Fortified Quaffers and Keepers

[Redav]

Do you have a stock fortified that's your go-to week to week? Our favourite tawny so far has been Rockford's P.S. Marion but I've been trying to find something else that's easier to source because we'd prefer to keep it for more than just regular consumption. So far we've found Galway Pipe to be reasonably good and a cheap Yalumba surprisingly good. Cracked a Stanton and Killeen 12 year recently and I think it's a touch dry for our tastes. Took ages to finish a Para DP90 too which was too dry but my father was quite the fan. I think the flavour of it changed over time too. We had a Maybe we should have kept it in the fridge? We worked our way through several QLD fortified wines but there wasn't really anything of note there. We're heading back to Stanthorpe around new years so I shall try some more. Happy to hear muscat suggestions too. We've only had a couple but I think a McWilliam's Hanwood Estate was the pick so far. Sadly my better half has been cooking with it!

I'm also keen to try some more nicer local and international bottles for special occasions / entertaining so some ideas there wouldn't go astray.

[paulf]

My go to fortified has been the Taylors LBV for the past couple of years, but I get the feeling that won't be what you are looking for as it is a ruby port that does have significant tannin structure which does dry it out a bit.

I'm generally not a fan of 10 year old tawnies (from either Australia or Portugal - they are just in the wrong stage of development for my palate) but Gavin does have available the Seppeltsfield 10 year old which I think is one of the better Australian examples. The other that comes to mind is the Grant Burge 10 year old.
Gavin also has the Dandelion Pedro Ximenez which is excellent value.

I think Seppeltsfield still do a 21 year old Para, and Grant Burge do a 20 year old tawny, but these may or may not be to your tastes, as the flavors will have evolved. I really like Portuguese 20 year olds, as they have developed some nutty flavours and rancio character, but there aren't that many available and the ones that are are often in nose bleed territory price wise. Again these may be a bit dry for your tastes.

If looking at the muscats, the Campbells Rutherglen muscat is pretty nice. Its been a while since I had it but I did much prefer it over the Rutherglen topaque. At the next level (Classic) I used to prefer the topaque. I think the Morris muscats and topaques are almost always excellent value and the Stanton & Killeen versions are generally high quality. I've enjoyed Pennyweight muscat from Beechworth in the past too.


I'd be keeping opened bottles in the fridge, particularly when it is a bit warmer. they will generally hold pretty well for 3 - 4 weeks that way

[Michael McNally]

I have found the Buller Fine Old Tawny for around $20 to by in my groove. If I am looking for something a little higher on the quality spectrum I like the Yalumba Museum Release Antique Tawny, which is about the same damage, but 375mls so twice as expensive!

For Muscat I think any of the major Rutherglen houses will have a level you can find.

Cheers

Michael

[gap]

Try these wineries at the Granite Belt for some fortifieds:

Hidden Creek
Ballandean
Golden Grove
Pyramids Rd
Jester Hill
Bangawarra
Mountview
Severn Brae

We’ve had something from all of them in the last year and they aren’t too dry at all.

For the price point all are pretty good value. Golden Grove and Ballandean especially so.