Style
Port
POR-too
Douro fruit, stopped with spirit
Fermentation halted with grape spirit so sugar remains. Ruby is fruit; Tawny is wood and nuts; Vintage is a cellar project.
- black fruit
- chocolate
- nuts
- spice
- dried fig
Ruby and Reserve are bottled young. LBV (late bottled vintage) is a single year aged in wood, often ready. Vintage is bottled after two years and ages in glass for decades — decant it. Tawny 10/20/30/40 is a blended, oxidative style, ready when poured, slightly cool.
White Port and tonic is a legitimate hot-weather drink. Pink Port is a marketing exercise you may ignore.
Stilton, chocolate, and walnuts. Tawny with pecan pie is a complete thought.
At the table
Service
Tawny 54–57 °F (12–14 °C); Vintage 61 °F (16 °C), decanted; White Port tonic cold.
