Port

Mainly served as a dessert wine, port is a fortified wine from Portugal. The flavors, aromas and production method vary by style and include white, ruby and tawny port. Each port producer has a defined style, known as the house blend, so you may try several types of ruby or tawny port before you find a favorite.

Tawny port - barrel-aged, wine picks up the nuances of the oak barrels imparting nutty flavors and aromas. Tawnies can be served before or after a meal.
Ruby port - bottle-aged and does not generally improve with aging. This is a young, fruity wine perfect for after dinner pairings with dark chocolate and berries.
White port - very similar to a ruby port except white grapes are used. Great as an apertif.

Fine by itself as an after-dinner drink, port also cooperates with food. These wines pair well with mild, hard cheese like Manchego or a tangy, salty blue cheese (a perfect pairing to the sweetness of a ruby or white port).

White Port


Niepoort Dry White Port
$18
Lighter body, rich golden color. Sweeter than other white port (Rozes) while aroma isn't as strong. Sampled recently at Domaine Hudson. 3.5/5


Rozes white reserve port
$20
Soft aromas with walnut note. Sweeter nose than Niepoort. Caramel gold color. Rich, full flavor - decadent. Walnut flavors with long finish. Moderate sweetness. My favorite of the two white ports. 4/5

Tawny, Ruby & Late-Bottled Port


Graham's 10 year Tawny Port
$30
Beautiful orange-brown color. A little hot. Nutty & vanilla flavors on a light body. Pairs wonderfully with Manchego cheese and hazelnut dark chocolate. Ideal for an after-dinner drink, especially after a large meal because it is not as heavy or sweet as a ruby or white port. 4/5


Fonseca Porto Late Bottled Vintage 2001 Unfiltered
$22-30
This ruby port is very refined. A nice change from our everyday, $12 bottle ruby port which is much sweeter. Rich and smooth. 3.5/5


Fonseca Porto Bin 27
$18-23
Powerful nose of brambly, rich & concentrated fruits. Raspberry burst finish on the palate. A little hot but a very nice wine. Complex. 4/5




Dow's Late Bottled Vintage Porto 2003
$20
Striking nose. Much sweeter than Fonseca Bin 27. Softer, more delicate nose. Smooth finish, not too hot. My favorite of the three ruby ports. 4.5/5

White wines for Mexican food

Encostas do Lima Vinho Verde 2008
Lima, Portugal - $11
Light, herbal, crisp aromas dominated by lime and lemon. Light body with effervescence. Crisp lemon-lime and green apple flavors. Good acidity. Not fruity or floral - a pure, clean wine that doesn't overpower the food. Normally, I would drink this wine in the heat of summer with salad or seafood.

More info on this wine can be foundhere, on the importer's website.


Moulin de Gassac Guilhem 2006
Languedoc, France - $10
Vin de pays (table wine) with Sauvignon Blanc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc grapes. Producer is Moulin de Gassac; Guilhem is their name for the blended wine. Strong floral notes with slight petrol nose. Flavors are marked by minerality and lemon juice with balanced acidity. Much more floral and fruity than the Vinho Verde. Not my preference for chicken/shrimp tacos but enjoyed the petrol and minerality components.