Fonseca, Porto, 20 Year Old, Tawny nv The nose features brown sugar and cinnamon infused into oranges cooked over an open flame. In the mouth it is caramel personified, with a healthy dose of brandy and an underlying sense of acidity taking the flavors for a lengthy ride down your palate.
This wine was aged in [...]

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Dow’s, Porto, Vintage 2007 This baby of a Port smells of sweet black fruits, oranges, candied berries, a notion of flowers and the spirit that fortified it. In the mouth it is dense yet already smoothing out, approachable with a silky character, very much so considering the youthful state of this wine. Lay this away [...]

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Prager, Napa Valley, Noble Companion, Tawny Port You’ll find golden raisins, dates, nuttiness and a sense of the spirit in the nose – but more than that. The fruit character is citrussy, like oranges stuck with cloves and drizzled with brandy in preparation for a cafe diablo.
In the mouth there is chocolate, even more so, [...]

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Belo, Napa Valley, Vintage Tawny Port, Tinta Isabella 1996 The nose is pruny and spirtitous with some volatility. The mouth shows lots of caramel and nuttiness, like crunching up some almonds, wrapping them in milk chocolate and basting them with caramel. It’s appropriately warm with lingering acidity – a very nice Tawny style of Port [...]

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This summer we met with proprietor Peter Prager at the family winery in St. Helena. If you haven’t been there you must stop by for a visit if you’re a fan of the wines of the Douro. The Pragers have specialized in Port since they started the winery in 1979.
The tasting room is the definition [...]

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Niepoort, Porto, 10 Years Old, Tawny, nv Caramel and spirit entwined, with nuts and a nice thread of acidity. The RS is 106.3 grams per litre. Produced and bottled in Porto 20% $19.99 at Bottle Barn for a 375ml and $37.99 for a 750ml bottle.
Niepoort Vinhos

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Dow’s, Porto, Vintage 2003 Black fruits and brandy mark the nose, in the way that you would expect. In the mouth there is the trademark flavor that always reminds me of linzer torte. This is still a baby but a view of it at this point shows a nice integration of the fortifying spirit and [...]

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Woodbridge Winery, Lodi, Estate Grown, Portacinco 1997 This wine is moving along into its older years with raisins in the nose and an elevated sense of  volatility. In th mouth their is still a younger, middle-aged charm, with lots of sweet raisins and a light and appropriate sense of spirits.  The grapes are 75% Touriga, [...]

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St. Amant Winery, Amador County, Vintage Port 2006 This is well-done California vintage style of port with plenty of black fruit, thickness of texture and a spiritous undertone. The wine is dedicated to founder Tim Spencer who died in 2006. P&B in Woodbridge 18.5% $35 at the winery for a 750ml bottle
St. Amant Winery

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Graham’s, Porto, “Six Grapes”, Reserve nv The nose combines blackberry liqueur, raisins and a spiritous note. In the mouth you taste something akin to blackberry candy poured over a Tootsie Roll – chocolate and black fruit with a healthy shot of spirit for warmth. The grapes behind this wine are Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca, Tinta [...]

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Wiederkehr, Arkansas Moutain, Tawny Port nv The nose sports lots of vanilla with nuts and a very overt sense of oaky richness. In the mouth the nuttiness continues with caramel sweetness. The alcohol is perfectly integrated so watch that it doesn’t sneak up on you after a few glasses – delicious. The wine was aged [...]

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Quady Winery, California, Starboard Batch 88 The nose features caramel, nuts and spirits, like a nutty liqueur. In the mouth the nutty theme continues, with appropriate warmth for a Port-style wine and a sense of brown-sugar dusted raisins. The grape behind this wine is primarily Tinta Roriz, a.k.a. Tempranillo grown in the area of Madera, [...]

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Prager, Napa Valley, Imogene’s Vineyard, Tomas, Port 2004 This wine is full of dried fruits, prunes and dark chocolate, with sweetness and warmth. The grapes were sourced from the family’s property in Calistoga. GP&B in St. Helena 19.5% $45.99 at Bottle Barn Prager

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Trentadue, Alexander Valley, Estate, Zinfandel, Port 2003
Raisins mix with the fortifying spirit in the nose, a sense of candy with a bit of brandy thrown in. The mouth features ripe cherries, prunes, brown sugar and the alcohol boost. Grown, Produced & Bottled in Geyserville 18.5% $?? at the winery for a 500ml bottle Trentadue

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Dow’s, Porto, 10 Year, Tawny nv
The nose features caramel, toasted notes and quite a spiritous character. In the mouth the wine is lusciously sweet, the alcohol is integrated and the nuts and caramel carry a long time. Bottled by Symington Family Estates in Oporto 20% $29.99 at Bottle Barn Dow’s

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Taylor Fladgate, Porto, Late Bottled Vintage 2003 The new release is available to us and it shows the characteristic pruny and stewed fruits in the nose. In the mouth there is a sense of the alcohol as well as chocolate and cherry flavors. The price has really moved down so that while this vintage is [...]

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Dow’s, Porto, Boardroom, Reserve Tawny nv In the nose there is caramel and overt alcohol. In the mouth the same follows through though the often tolerated burn is a bit too much given the rather light concentration of flavor. Bottle by Symington Family Estates in Oporto 19.5% $22.49 at the Wine Merchant

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Heitz Cellar, Napa Valley, Ink Grade Vineyard, Port nv Prunes mixed with chocolate and a sense of the fortifying spirit. The grapes behind this wine are the traditional Portuguese suspects of Touriga National, Sauzao, Tinta Cao, Tinta Amarells, Tinta Madeira and Bastardo. The latest bottling was released in 2006 and combines fruit from the [...]

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Raymond Burr Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Estate Port 2003 The smell is a mix of dark chocolate, raisins, molasses and earthiness. In the mouth, the sweetness comes through with a chocolately essence and an appropriate sense of the fortifying alcohol. The grapes behind this wine are some of the traditionals from Portugal:  Tinta Cao, Tinta [...]

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Quady Winery, Amador County, Starboard 1996 The raisins are in full force, chocolate and lots of sweet smells melded with a hint of the fortifying spirit. The mouth sports chocolate and caramel with a strong but appropriate sense of the brandy that was added.  The grapes are 97% Tinta Cao and Touriga Francesca, grown near [...]

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Heitz Cellar, Napa Valley, Grignolino Port 2004 It’s like cranberries marinated in brandy when you lift the glass. In the mouth it is light-bodied for a Port-style wine with a little acidic zing, sweetness and an alcoholic kick. This has been a consistent good value in California’s take on Port. P&B in St. Helena, 18.5% [...]

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Stone Hill, Missouri, Port 2004 The prunes and sweet Linzer torte stand out in the nose. In the mouth there is the alcohol and tannic edge of vintage Port from the Duoro as well as chocolate and vanilla. This was a big hit with chocolate covered raisins. The grape that makes this wine is Norton. [...]

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Paradise Ridge Winery, Russian River Valley, Ode to Joy, Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Lots of complexity in this wine, with honey galore – very reminiscent of Sauternes. This dessert wine was crafted to honor the memory of Marijke Byck-Hoenselaars. 44 degrees brix at harvest. Winemaker Dan Barwick. P&B in Santa Rosa. 13.2% $28.99 for a [...]

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Mountain Grove Cellars, Ozark Mountain, Ruby Port nv There are prunes and a touch of alcohol in the nose. The mouth follows through with the same with a baked fruit and walnut tart character – moderately sweet making it a hit with bittersweet chocolate. P&B in Mountain Grove, MO 19% $10 at Missouri State University [...]

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Robert Hall, Paso Robles, Vintage Port 2005 A sumptuous berry dessert with integrated alcohol. The grapes are traditional, as in Portugal, 36% Touriga, 30% Alvarelhao, 20% Souzao and 14% Tinta Cao. Aged in barrel for 24 months. Winemaker Don Brady. P&B in Paso Robles 20.5% $34 at the winery Robert Hall

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Renwood Sierra Foothills Vintage Port 2003
Sweet and slathered in oak essence – a class favorite. 5 traditional Portuguese grapes made this wine, Tinta Cao, Alvararhao, Souzao, Bastardo and Touriga. Aged in neutral American oak for 2 years, 7.9% RS. P&B in Plymouth 19% $14.95 at the winery for a 375ml Renwood

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Macchia Amador County Linsteadt Vineyard Dangerous Port 2004
In the house style of ripeness and richness with integrated alcohol. The grapes are a combo of Barbera and Zinfandel. P&B in Lockeford 20.1% $25 at the winery Macchia

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Ballentine Vineyards Napa Valley Estate Grown Zinfandel Port 2004
There’s a sense of a brand new, just crushed wine in the cellar, with vivacious, grapy fruit. There’s definitely some heat as we would see from Portugal, yet this New World Port wears its fresh fruit on its sleeve, with a hint of chocolate, lest we become [...]

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Taylor Fladgate, Porto, Late Bottled Vintage 2001
Dried fruits such as prunes are a common theme with noticeable alcohol – true to type and sometimes the wine seems to have the alcohol integrated even better than usual, though most are not bothered by a little kick in their after-dinner beverage. Bottled in 2007 in Oporto, by [...]

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Penfolds South Australia Club Tawny Port nv
The last bottle tasted was maple syrup personified with completely integrated alcohol. Made from Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre and matured in small oak in Kalimna 18% $10.99 at Traverso’s Penfolds
Grant Burge Barossa 10 year old Port nv
The grapes that made this port-style of wine are Grenache, Mourvedre and [...]

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