Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

Food

Me So Tawny

Tamara Lover

Published Jan 9, 2006

Modified Mar 7, 2008

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Tamara Lover

Published Jan 9, 2006

Modified Mar 7, 2008

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Our love affair with Port happened so quickly, that by the time we tried to get that last drop from the little glass, we knew we were in trouble. It always surprises us that Port isn’t more popular. Perhaps it is because it can get quite expensive or maybe it’s the stigma as an old man’s drink – but one sip of this rich, sweet wine often blossoms into a beautiful drinking habit.

Gothamist took two Port virgins out for a tasting yesterday. It was a beautiful, sunny, brisk afternoon and we couldn’t think of a better place to spend it then sipping port in a dark, smoky candlelit bar. One look at the port selection at Hudson Bar and Books, and we knew we had found the place to start new loves and rekindle the old.

We started with the Offley Ruby Port NV, for $11 a glass. Ruby’s are often young, non-vintage (typically sold at 3 years old) and have concentrated fruit notes. The one we tried was deep red in color, sweet and rich with flavors of raisons and dried cherries.

Next came the Tawny Port. Tawny Ports are typically aged in cask for extended periods of time. We had the Noval 20 year Tawny at $16 a glass. This Port was like butterscotch in a glass.

The Vintage Port we had was the Smith Woodhouse, 1985 for $24. This Port was a little subtler than the others we tried but seduced us by the third sip. Vintage Ports are matured in wood for up to five years before bottling. This one was soft and rich with notes of honey, raisins and other dried fruit.

The grand finale of our tasting was the Quinta Do Noval, Colheita, 1968 at $32 a glass. This was one of the best Ports we had ever had and at approximately $6 a sip we savored every last drop and even licked the glass…just a little bit. Colheita Port is made from a single vintage and has been aged in cask for a minimum of 8 years. This Port exuded hints of butterscotch, almonds and caramel; the texture, smooth and rich, coated every last little taste bud in our mouths.

We left the bar with new friends, two new inductees into the Port-fan club and that pure unadulterated love for a fine fortified wine. It’s been a few years since we experienced that initial spark, but the excitement has not faded.

Oh Port, we love you long time.

Tagged

bar

books

drinking

friends

gothamist

Hudson Bar

love

spirits

the smith

wine

Tamara Lover

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE food

10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City

The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.

Robert Sietsema

Published Sep 12, 2026

Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.

Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.

Sonia Rao

Food

Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.

Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.

Sonia Rao

5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's

Hannah Frishberg

Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian

Robert Sietsema

Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?

Caroline Shin

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .