How to Buy a Vintage Character Port Wine

Vintage character port wine is perfect for those who have developed a sophisticated port wine palate. Made in the same way and style as vintage port, it offers port wine lovers the well-rounded flavors of a vintage port without the added aging time or expense.

Things You'll Need

• Port wine or tulip glasses

Instructions

1. Know what goes into producing vintage character port. This port is a premium blend of Ruby port grapes from different harvests and is aged in wood for no less than five years.

2. Learn the flavor characteristics of vintage character port. It is rich and fruity in flavors reminiscent of cherries and plums, with a hint of tobacco. This port also has a soft tannic structure.

3. Become familiar with the labels. Many port houses have stopped using the term vintage character on the label. Proprietary names are used it its place such as Bin 27 from Fonseca and Special Reserve from Cockburn's.

4. Buy vintage character port as an alternative to the pricey vintage port or aged tawny port. The flavor characteristics are very similar but do not carry the hefty price tag.

Tips & Warnings

• Vintage character port is ready to drink when bottled and does not benefit from additional aging.

• This port is filtered before it is bottled, so there is no need to decant.

• Learn some of the more well-known port house proprietary names before buying a bottle of vintage character port. Learning the proprietary names will help you find what you are looking for and prevent confusion over what type of port you are buying.

• Drink Vintage Character port within two weeks of opening the bottle. After two weeks, the port will begin to break down and spoil.

Resources

• Get tasting notes for Vintage Character port wines.
• Get an overview of port wines at Wineloverspage.