Monis Vintage Port 2006

Having just been to Portugal where I had the pleasure of tasting a large number of fabulous ports blind for the book, Guia Popular dos Vinhos with which Neil Pendock and I are assisting Anibal Coutinho, my palate is somewhat calibrated to the part made from the classical Portuguese varieties.

It was also very clear that the Port producers in the lodges of Oporto are looking for ways to make port a more popular drink amongst the younger wine drinkers and also to make it appeal to woman.

David Guimaraens the Chief Winemaker of Taylors Fonseca Crofts led us through a tasting of the 2007 vintages of Taylor’s, Fonseca and Crofts and the newly released organic Fonseca Terra Prima.  And also gave us a sip of the highly rated and hugely successful Crofts Pink Port.

So it’s time to bury the image of port as the preserve of the old and rich.

David Guimaraens & the Croft's Pink

And Monis have a perfect match for you in their 2006 vintage, a blend of the classic port varietals Touriga Naçional, Sousão and Tinta Roriz.  Elegant like its cousins from the Douro with just fabulous ripe red berries of the raspberry kind, black roadside brambles, blood plums, dark Morello cherry and chocolate. Dryish on the palate as it reveals itself with a beautiful balance of fruit, acid and soft soft tannins.

The Monis Vintage Port 2006 matches well a ripe matured Cheddar, though Joao Nicolau d’Almeida of Quinta Bom Retiro in the Douro told me he loved port best with Stilton even though Portugal does not make a similar kind of blue cheese.

Brilliant with a snap of black chocolate after dinner too!

Joao Nicolau d'Almeida pours his 20 yr old Port