Port Recommendation for Christmas Present?

[Aravisea]

I'd like to get a bottle of port for my dad. He enjoys port but is not a connoisseur, and I'd like to spend $50 or less. Any suggestions?

[wanker]

Graham's 20 year old, but any 20 year plus vintage would be great.

[Bill Hunt]

Now, so as to not confuse things, a Tawny is seldom listed by "vintage," unless it is a Colheita. The general Tawnies are an average of the blend in the bottle, so a 20 year Tawney will be an average of the blend. With a true VP, the date of production will be stated, so a 1985 Taylor-Fladgate will now be 20+ years. In very general terms, a Tawney is meant to be consumed near the date of bottling, where a true VP will mature (maybe good, or maybe not) in the bottle, after it has been placed "in glass."

Hope that makes sense and clears things up a bit,

Hunt

[Bill Hunt]

For my fav. Tawney, Taylor-Fladgate 20 year Tawney, I think that I pay around US$45/btl., but might be off a few $. I enjoy it more than their 30 and 40 year Tawnies, at 3x the price.

Enjoy,

Hunt

[ReeseChiarlo]

The 2007 Vintage Ports (which were just released) have gotten fantastic ratings and is something that can be laid down or collected or consumed. Though finding a good one under 50 will be difficult they do exist. Most seem to range from 60-90. A little pricey, but the 2007 vintage is one of the best in recent times.

2003 vintage ports were also good, but not quite as heralded, but can be had at a slightly lower price.

[ChefJune]

On my Wine Lovers' Calendar for today, Karen MacNeil suggests the 99 Warre's bottle matured LBV Port for about $30 a bottle. She says "it's fantastic quality for the price."

[jochaima]

Niepoort Tawny Port 20 Year Old is a great tawny!

[ibstatguy]

no specific recs from Asimov but an informative article which may be of help: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/din...

[budnball]

My current fave is a Quinta Do Roriz 2001 which I picked at the Wine Library online for about $30.

[waitress]

Port is a great gift. I would go to a local wine shop and see if they have any gems hidden, they could have some vintage or Late Bottled. It might be interesting to give him a gift of 10 yr, 20 yr and 30 yr. Or a basic Tawny and then maybe one nicer one. Or a Ruby and a Tawny.

Taylor Fladgate, Graham's, Warre's, Dow, Sandeman. These are very easy to find.
There are plenty of great Ports, even at your higher end groceries.

[zin1953]

It would help if we had an example of the kind of Porto that he usually enjoys -- that way, our recommendations would be more suited to HIS palate, rather than ours (i.e.: "well, I like X," or "oh, this is <$50; that will work).

[Aravisea]

I had to ask my mother to do some reconnaissance, but found out that he likes tawney's aged at least 10 years.

[Steve_K]

Ramos Pinto 10 Year Tawny would be my pick of them.