Port Flashcards
Which Ports do NOT benefit from bottle ageing?
Some styles of LBV
Ruby Port
Reserve Ruby Port
Tawny Port
Which styles of Port are aged in stainless steel or large oak vessels? Why?
Avoid effect of oxidation, as style is meant to be dominant in primary fruit character.
Reserve Ruby, Ruby, LBV, Vintage Port
Which Port styles do NOT need decanting? Why?
Ruby, Reserve Ruby, some LBV styles. Because they are fined and filtered before bottling, removing any compounds which would form a sediment.
Which Port styles DO need decanting? Why?
Some LBV styles, ALL Vintage Ports. They are not fined or filtered before bottling.
Describe the characteristics of age-worthy LBV and Vintage Ports after a period of time in bottle age.
Garnet
Tertiary cooked fruit and vegetal (prune, leather, wet leaves) flavours.
Why does a True Tawny Port NOT benefit from bottle ageing? Describe characteristics.
It has already undergone long oxidative maturation in pipes, where it throws its sediment.
Turn garnet then tawny, with only the very oldest turning brown.
Primary fruit turns raisiny, accompanied by flavours of walnuts, coffee, chocolate, caramel.
Fully developed on release.
Do Tawny Ports undergo pre-bottling fining/filtration? Why?/Why Not?
True Tawny Ports do not. They throw a heavy deposit during the lengthy oxidative maturation in pipes so need very little additional treatment before bottling.
Describe a typical inexpensive Ruby Port style
Blends, typically 1-3y/o. Lack concentration, complexity or tannins of more premium Ruby styles.
Describe techniques which can be used to achieve the colour seen in inexpensive Tawny Ports
- Using less heavily extracted or lighter wines from Baixo Corgo
- Blending in White Port
- Period of hot maturation in Douro
- Heavy fining to remove colour
What does ‘Reserve’ or ‘Riserva’ mean on the bottle?
Can be applied to Ruby or Tawny Ports of higher quality.
Determined by official tasting panel.
NOTE: A Reserve Tawny must be wood aged min. 6 years.
What is the key difference between inexpensive Ruby and Tawny Ports?
They are the same age! Colour is the only difference, and the browning effect in the inexpensive Tawny is achieved via alternative methods to oxidative ageing.
What is an example of a premium Tawny Port? Describe style.
A Tawny Port with age indication: 10, 20, 30, 40 years with the year of bottling stated. The wine must have characteristics consistent with those of a wine that age (instead of the age of the youngest component in the blend).
Have undergone a long period of oxidative ageing in pipes, best examples are exceptionally complex and concentrated. Is often the flagship wine of producers. Aromas of walnut, chocolate, coffee, caramel
What is a LBV wine?
Aged between 4-6 years in large oak vessels before bottling. Similar in style to a Reserve Ruby Port (i.e. primary fruit characteristics).
If fined/filtered (most are) - ready to drink on release and do not benefit from bottle ageing.
Small amounts that are not fined/filtered = benefit from bottle age and will need decanting.
What protocol must a producer follow to produce a Vintage Port?
Can be the flagship wine for some producers. Typically blend of finest wines from best vineyards, and it is up to individual producers whether they ‘declare’ a Vintage (not always consensus).
Must register their intention to release a Vintage Port in the 2nd year after harvest.
Wine must be bottled no later than 3rd year.
All ageing in large oak vessels or stainless steel tanks.
Unfined and unfiltered - throws heavy sediment with bottle age and will need decanting.
Most concentrated and tannic Ports - can enjoy young but benefit from ageing for an extended period.
What is a Single Quinta Vintage Port?
A quinta is a single estate - if a single quinta is owned, typically the producer will only declare a vintage in the great years. When multiple quintas are owned, in the best years a producer will use a pick of all their quintas’ wines to make a Vintage Port, while in lesser years they will release best wines as Single Quinta Vintage Ports. These are less prestigious than the corresponding Vintage Port but still high-quality.
Will typically age a Single Quinta Vintage Port in bottle so that they are ready to drink on release. Name of quinta will appear on label.
