made from the Thompson Seedless grape, so it has no complexity or interest. Age will not help it since the port has no complexity to age into anything in bottle.

A wine from low quality grapes could only improve with aging in barrel so concentration with evaporation could improve it. The Mission grape is considered to be very low quality like Thompson Seedless, but some decent Angelicas were made years ago. Usually they were too sweet because it is a low acid grape, but age gave them some interest.

Shawn

[Tom Archer]

I struggle to find a time and a place for white port. A base for a long cold aperitif, possibly, but a good Mojito takes some beating 8)

Someone once said that Port has two duties - to be red and drunk.

I'll go with that!

Tom

[Andy Velebil]

...but a good Mojito takes some beating 8)

A mojito sounds good right now...I may have to run to the local watering hole and grab one, after all, today is my day off. 8)

Someone once said that Port has two duties - to be red and drunk.

Sounds good to me.