Need some advice on Tawny Ports

[Inge Carlén]

I'm planning on holding a port tasting in a few weeks where the theme is 20 year old Tawny Ports, and I'd really appreciate some advice on which to buy. Unfortunately as I live in Norway, I'm restricted to what I can buy, though the state retail company has a good selection of 20 y.o. Tawny Ports. I had hoped to include Ferreira's Duque de Braganca, as it seems to be highly regarded, but it's unfortunately not available. What I can choose from are the following:

• Cockburn's 20 Years Old Tawny
• Quinta Santa Eufêmia 20 Years Old Tawny
• Quinta da Ventozelo 20 Years Old Tawny
• Graham's 20 Years Old Tawny
• Cálem 20 Years Old Tawny
• Taylor's 20 Years Old Tawny
• Quinta do Vallado 20 Years Old Tawny
• Noval 20 Years Old Tawny
• Fonseca 20 Years Old Tawny
• Niepoort 20 Years Old Tawny
• Ramos Pinto 20 Years Tawny Quinta do Bom Retiro

If you were to recommend four ports from the above lineup for my tasting, which would you choose and why? I really appreciate any and all advice as I'm relatively new to the wonders of Port and this is one of hopefully many attempts at acquiring some good Port experiences. :)

[Glenn E.]

The Ramos Pinto is currently my favorite 20-yr old Tawny, so I would include it for sure.

Beyond that, you could almost choose randomly. But if I were doing it, my picks would look like this:

Taylor's
Niepoort
Noval

I have had the Taylor's and liked it a lot. Niepoort has a great reputation for tawnies - specifically Colheitas - so that one is also a pretty safe bet. And though I've never had the Noval 20-yr old, I have had their 40-yr old which is very good so I'd probably include the Noval as the 4th.

[Edward Nemergut]

I have not had them all, but if I were having such a party, I would serve:

Taylor's
Fonseca
Niepoort
Noval

I have not had Ramos Pinto (hard to get in Virginia), so I can't comment...

[Otto Nieminen]

A pity you can't get the Ferreira. But the Ramos Pinto is excellent so I would echo Glenn that it is a must. I have read great things about Vallado but haven't had the chance to taste one yet, so that would certainly intrigue me.

[Inge Carlén]

Thank you for the advice! I'll definitely try the Ramos Pinto then, and most probably the Taylor and Noval. As for the fourth, I'm torn between Niepoort and Quinta do Vallado. I tasted the Niepoort recently and thought it was very good, but I'm also interested in trying something new. I'll have to think some more on this - that's the problem with Port, there's so many (good) choices!