White port has come a long way in the last few years. I used to view it as an uncool over-oxidised anomaly of a wine and a very poor relation to red port, but I tried some recently chilled to the bone with a tonic and all I can say is ‘wowzer’.
White port is made from grapes native to the Douro valley and comes in two styles, dry and sweet. The sweet ones tend to be very grapey for want of a better description and can age for many years. They are superb aperitif wines and go well with nuts or hard cheese.
The dryer ones are actually off dry in style with aromas of nuts and warm raisins and are best served in the same way as gin, chilled with a tonic and a slice of lemon or orange. Both styles can be enjoyed young, but it's also common to find examples that have been barrel-aged for up to 40 years adding amazing layers of complexity to the palate.
Anyway, if you haven’t tried them, don't wait until Christmas and don't forget the lemon twist.
Taylor's Fine White Port
This is delicious, with aromas of honey and vanilla spice. Superb chilled with a slice of orange.
Majestic £15.99 per bottle or £13.99 mix six
Kopke White Port 2010
Oh wow. The aroma is rich and similar to muscat and the palate is generously full of tangerines raisins and spices. Stunning.
Waitrose Cellar £35.99
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