http://www.the-winery.net/wine-spectator-spanish-red-wine/
Nurture strength of spirit on a cold winter night
On winter nights, sitting in front of a warm and cozy fire with a glass of wine is a nice way to enjoy this season. A glass of port wine can help create a special evening.
Wine events
Due to conflict between France and England in the 15th century, England was looking for alternatives to French wine. Spain and Portugal happy to oblige. Portugal added a spirit (About 20 percent alcohol) to help stabilize its shipments of wine to England. These liqueur quickly grew in popularity in England.
The seaport of Portugal, where these shipments were made Porto and Port wine is his birthplace. English wine merchants set up stores in Oporto, which helps explain why English sounding names (Warre, Dow and Graham) are trademarks of Portuguese port wine.
Red wines are divided between the port style ruby and tawny. Port wine is barrel aged the same spirit as the ordinary wine, but of course, be added to the barrel during the wine fermentation process. This creates a wine with high alcohol (20 percent) that is sweet. At this stage, the winemaker evaluates the quality of wine and decide whether it will be a ruby or tawny port.
Ruby port tends to be of lower quality wine is aged in stainless steel vats for one to five years. This wine is young and sweet and has a ruby red color. These wines are bottled and will continue to age, as a regular red wine.
Tawny ports are made from high quality batches of wine and aged in wooden barrels for seven or more years. During barrel aging, the seal is intentionally offset to allow smaller amounts of air in the barrel. Any wine will oxidize and aging process stops.
These ports win a candied, caramel and hazelnut character and Spanish sherry are similar in weight and complexity. This wine will not age in bottle. Tawny port is bottled with less than 10 years of age, 10 years old and 20 years.
Food pairings
Ruby port of young, sweet and fruity nature is a great match with chocolate and dark fruits like black cherries, blackberries. Tawny port pair well with blue cheese, cri ¨ me brulee, almond cookies, dried apricots or pears and honey foods, nuts and caramel flavors. The classic combination English is a slice of Stilton blue cheese and walnuts with a glass of Tawny Port.
Bill collects wine
(With suggested retail prices)
Ruby Ficklin Vineyards Tinta Port: $ 15
De Krans Cape Tawny (South Africa): $ 15
Yalumba old Tawny (Australia): $ 17
Graham Six Grapes Ruby Port: $ 22
Otima Tawny Port Warre of 10 (years): $ 24
Wine of the Month
De Krans Cape Tawny Port Wine
Suggested retail price: $ 15
Both Wine Spectator and Robert Parker agree that the South African port wine is a wonderful value.
The Wine Spectator describes this Tawny to provide "the cinnamon, the deadline notes of caramel and nut butter that remain fresh in the finish long, fine grain. Well done. "Robert Parker describes this elegant port as having a" nose complex, rich in spices and coffee beans and is a delight to drink over the next six years.
About the Author
Bill Garlough is a Level 1 Master Sommelier and an owner of My Chef Catering in Naperville, IL, the winner of the U.S. Chamber’s 2007 Small Business of the Year award. Bill can be reached at My Chef or bgarlough@mychef.com