As I was getting ready for the Engineer's Ball yesterday, my friend came over with this: Sandeman Founder's Reserve Ruby Porto, already chilled. This port comes to us from Portugal, it has an alcohol content of 20% (wow!) and cost about $20 at Total Wine (or so they say).
Sandeman does not have much to say on the flavor of their Ruby Porto, except that it is "brilliant and clean" with rich red fruit flavor. Other reviews online claim that the oak aging of this wine gives it a spiciness. This particular variety had been aged for 5 years prior to bottling.
Upon opening, I noticed its high viscosity and deep purple color. Raising the glass to my nose, the full aroma of cherry, almonds, caramel, and plums took over me. The taste was even more complex and delicious: a full-bodied blend of cherry, prunes, sugar, and spice. The red fruit flavor was really front and center as they said. It was a great idea to have it chilled. The tannins in the wine did make it a bit astringent, but the sugar really mellowed this out. This bottle reminds me of a cherry almond liquor that I bought in Rome called Rattafia.
From page 154 of the Wine Folly text, they describe the flavors of Port as consisting of black plum, dried cherry, chocolate, raisin, and cinnamon. The Ruby Porto is much different in flavor profile than the Tawny Port I had a week ago. This one is much fruitier and redder, which makes sense because it was not aged as long. This wine would be absolutely divine with a hunk of strong cheese.
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