Port is one of those wines that’s steeped in mystery, and a rich history that ties together two of the great european powers, Britain and Portugal.   History aside, Port deserves a bright future at your valentine’s day (or just around your home in general).  Deeply concentrated in flavor, loaded with sweetness, brightness, and a soft round body, Port is deeply flavorful and comes in all sorts of varieties.  Some of the most common types include:

• Ruby – Young port, not designed to be aged but rather enjoyed.  It has lots of red fruit, chocolate, spice, and acidity
• Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) –  Not aged to the extent of vintage port or great enough quality for single vintage ports, these are moderately aged, moderately priced ports with more richness, high tannin, and more oak influence than Ruby Porto
• Tawny Port – Ranging in age from 10 – 40 years, these ports spend a significant amount of time in oak, and begin picking up some of those oxidized characteristics, like fig, raisin, caramel, orange zest, and toffee.
• Vintage Port – Single vintage ports that are made from exceptional quality years.  These are designed to be aged for 10 years, and can age up to 50 in some cases.

As you can see, there’s a lot of deliciousness in the world of Port, and while a really expensive bottle can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, many great examples can be found from $15 – 50.  A few things to keep in mind with Port:

• Port is a fortified wine, with neutral grape brandy added, meaning that the alcohol content can be anywhere from 18% upward
• The higher alcohol content means that when you smell your Port you should start lower!  The higher alcohol content can burn out your olfactory bulb for a period of time (causing you not to be able to smell!).
• The higher alcohol content also means that you typically try to pour 2 – 3 oz instead of the standard 5.
• Open Port can keep longer than normal wines thanks to the fortification.  While most will last up to a month, some are less, some are more.

Plus, if you’re having a Stilton or a cheese course featuring blue cheese, Port is a classic pairing.

Quinta do Noval Black Porto

With all the potential in Port, how does one of the cheapest Ports from one of the best producers, Quinta do Noval Black Porto, fare?

Sight:  A firm magenta edge, a deep ruby-amethyst core

Smell:  Jammy raspberries and blackberries, it’s complimented by baking spices, concentrated blueberries, and plums.  The sweetness is evident, and as is the expected heat from the alcohol.

Sip:  The weight is dead-on, with a firm, coating feeling.  There’s good sweetness here, and a certain darkness when a chocolatey note creeps in.  There’s a mix of jammy blackberries, licorice, spices, and raspberries that keep things lively with the touches of heat from the booze.

Savor:  Then ending goes toward plum skin, getting a hint of bittersweet chocolate and tannin.  The finish is long.

Quinta do Noval Black Porto is delicious, if not the most refined port ever.  The sweetness is not overwhelming, and the flavors are clean and straightforward.  The spices are on of the nice elements here, that add some depth to the jammy fruit.  All said, if you can find it on sale (like I did at $15), Quinta do Noval Black Porto is definitely worth a try, but even at full price, there’s a lot to like here.

Verdict:  Sweet, Raspberry Jam, Blackberry Sauce, Baking Spices
Price: $19.99
Rating: 88
Portugal
Available at Wine.Com