A good, inexpensive port

[barnesy]

I am looking for a good, inexpensive port that is ready to drink now. As I am trying as many types of wine as possible, this is the next broad class. I found a Dow's Tawny on wine.com for about $12, a Smith Woodhouse Lodge Reserve Port for 15, or a Dow's 1994 Late bottled Vintage port for 18. Which of these would be the best for immediate consumption? Or do you folks have another suggestion thats in this price range and easily obtainable over the internet as I am in an area with few accessable wine shops if any. Thanks, in advance, for your help.

Barnesy

[Bucko]

Now don't laugh, throw bricks or sic the skinheads on me -- try Whiskers Blake Port out of Australia. It is a real QPR wine.

Bucko

[barnesy]

For my inexperianced sake, what does QPR mean?

Barnesy

[Bucko]

Quality Price Ratio -- used to highlight a wine who is reasonably priced yet very tasty. I'm sorry that I did not indicate that.

Bucko

[Chilly]

I definently agree with the Hardy's Whisker Blake recommendation. I also really like the 94 Dow's LBV which you mention. Both of those are excellent wines. I would recommend maybe getting both as they definently have different and distinct tastes.

[Woodman]

Along with the Whisker's Blake, there is Ch. Reynella Old Cave, also a tawny from OZ.

Try the '94 LBV (Late Bottled Vintage) from Quinta do Noval. At less than $20 for a non-tawny (ok...so I'm inventing words), it's a steal.

Good luck.

[JamieGoode]

Try the Quinto do Crasto LBV 1994 or 1995. It's super stuff -- a traditional LBV that will throw a sediment and benefits from time in bottle.

[Thomas]

Barnsey, before you go to all the trouble of trying the above, think Niepoort LBV 1995 (about $23) if you can find it, '97 if you can't. In fact, think Niepoort for Colheita and for Vintage Port. The stuff mentioned above is good but Niepoort is spectacular. I believe it is the last Dutch-owned house in Oporto.

[Bucko]

Niepoort is seconded. I have 2-3 cases in the cellar of the vintage stuff. The Tawnies are very good, the Colheita sublime. We had a 1952 Colheita not that long ago and it was wonderful.

Bucko