At nice restaurants, I often have a glass of wine. Red, unless I'm having fish or fowl, and sometimes even then. But I don't keep wine at home – it gets tart before I finish the bottle. I know that there are wine preservation systems, but they're more hassle than I'm willing to tolerate.

Then I remembered port, which had fallen off my screen. A fortified wine, it keeps good much longer. The 10 year old stuff fits my budget for everyday drinking. So far I've had fairly long experience with two brands: Fonseca, which is good, but a bit too sweet for me. And Taylor Fladgate, which is just excellent. I have yet to try Dow's, but it's next up.

Certainly glad that port is back on my screen. It's delicious stuff!

Edit: I should've mentioned that these wines are tawny ports.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pipe Smoker,

i'm like you. I can't finish a bottle at home.

I've had port before too, more like a dessert wine, right? It didn't keep long for me but I'm talking several weeks or at least 2 months.

I do like a lot of the Sandeman stuff. honestly I like port better than just about any other alcohol.

If you have a Costco nearby definitely try their house brand (Kirkland) tawny 10yr old port. Good value for $16.99.

There is a new preservation device named Repour on the market. Very little hassle in use. When you have imbibed to your content, you peel the seal off the Repour stopper and insert it into the bottle. The stopper removes the oxygen from the bottle preserving the wine for future use. I got in on a Kickstarter and have only used one of the stoppers but it did work better than the vacuum thingy I have used before. The wine still tasted good after a week of storage. You can review it at www.repour.com and also find a nearby retailer on that site.

Tawny port is good stuff. Ruby port, notsomuch.

Tried some tawny, not bad, but I have decided it and brandy are a bit too sweet for me, as well as a lot of rum.

But I still haven't tried the Taylor Fladgate 20 year, might give it a try.

I didn't like port at all when I was younger, but I've acquired a taste for it now. It can get very expensive. I'll have to check out the Costco stuff.

One friend of mine is super into it. Of the commonly available ones that I've had, I like this one quite a bit:

I don't know a thing about it, but I know every time I've ordered some instead of coffee after dinner it was yummy. Makes for a perfect desert if you're too full for cake/pie.

I like Port as an before dinner drink or desert beverage.

My elderly mother drinks it when she can't sleep.

He's a wino, tried and true.
Done about everything there is to do.
He worked on freighters, he worked in bars.
He worked on farms, 'n he worked on cars.

It was white port that put that look in his eye
That grown men get when they need to cry...

Guy Clark ~ Let Him Roll

Desert time: port, Stilton cheese, fresh fruit -- strawberries, pears, most any fruit.

Big fan of Sandeman when I can find it.

I have enjoyed a bit of port and madeira since my pipe and cigar smoking days (started as a pre-teen and quit when I had a heart attack at 58). May no longer smoke but I still enjoy a tipple.

Really enjoyed V. Sattui Winery maderia (from Napa Valley) back in the day ('70s). Price has risen significantly over the years to the $59/bottle it runs now.

Try Whiskers Blake, it's an Austrialian product. Moderatly priced, $14.00 a bottle.

Have you considered a Medeiras? I found I liked Blandy's Medeiras Bual aged 5 years. Similar to port in that it's fortified and it will last ugh longer after it's opened. Although I haven't purchased any lately, I think I gave about $16/bottle for it. There area 3 different versions of Medeiras with the Bual being the middle of the bunch. I just happened to try the Bual and decided I liked it and have never tried the other two.

I LOVE Taylor Fladgate 20 yr. A small glass after dinner on a cool night on the patio is a great way to spend an evening.

Port is good. Marsala is good. Maderia is good. I like them all. The real deal is Commandaria from Cyprus.

A Legendary Wine: Commandaria From Cyprus
https://www.forbes.com/sites/k...ria-from-cyprus/amp/

Hardly anyone in the US knows of Commandaria. It is the original sweet wine.