"... Mr. Tulkinghorn sits at one of the open windows, enjoying a bottle of old port. Though a hard-grained man, close, dry, and silent, he can enjoy old wine with the best. He has a priceless bin of port in some artful cellar under the Fields, which is one of his many secrets. When he dines alone in chambers, as he has dined to-day, and has his bit of fish and his steak or chicken brought in from the coffee-house, he descends with a candle to the echoing regions below the deserted mansion, and, heralded by the remote reverberation of thundering doors, comes gravely back, encircled by an earthy atmosphere and carrying a bottle from which he pours a radiant nectar, two score and ten years old, that blushes in the glass to find itself so famous,and fills the whole room with the fragrance of southern grapes." Dickens - Bleak House

From the great Vintage of 1922 through to 2008 we have over five thousand bottles of Vintage/Tawny/Commemorative/Non Vintage and unusual, impossible to get Ports for you to choose from. If we haven't got it listed here, please contact us as we have many more in the cellar! 

Vintage Ports are made from the wine of one particular year. They usually spend 12-18 months in Wood and then are left to develop in the bottle. 20 plus years is quite normal. Colour starts off Purplish, then becomes dark red – losing the Violet colour.

Tawny Ports are ready to drink when bottled as most of the maturation has already taken place in the 5-100 year period! They are often blends of several years.  Colour can range considerably but usually is darker and browner (Tawny) than Vintage Port.

Ruby Ports are more of a medium Port and maturation will add very little to its “fresh” taste. Colour is as it’s name suggests – Ruby Red.

Non Vintage (NV) Ports can be a mixture of all sorts, including Tawny. Some of these are remarkably good - the Rovalley Cobweb Port is a good example of this.  I opened one earlier this year and it is marvellous -  better than a lot of $75+ Vintage Ports I have tried over the last few years. Bottle age doesn't always improve a wine or port but in some cases it can change it for the better.

All of these types of Ports are becoming increasingly sought after. They look good, the dates or labels may have a special significance and more importantly, most are very drinkable and their value is increasing significantly as the supply dwindles. We have tasted many, many of these and very generally their overall sweetness, complexity and differences combined with affordability have made for some memorable times. Enjoy!