575275 Tue Nov 25 13:42:43 -0800 2008 10 34 Wine 0 4201594 As a Christmas gift for my parents, I'm considering the gift set of Cowgirl Creamery stilton and a jar of apples in honey (http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/prodinfo.asp?number=08_STILTON). I'd like to get them a bottle of port as well, but don't know which types of port pair well with cheese - late bottle vintage? tawny? ruby? If anybody has any advice or specific recommendations ($50 is about my budget limit, but I'll consider slightly above that price point - Mom and Dad are worth it, right?), I would be very grateful. Thank you! Tue Nov 25 13:42:43 -0800 2008 124894 nosestuckinbook 1 4201758 I can't say for certain that you'll find these in your budget where you live, but any non-vintage 20 year old tawny port would pair well with the Stilton. Personally, I like Sandeman; beautiful balance and not overly sweet. Tue Nov 25 14:50:01 -0800 2008 4201594 74451 vinosnob 1 4201859 You would be hard-pressed to find a "straight" Ruby or Tawny Porto for $50, even in this economy. I agree that a 20-Year (or 10-Year, even) Tawny Porto WOULD be an excellent choice. My favorite 20 year Tawny Porto is from A.A. Ferreira, followed by Barros. Really great 10-year Tawnies can be found from Neipoort, Noval, Delaforce, and Barros. Cheers, Jason Tue Nov 25 15:30:48 -0800 2008 4201594 28122 zin1953 1 4202130 My favorite is the Taylor-Fladgate 20 year Tawny. Now, it's probably right at the top, or just over your price-point. Same for another, the Porto Barros 20 year Tawny. Note on above: Taylor has walnut notes, while Porto Barros has pecan notes. Both are great, but you might think about what might accompany the Stilton. If the $ is an issue, then Costco has been having the Taylor-Fladgate 10 year for about US$35. Fonseca is part of the same corporation, but is different enough. Their 10 & 20 year Tawnies should work quite well too. Hunt PS about 5 years back, we recieved a 5 lb. block of this same cheese. We did it with Port at every opportunity. Then we did it in various soups. Then I replaced Gorgonzola in all pasta dishes. Finally, we gave up. There was just too much great Stilton for two people and all of their invitees. Tue Nov 25 17:34:03 -0800 2008 4201594 11329 Bill Hunt 2 4207131 i've never paid more than $40 for any 20 year tawnys. give wine library a try. cockburn at $37.99, graham at $39.98, taylor fladgate at $39.99. the 10 years are usually $15 less. Fri Nov 28 14:41:42 -0800 2008 4202130 122578 TBird 2 4220355 If the Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Tawny is outside your budget they do make a more modestly priced 10 year version of the same wine. Thu Dec 04 10:38:50 -0800 2008 4202130 206877 jpc8015 1 4202271 I'd go with Broadbent 10yr Malmsey. Even at $40, it's a wonderful qpr. Tue Nov 25 18:37:36 -0800 2008 4201594 167620 BillB656 1 4223361 With Stilton cheese (or any Bleu, for that matter) I would definately stay away from anything Tawny! Save that stuff for aged Goudas, Gruyere, and cream-egg custardy deserts. Go LBV if price is a constraint, and look for a bottle labeled "unfiltered" which will indicate that it will continue to mature as time passes. These bottles will also be stopped with a traditional cork rather than a T cork stopper. Smith Woodhouse makes an excellent 1995 LBV that should come in under $50, or search out some of the amazing single quinta vintage ports out there, which are usually about $55-$70, my favorite is Quinto do Vesuvio from the extreme southeast of the Douro. Their isolation alone ensures the wine is shockingly unique, and a no-brainer with rich bleu cheeses. Or alone, in a glass... Fri Dec 05 11:29:04 -0800 2008 4201594 227301 jdwdeville 2 4225236 I guess this is a case where personal taste will have to prevail because I swear by the tawny ports with any bleu cheese. Sat Dec 06 09:43:41 -0800 2008 4223361 206877 jpc8015 3 4225264 yeah, while i swear by the classic vintage port-stilton pairing, i do defer to my old restaurant days where the absolute perfect pairing can be forced on the wrong person. if you don't like the wine, it's still ain't gonna taste good! Sat Dec 06 09:55:48 -0800 2008 4225236 227301 jdwdeville 4 4245336 I live in Portugal and agree with jdwdeville, LBV or vintage. A 20 year old Tawny is a sweet wine more suited to deserts and also good with mild dry cheese - but over here it would never be served with a strong ceamy cheese. The stronger tanins and full body plus ripe fruit of a good LBV or a vintage will stand up to and compliment the stilton while the tawny will be overpowered by it. I expect you would pay more for your port in the US but a good LBV here costs no more than around USD20. Sun Dec 14 03:46:45 -0800 2008 4225264 242657 Makantudo