Question for the Aussie Port Drinkers

[guilow]

I just opened a bottle of port called "Clocktower" (Austrailian Port). It was pretty cheap if I remember correctly. Is this considered crap? It's not incredibly bad, but it's not going to win any awards.

Ever hear of it?

[Maverick]

» I just opened a bottle of port called "Clocktower" (Austrailian Port). It

» was pretty cheap if I remember correctly. Is this considered crap? It's

» not incredibly bad, but it's not going to win any awards.

» Ever hear of it?

I have never been a conosuer of Port, but I dont really mind Clock Tower. Just drink it after you have already had a few, if its crap you will never know.

Ross...

[First Lady]

It is a basic port, not the best but hey it may age well and as Maverick said after 2 or 3 you won't be able to tell ;-)

TFL

[Ken Gargett]

considered a good basic tawny. should be about $10ish. yalumba bought in some serious stocks of fortifieds a few years ago, if memory serves and i suspect that, given the difficulty of sellling fortifieds here, these would be reasonable bargains.

if you liked it, a bargain; if you didn't a waste.

i should add, there are some seriously good aussie style tawnies. seppelt have one that they release each year with 100 years age. i have a tiny sample of the 1905 that i'll crack soon with a good smoke. if you want the full bottle, about A$1000 tho they sell halves.

[JMH]

I've only tried one port (Penfolds Bluestone if I remember correctly) but I can't stomach the stuff myself. It's so sickly sweet it makes me gag.

[Ken Gargett]

if they are just sweet then yes, can be awful. they should be balanced. if all in proportion, they can be brilliant.

[guilow]

Thanks for replies all! The bottle was 11.99 USD. So it certainly wasn't a big investment. It's not that bad. But I definitely think it's worth spending a few more bucks to get something better. I just picked it up at my local liquor store because it was a new arrival and was actually the cheapest port they have.

[Guest crossbow]

» considered a good basic tawny. should be about $10ish. yalumba bought in

» some serious stocks of fortifieds a few years ago, if memory serves and i

» suspect that, given the difficulty of sellling fortifieds here, these

» would be reasonable bargains.

» if you liked it, a bargain; if you didn't a waste.

» i should add, there are some seriously good aussie style tawnies. seppelt

» have one that they release each year with 100 years age. i have a tiny

» sample of the 1905 that i'll crack soon with a good smoke. if you want the

» full bottle, about A$1000 tho they sell halves.

Ken

What is your take on the Yalumba port? I have not heard of the Seppelt. Any other suggestions on Aussie Ports? As you know, if you plan on dropping by NY, The FOH crew are port drinkers. (And do not look at us as if we are phillistines!!) I know you guys love your sherries.

I was able to get several good wines from OZ. I received a Penfolds bin 138 Old vine GSM from 1998, a 2002 Shiraz Cabernet from Irongate Estates, Hunter Valley(my brothers in Sydney swears by this), and a WolfBlass Gold label Shiraz 2001 Barossa Valley. For Christmas.

So ken, Hold, Drink or age!?

Still have a Taltarni shiraz malbec from 1992:-P

[Ken Gargett]

» » considered a good basic tawny. should be about $10ish. yalumba bought in

» » some serious stocks of fortifieds a few years ago, if memory serves and

» i

» » suspect that, given the difficulty of sellling fortifieds here, these

» » would be reasonable bargains.

» » if you liked it, a bargain; if you didn't a waste.

» » i should add, there are some seriously good aussie style tawnies.

» seppelt

» » have one that they release each year with 100 years age. i have a tiny

» » sample of the 1905 that i'll crack soon with a good smoke. if you want

» the

» » full bottle, about A$1000 tho they sell halves.

»

» Ken

» What is your take on the Yalumba port? I have not heard of the Seppelt.

» Any other suggestions on Aussie Ports? As you know, if you plan on

» dropping by NY, The FOH crew are port drinkers. (And do not look at us as

» if we are phillistines!!) I know you guys love your sherries.

»

» I was able to get several good wines from OZ. I received a Penfolds bin

» 138 Old vine GSM from 1998, a 2002 Shiraz Cabernet from Irongate Estates,

» Hunter Valley(my brothers in Sydney swears by this), and a WolfBlass Gold

» label Shiraz 2001 Barossa Valley. For Christmas.

»

» So ken, Hold, Drink or age!?

»

» Still have a Taltarni shiraz malbec from 1992:-P

would be drinking the taltarni soon. the 138 from 02 is a cracker. the 01 gold label good but 02 much better. not too familar with irongate.

sherry was popular about 40 years ago but now almost dead. shame.

yalumba good for tawnies. seppelt probably our largest and most serious for these wines. but chase anything from the rutherglen region and that includes muscats and tokays. people knock them until they have tried them, then stand back!!

[jay8354]

At the risk of being called a pansy and a wuss, I have admit that I do like the sweet stuff (Ports, Muscats...)

Yalumba is not bad, Penfolds Grandfather Port is considered more the med to high end. There is one called Old Boys Port that is middle of the range, well balanced.

I have to admit that Seppelt makes some serious port. After visiting the Winery and trying their tasting sample, I was knocked off my feet literally.

The 100 yr old is hard to get and very expensive. People who have tried it swear by it though. Seppelt also sell 5, 10, 50 yr old ports as well.

Agree with the stuff from ken about the muscats from that region. Excellent!

[Shiba]

Pansy... Wuss... LOL... Just kidding... I am the same way... The sweeter the better!!! :-)

[smk819]

For a cheap Australian Port, I have had something called Wiskers Blake that wasn't bad.

[Shooter]

» For a cheap Australian Port, I have had something called Wiskers Blake that

» wasn't bad.

I concur that the "Whisker's Blake" is a nice inexpensive Port.

Mentioned earlier and one of my ALL-TIME favorite "cigar drinks" is the Yalumba Museum Reserve Muscat (very similar to a Port to those unfamiliar with it). It's incredible. 375ml "splits" are about $18 U.S. If you're real lucky you might find a bottle of their "SHOW" Museum Reserve from the Rutherglen region. I believe WS gave it a 98. I had an unforgettable bottle of it with my dad while enjoying a stunning Cohiba Coronas Especial. THAT was an evening to remember!!:-P

[rusty]

Galway Pipe is a nice aussie port.

Wouldn't you be better off trying an LBV from one of the big names like taylors or dows. i would think these are well priced in the US???

[Guest crossbow]

»

» would be drinking the taltarni soon. the 138 from 02 is a cracker. the 01

» gold label good but 02 much better. not too familar with irongate.

thanks for the advice Ken. While we are at it, may I also seek your opinion on the following whether to drink or still hold on....

97 Hardy's Chardonnay Padthaway

03 The Wishing Tree Shiraz

92 Taltarni's Merlot Cab - Victoria

93 Temple Breuer Shiraz - Angus River Delta South Australia

91 Taylor Fladgate Port LBV

[Ken Gargett]

»

» 97 Hardy's Chardonnay Padthaway

» 03 The Wishing Tree Shiraz

» 92 Taltarni's Merlot Cab - Victoria

» 93 Temple Breuer Shiraz - Angus River Delta South Australia

»

» 91 Taylor Fladgate Port LBV

suspect that the wishing tree is an export only label or at least one i haven't seen so not sure on it. others, i'd be drinking them all soon. if you have really good storage, they'll go longer but the chadry should certainly be on the menu soon. lbv's are not really for ageing but it should still be tops.

[Guest crossbow]

» »

» » 97 Hardy's Chardonnay Padthaway

» » 03 The Wishing Tree Shiraz

» » 92 Taltarni's Merlot Cab - Victoria

» » 93 Temple Breuer Shiraz - Angus River Delta South Australia

» »

» » 91 Taylor Fladgate Port LBV

»

» suspect that the wishing tree is an export only label or at least one i

» haven't seen so not sure on it. others, i'd be drinking them all soon. if

» you have really good storage, they'll go longer but the chadry should

» certainly be on the menu soon. lbv's are not really for ageing but it

» should still be tops.

Thanks mate!