Here in America, it's time to start thinking about what wines to serve with all your favorite Thanksgiving desserts, like pumpkin pie and apple pie. My family usually has some lovely sweet wine accompaniment, and this year it is going to be 20 year Tawny Port. 20 year Tawny is the sweet-spot (pardon the pun) and when you taste with the producers in Porto, it's clear that each house compares itself to others with the quality of their 20. For holiday time, it's the perfect wine if you are looking for something that is sweet and seriously delicious. If you are serving anything that would benefit from a touch of caramel, look past the 10 year Tawnys on the shelf, and grab a 20. If you don't finish it, don't fret, as they last 3-4 weeks in the fridge so you can have a sip on the eve of your next big holiday.
Through the generosity of The Institute of Douro and Port Wines, The Association of Port Wine Companies, and many of their producers, I have tasted a lot of Port Wine in the last 2 months! When I was in Porto in September, it occurred to me that I should publish an overview of the 20s in time for holiday buying. Alas, some of these are very hard to find in the U.S., but may be easier for my European readers to look out for. My favorites are in RED. November 12, 2016 I invited several friends and wine colleagues to taste several of the wines easily available in the US. Top marks went to Dow's, Graham's, Smith-Woodhouse, and Churchill's. In my previous tastings, my favorites included Bulas, Kopke, Blackett, Poças Junior, Barros, Ramos PIntos, and Andresen.
Dow 20 year Tawny Port
Dense caramel, Powerful and aristocratic. Serious, clean, lifted caramel, lemon/orange, Great finish. Drier and more complex due to being fermented a bit longer. A tad hotter on the palate and more concentrated.
Graham's 20 year Tawny Port
Great blend between the mature style and sweet style, super clean finish, a group favorite. Lush and citrusy. Very elegant. Great scotch bottle for the high roller.
Churchill's 20 year Tawny Port
Very fruity. Little citrus. Light caramel. Fresh style and easy going. Classy.
Smith-Woodhouse 20 year Tawny Port
Beautiful amber/rose color, Has the power of Dow's but Elegant and smooth. A top pick and available in the US.
Bulas Family Estate 20 year Tawny Port:
Long and quite syrupy. Sweet and unctuous. Noted lots of fresh apricot scents on both recent tastings. Young feeling.
Kopke 20 year Tawny
Very fruity with hints or orange/citrus. One of my favorites.
Ramos Pintos Quinta do Bom Retiro 20 year Tawny Port
Unique in the world of Port, a single Quinta multi-vintage blend, from Quinta do Bom Retiro. Lots of molasses and a serious old nose to it, as lots of 1880 and 1890 vintages are in this 50-vintage blend. Elegant, long and big. Joge Rosas, General Director of Ramos Pinto said to me “wine my great-great Grandfather is in that glass!” Because it’s a single Quinta blend, it really does have distinct aromas and flavors that stand out in a big tasting. Great.
Sandeman 20 year Tawny Port
A sweeter style, you can smell some older stock, much more caramel aromas. A little cloying.
Quinta das Carvalhas 20 year Tawny Port
Rose petal, animal, very viscous, sweet style, dense herbal wood.
Offley 20 year Tawny Port
Old style, thin body, very dense caramel, nice balance between sweet and dried fruits
Cockburn's 20 year Tawny Port
A bit hot. Quite sweet. Perfumy and flowery. Wood resin. Fruitcake fruits,
Blackett 20-Year Tawny Port
Tons of old spirit in the glass. Blackett has quite a bit of older stock and it shows in their 20. Dried fruit and caramel. A bit of cigar-box maturity shows. 4.65 g/dm3 total sugar.
Poças Junior 20-Year Tawny Port
Very earthy style, not terribly sweet, more on the toasted caramel side.
Reccua 20-Year Tawny
Very old spirit in this wine. Shows a bit of cigar box aromas and quite spicy, very distinctly honeyed.
Kopke 20 year Tawny Port
Quite woody on the nose. Leans much more toward the stone fruit side, dried apricots and peach.
Barros 20 year Tawny Port
The Barros house style is velvety, round, and smooth. On the sweeter side with less acidity and tamed aggressive notes.
Sandeman 20-Year Tawny
Smooth and sweet, very balance and leans towards the young, fresh style.
Andresen 20 year Tawny Port
Delicious and very worthwhile seeking out. Nice balance between old and new wines.
Warre's Otima 20 year Tawny Port
Feminine, elegant, floral. Picked later. Fresh herbs, delicate pear, apricot jam, more red wine freshness.
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