Image property of ThurstonWolfe.com
Type: Wine – Port
Name: Thurston Wolfe 2007 JTW Port
Price: $20.00
Made: Prosser, WA
Alc/Vol: 19%
So what does Thurston Wolfe have to say about their Port wine?
“Our 2008 JTW’s Port is a blend of Touriga (37%), Petite Sirah (32%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (31%), all grown in Washington State. Touriga is a traditional Portuguese Port variety that produces aromatic wines with deep ruby color. Petite Sirah adds color and structure and Cabernet contributes bright fruit aromas to the blend. Descriptors: Black cherry, boysenberry, chocolate, spice and black pepper. Enjoy with anything chocolate, Stilton cheese and Bartlett pears, or curled up next to a winter fire. 19% alcohol, 10% residual sugar.”
OK I know the picture and description say 2008 but my title says 2007, well I guess I had last year’s bottle. This Portuguese influenced wine, is a dessert wine but if you are unfamiliar with Port wines don’t expect this to be a fruity overly sweet and crisp concoction. No my friend this is a spicy sweet mix that is kicked up by the mixture of brandy.
I remember my first introduction to Port wines, I had just landed in Brazil and found my way to a nice Bistro style restaurant that opened up into a street corner nearby. A band played, sitting at a table providing beautiful entertainment to diners and passerby’s. I had no clue what I was ordering to eat or drink but the waiter recommended a small port to go with our meal. The port came in a tiny wine glass and was served with our appetizers, something completely different then I was used to. I fell in love with this unusual spicy drink that was still a wine.
If you are a fan of the inherent spice that comes with a good brandy, as you sip it down not a shot, then this style of wine may be for you. I poured this wine into a typical red wine glass, although I’m thinking the smaller style I had in Brazil may be better. As I inhaled the aromas, the scent of the spice overcame me. The taste of this wine matched the scent, sweet yet filled with different spices that make it into a complex drink. I didn’t have a dessert to eat this with but I feel that it would have blended well with a deep rich treat, such as a chocolate treat.
This wine is good but a little too much spice for me, and I like spicy treats, although it could be that I didn’t have it with its traditional pairing partner. I give this drink 2.5 out of 5 bananas, it is a good wine at a good price but I feel the spicy flavoring overpowers the other flavors a little too much. Have you tried this wine before or have a better Port suggestion?
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