Recently we had the opportunity to compare two different port wines side-by-side; one purchased in Portugal and brought back to the U.S. in a suitcase (Quinta du Castelinho Reserva), and the other purchased at the PLCB's clearance sale (Dow's Late Bottled Vintage). Which do you think was better?
It was no contest, but it wasn't really a fair fight. These wines are in two totally different leagues, like the Phillies and the Riversharks. As someone at the table put it, the Castelinho tastes like port, the Dow's tastes like red wine trying to be port.
For that night, we put the Dow's aside and enjoyed the Castelinho with nuts and cheese, a good match for its amber color, fragrant nose, and rich taste. But as we have learned, sometimes a wine just needs the right context to reveal its gifts. A few nights later we brought the Dow's back out, this time with the Barefoot Contessa's Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake. Big difference! Now the more ruby-style of the Dow's came into its own and paired beautifully with the chocolate cake.
Two wines, two different leagues, but we're grateful we could enjoy them both on their own terms.
