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Port
Douro Valley, Portugal
fortifiedDeep purple (vintage) to tawny
Sweet fortified red; vintage port is among the longest-lived wines.
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Line up two to four wines the way you'd say them. The guide covers 127 appellations and styles, and spelling doesn't need to be perfect.
Port and Madeira side by side: structure on the WSET scale, grapes, aromas, drinking window, typical UK price and what to eat with each.
Sweet fortified red; vintage port is among the longest-lived wines.
Oxidised, nearly indestructible, with racy acidity; dry (Sercial) to sweet (Malmsey).
The shape of each wine, then each measure on the WSET scale.
Port has noticeably more sweetness than Madeira.
Madeira has noticeably fresher acidity than Port.
Port: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and others
Madeira: Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, Malmsey
| Port | Madeira | |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and others | Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, Malmsey |
| Climate | Hot continental | Subtropical island |
| Soil | Schist terraces | Volcanic |
| Classification | DOC; Ruby, Tawny, LBV, Vintage | DOP; heat-aged |
| Drinking window | Vintage: 20–50+ years | Practically indefinite |
| Typical price | £15–£100 | £20–£100 |
| Food | Stilton, chocolate | Fruit cake, cheese |
| Producers to know | Taylor's, Graham's, Quinta do Noval | Blandy's, Barbeito, D'Oliveira |