With the world of wine becoming more complex every day, it can be difficult to narrow down which port wines are the top picks for any given year. But don't worry — we've done the research for you! Check out this article to find out which port wines made our list of the Top 20 Port Wines of 2023. We'll break down our choices into five Ruby Port, five Tawny Port, five Vintage Port, and five White Port wines. So let's get exploring!
The Best Ruby Ports
1. Dow's Fine Ruby Port
Dow's Fine Ruby Port is an excellent option for those looking for a delicious, budget-friendly port. This ruby port is packed with flavor, and its affordability makes it an excellent value for the price. Dow's Fine Ruby Port is perfect for sipping on its own or enjoying a nice piece of cheese.
Port is a delicious, fortified wine that originates from the Douro Valley in Portugal. It is typically a sweet, red wine, and Dow's Fine Ruby Port is no exception. This particular port is a blend of several grape varieties, and it has been aged for three years in oak casks.
Dow's Fine Ruby Port has a deep, ruby color and a rich, fruity flavor. It is perfect for enjoying on its own or pairing with chocolate or fruit desserts. Dow's Fine Ruby Port is an excellent choice if you're looking for a port wine that is sure to please!
2. Graham's Fine Ruby Port
3. Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage Port
The Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage Port is a top-notch wine that offers great value. It has an intense flavor with a strong, tannic finish. This port is perfect for those who enjoy robust wine.
The Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage Port has a deep ruby color and a rich, full-bodied flavor. It is well-balanced with firm tannins and a long, lingering finish. This port is ideal for drinking now or for cellaring.
4. Fonseca Bin 27 Reserve Ruby Port
Fonseca Bin 27 Reserve Ruby Port is a classic Ruby Port that is perfect for any occasion. It has a deep, rich flavor with notes of berries and spice. The port is aged for three years in oak barrels, which gives it a smooth, elegant taste. Bin 27 Reserve is a great value port that is sure to please any port lover.
5. Warre's Warrior Reserve Ruby Port
Warre's Warrior Reserve Ruby Port is a Portuguese fortified wine made from a blend of native grapes. It has a deep red color and a full-bodied flavor with notes of plum, blackberry, and spice. The Warrior Reserve is aged for 10 years in oak casks before being bottled. It is a great choice for enjoying with cheeses, chocolate, or after dinner.
The Warre's Warrior Reserve Ruby Port was first released in 2007. The blend for this wine consists of 80% Touriga Nacional and 20% Touriga Franca grapes. The grapes are grown in the Douro Valley of Portugal and are fermented in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to oak casks for aging.
This wine has a deep red color and a full-bodied flavor. On the palate, you'll taste notes of plum, blackberry, and spice. The tannins are well-integrated and the finish is long and lingering. Warre's Warrior Reserve Ruby Port is best enjoyed with rich foods like cheese or chocolate, or after dinner as a dessert wine.
The Best Tawny Port
1. Taylor Fladgate 20-Year-Old Tawny Port
Taylor Fladgate's 20-Year-Old Tawny Port is an excellent example of a well-aged tawny port. The wine has a deep amber color and a complex nose of dried fruits, nuts, and spices. The flavors are equally layered and concentrated, with a long, sweet finish. This is a great wine to enjoy after a meal or with dessert.
2. Graham's 20-Year-Old Tawny Port
One of the most impressive 20-year-old tawny ports out there is Graham's. It has a beautiful amber color and a nose full of sweet fruit, nuts, and spice. The flavor is rich and complex, with layers of dried fruits, roasted nuts, chocolate, and vanilla. It's well-balanced and incredibly delicious. This port is perfect for drinking now or for cellaring for a few more years.
3. Dow's 20-Year-Old Tawny Port
Tawny ports are a type of port wine that is made from red wine grapes. They are aged in barrels for a minimum of seven years and can be up to twenty years old. The longer a tawny port is aged, the more it will take on the characteristics of wood aging, such as vanilla and nutty flavors. Dow's 20-Year-Old Tawny Port is a fine example of this style of port. It has aromas of dried fruits, nuts, and caramel, with flavors of chocolate, coffee, and spice. It is full-bodied and well-balanced, with a long finish.
4. Niepoort 20-Year-Old Tawny Port
Niepoort 20-Year-Old Tawny Port is a port wine that has been aged for 20 years. It has a deep amber color and a complex flavor, with notes of raisins, nuts, and chocolate. This port is best enjoyed with a rich dessert or cheese plate after dinner.
5. Kopke 10-Year-Old Tawny Port
Kopke 10-Year-Old Tawny Port - This Kopke is a classic example of a well-aged tawny port. It has a beautiful amber color with golden highlights. On the nose, there are aromas of dried fruits, nuts, and spice. The palate is full-bodied and pleasantly sweet, with flavors of raisins, figs, and honey. The finish is long and smooth, with just a hint of heat from the alcohol. This is an excellent port for drinking now or for cellaring.
Kopke is one of the oldest port wine producers, founded in 1638. Today, the company is owned by the Soares Franco family and is based in the Douro Valley of Portugal. Kopke's 10-year-old tawny port is a blend of several vintages, including some from the 1960s. The wine spends ten years in old oak casks before being bottled.
The Best Vintage Port
1. Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port
This wine is made from a blend of several native Portuguese grape varieties, including Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francesa, and Sousão. The grapes are grown in the Douro Valley of Portugal and then fermented in wooden barrels before being transferred to barrels for aging. The wine is bottled without filtration or fining, resulting in a hazy appearance. Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port has aromas and flavors of blackberry, plum, licorice, and chocolate. It is full-bodied and velvety on the palate, with firm tannins and a long finish.
2. Fonseca Vintage Port
Fonseca Vintage Port is a firm, full-bodied wine with intense flavor. It has a deep purple color and a rich, fruity aroma. The taste is dry and slightly sweet, with flavors of blackberry, plum, and chocolate. This port is best enjoyed with cheese or dark chocolate.
3. Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port
Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port is one of the top port wines available. This wine is a full-bodied wine with a deep red color. It has a fruity flavor with hints of plum and blackberry. This wine pairs well with meats and cheeses.
4. Dow's Vintage Port
Dow's Vintage Port is one of the top port wines available. It has a deep, ruby color and a full-bodied flavor. This wine is perfect for those who enjoy a rich, bold flavor.
5. Graham's Vintage Port
Located in the Douro Valley of Portugal, Graham’s Vintage Port is a family-owned port wine producer that has been making wines since 1820. The winery is one of the oldest and most respected port wine producers in the world.
Graham’s Vintage Port is a blend of several different grape varieties, including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cao, Tinta Barroca, and Tinto Roriz. The wines are aged for two years in oak barrels before being bottled.
The Graham’s Vintage Port has a deep ruby color with hints of purple. The nose is full of ripe fruit aromas, including plum and blackberry. There are also notes of chocolate and spice. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and structured, with firm tannins and a long finish.
If you’re looking for a special bottle of port to give as a gift or to enjoy yourself, grab a bottle of Graham’s Vintage Port. You won’t be disappointed!
The Best White Port
1. Graham's Blend No. 5 White Port
This is a ruby port wine that has been aged for three years. It is a blend of three grape varieties, and it has a light, fruity flavor. This port wine is perfect for drinking on its own or with food.
2. Niepoort Dry White Port
Niepoort Dry White Port is a delicious, crisp port wine that is perfect for any occasion. This port wine is perfect for those who are looking for a white port wine that is not too sweet. The Niepoort Dry White Port has a beautiful golden color and a nose of fresh citrus fruits. On the palate, this port wine is dry and refreshing with flavors of orange peel and lemon zest. The finish is clean and crisp with a touch of sweetness.
3. Taylor Fladgate Chip Dry White Port
This dry white port from Taylor Fladgate is perfect for those who want to enjoy the taste of port without the sweetness. It is light and refreshing, with notes of citrus and a hint of oak. It pairs well with cheese and fruit or can be enjoyed on its own as an aperitif.
4. Kopke Fine White Port
Kopke Fine White Port is a Portuguese wine that is delicate and complex. It has aromas of white flowers and citrus fruits, with a hint of minerality. The palate is fresh and lively, with balanced acidity. This wine is perfect for apéritifs or as an accompaniment to seafood dishes.
5. Ramos Pinto White Reserva Port
This soft, full-bodied white reserve port is perfect for those who enjoy a little sweetness in their wine. The Ramos Pinto White Reserva Port is a blend of three different grape varieties, all of which are grown in the Douro Valley region of Portugal. This port is aged for two years in oak barrels, giving it a smooth, creamy texture and slightly nutty flavor.
In Conclusion
As the saying goes, 'Good things come to those who wait.' And that is especially true when it comes to wine. Port, in particular, is a wine that can improve with age, developing more complex and nuanced flavors over time. Of course, not all port wines are created equal. Some are meant to be consumed young, while others will continue to evolve and improve for many years. These are the port wines that we think will be at their peak in 2023, so if you have the patience (and the storage space), buy a few bottles of each and enjoy them over the next few years.
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