23 Dec Ruby Port for the holidays – Fonseca Bin 27 Porto
Port is wine with a little something extra…fortification.
In the early stages of the process,
Port is created just like any other wine.
Then the recipe changes.
Distilled grape spirits are added to the mix to
1. fortify the juice and
2. stop fermentation before the sugar in the juice
is converted to alcohol.
This results in a wine that is typically sweeter, richer
and higher in alcoholic content than non-fortified wines.
It’s Wine Thursday! our weekly feature
highlighting a good wine
that’s a good buy and is easy to find
either at the grocery/supermarket/wine shop or online.
This week, we’re featuring a low-risk/high-reward
introduction to the Port category.
There are several permutations of Port
including Tawny, White, Vintage, Late Bottled Vintage
and Ruby, the least expensive and most widely-produced
type of Port.
In the broad Ruby category, Fonseca Bin 27 is a cut above.
Up front, it shows deep, ripe fruity flavors of plum and black cherry
that eventually turn to enjoyable notes of pepper and licorice.
This one’s a true crowd pleaser…a perfect accompaniment to
cheese, nuts and chocolate-based desserts.
No need to rush through the bottle.
It will keep for 2-4 weeks.
That’s a plus since at 20% alcohol
(typical for Port)
sipping might be the prudent approach for Bin 27.
Fonseca Bin 27 Porto is widely available.
Total Wine has it for $15.99. Ralph’s lists it at $17.13.
Fred Meyer and Safeway sell it for $18.99.
The price at Safeway is $19.99.
You can order it from Saratoga Wine Exchange for $15.94
or from B-21 for $16.99
and K&L Wine Merchants have it available at $17.99