My point, just to be clear, is
BRAND
Ports brand image hasn’t yet moved into broad consumption. It is regarded as a mans after dinner cigar drink. And even then it competes in a staggeringly diverse array of other men’s drinks
Everyone goes into a bar and says “a glass of champagne please” - they make zillions of bottles a year, in USA, impossible to find under $30. @30 you can choose from about 80 producers, from $40, closer to 800. They protect their brand. I just paid $400 a bottle for 1993 champagne and was happy to do so. Entirely cause the brand/presentation. You open quarter century comtes
and you are making a statement of thoughtfulness that is special and branded unusual and particular.
A glass of Pinot ditto. You can get Pinot cheap, even burgundy, even my boy jadot, who I pop with great anticipation. That house the Ralph Lauren of wine brah. Madison 72 hotties table in town.
He at Walmart for $6. He plays the spectrum and adds value at every level while maintaining brand image and authenticity. Not easy . For jadot my beef is batonage
Point is brand. Reserve ruby should be the summer sensation post covid (hit me w the 20 brah!), it should be served chilled. Quevedo crusted is good here too, but my usual is Black. Ymmv. Port should be a go to burger side . It should never ever be served in a thimble with half a drop in there. We see huge pours of whiskey
, and teeeeny little $15 pours of 2007 niepooop cohleilra , which I must say was already lovely and will no doubt be stunning if correct in about 30 more years .
Port shouldbe served de rigeur @
joints. It has the mouthfeel to mesh with any cut of legit meat. That’s also where haters may find tawny especially useful, , adding a brown sugar sex magic to their medallions. What do I know?!
But it ain’t happening . I lived in nyc, London, Bangalore, philly, Pittsburgh, and last five months st Pete, and I seen every drink imaginable have a day in the sun. There was some burn with 2011, best vintage By FAR in my lifetime. Jancis said best 2011 region was Douro, and yes, but there was no real competition. I own no other 2011, plenty of 2009, 2010, some 2012, etc...
No one drinks those wines. Nor do they discuss them.
They talk about their preferences for flavored seltzer water and shandy and ... ?!
Sell 10yr tawny, pink, and tonic port to the <26 female. You will win. Ignore the “port or bust “ as well as the first growth dudes. Go where sex is happening and give profits to charity (
s?) and watch what happens