Glenora Port

[Innkeeper]

We went to Portland today to see an exhibit at the Portland Museum of Art on quilts made of calico and chintz in America during the first half of the nineteenth century. It came from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It was very interesting. Afterward we went to a waterfront restaurant called J's Oyster Bar that is tucked so far away from tourist haunts that only locals hang there. There was a fisherman at the bar across from our table who lives in Deer Isle near here, and had been up to Grand Manan fishing this morning, and had sold his catch in Portland. He must have one fast boat!

Anyhow, we had our principal meal of the day there: She had a shrimp and lobster stir fry and he had a dish consisting on crabmeat in bechamel sauce on spinach stuffed ravioli. We washed all down with journeyman Pinot Grigio, and finished with raspberry cheesecake with a lemon curd topping. All with 20% tip came to $66. Happily we will be closer to Portland after we move to NH.

So, tonight we had cheese and Port. The Port was NV Glenora Port ($16.99 at the winery). The grapes Gene puts in this are Cabernet Sauvignon, Baco Noir, Syrah, and Merlot. Don't know what he fortifies it with, but know that it spends a lot of time in oak barrels. Despite this, it is more like a Ruby Port and a Tawny. Don't mean this as a knock. Knew it when we bought it. So we matched it with some medium weight cheeses. The best was an aged goat gouda that we had picked up at Miccuci's on a previous trip to or by Portland. Also had some Jarlsburg, and unfortunately a little leftover Brie that did not work.

The wine gives a seductive dose of fruit, body, and alcohol (18%). An excellent example of this type of Port. Hope some of the rest of you picked up a bottle or two.