Port wine - how long will it last once opened?

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Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/1/2015 2:47:18 AM

Exit 105

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I've been wondering how long a bottle of port wine will remain drinkable once it has been opened. Is it about the same time period as most red wines or much longer? What are proper storage techniques? Thanks.

Anthony

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/1/2015 3:23:10 AM

Yossarian

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I think the port purists would say 1-2 days.

Personally I find it to be a very long time. I think we have a bottle that has been opened in our kitchen for about a month and it is still ok,

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/1/2015 4:29:13 AM

pbilling

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+ 1 on Yossarian's comment. I find that older tawny port lasts better that vintage or late bottled for some reason. I use argon on vintage and try to drink it within 3-4 days. YMMV

Paul B.

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/1/2015 6:34:14 AM

annerk

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Older Tawny's kept chilled and dark after opening can last a month or more. Ruby's and vintages are good for 1-3 days are so. At least in my experience.

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/1/2015 12:23:22 PM

cigar52

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I have never had a vintage bottle last more than a night, but everyday port can stand up for a month or two if not too hot.

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/1/2015 1:43:53 PM

KPB

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I would say 4-5 days for a healthy vintage port in its first 30 years, but 1-2 days for a really old port, for example 50 or 60 years or more. I don't take any special precautions at all. But for better outcomes over a long period, I agree, nitrogen or argon and keeping it in the fridge would surely help.

Tawny port would last more or less forever. After all, the wine is already maderized.

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/1/2015 2:22:42 PM

GalvezGuy

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+1

Tends to follow experience as well.

quote:

ORIGINAL: KPB

I would say 4-5 days for a healthy vintage port in its first 30 years, but 1-2 days for a really old port, for example 50 or 60 years or more. I don't take any special precautions at all. But for better outcomes over a long period, I agree, nitrogen or argon and keeping it in the fridge would surely help.

Tawny port would last more or less forever. After all, the wine is already maderized.

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/1/2015 2:34:48 PM

recotte

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I accidentally left a bottle of opened (and recorded) tawny in a cupboard for over a year. Out of curiosity I tried it and found it to still be in pretty good shape.

Vintage port has never survived more than a night in my experience, so that's a moot point!

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/1/2015 5:08:12 PM

kcbrian

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Agree with the other poster on vintage port which is one of my favorites. If I open a bottle we drink it that night or at the worst finish on day two. Especially important with older vintage port.

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/1/2015 5:30:14 PM

tantotinto

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I attended a Port tasting several years ago that was hosted by Dominic Symington. I was a complete beginner in the world of Port at the time so many of his points were probably wasted on me. I did, however, catch his answer to the original question. My notes follow:

Vintage Port Life Stages:

First five to six years is a bit of a fruit bomb stage.

Then go into a dumb stage.

At 10 to 12 years they come out of the dumb stage as a softer, smoother and rounder wine.

At 20 to 30 years they reach a new stage with a much more aromatic nose and hints of smoke, leather and tobacco.

Always decant vintage Port. If you decant the wine and then wish to place it back into the original bottle for serving, rinse the bottle with red wine, not water, before returning the Porto to the bottle. Vintage Port can last for several days after opening if you stopper the bottle and store it in a dark bottle and/or a dark room. The classic match for Vintage Port is Stilton cheese. Vintage Port is excellent with game dishes in a rich sauce.

Young “wood” LVB Ports and Tawny Ports can last three to four months in the bottle after opening. They match well with soft, creamy and nutty cheeses. Tawny Port is especially good with Parmesan that has aged to the point that it is starting to crystallize around the edges. Tawny Port is excellent served cold.

Sorry for the edits. My cut and paste skills on this board are lacking.

< Message edited by tantotinto -- 4/1/2015 5:37:22 PM >

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/1/2015 9:05:47 PM

fingers

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Very helpful post, Tanto..... and full clemency on edits. I'm the king of edits

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/2/2015 4:53:30 AM

KPB

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If you decant (I only do if the cork crumbles), the extra air will reduce lifetime. But this reminds me to point out that you can put VP in a glass by glass dispenser but if you do, avoiding putting the straw into sediment cab be challenging, because they often drop huge amounts of black goop, and it can stick to the walls of the bottle.

If I do decant, I use a port filter (a kind of funnel with a metal mesh), and I rinse with water. Then back in the same bottle

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/2/2015 6:56:39 AM

Old Doug

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Port wine - how long will it last once opened?

It doesn't last very long around me, I can tell you that.

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/2/2015 2:16:00 PM

Exit 105

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Old Doug

Port wine - how long will it last once opened?

It doesn't last very long around me, I can tell you that.

LOL, Doug!

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/2/2015 2:17:11 PM

Exit 105

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Thanks for the helpful feedback. Seems as though Port has a shorter shelf life once opened than I would have thought. Enjoy the upcoming holidays!

Anthony

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/2/2015 2:20:59 PM

Old Doug

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I am surprised at what seem relatively short life expectancies for vintage port, i.e. only a day or two. Not arguing; just thought it would be longer than that.

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/2/2015 2:51:20 PM

KPB

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Well, you could keep the '85 Graham or '92 Fonseca open for 5 days. But they would taste faded by day 7. But people who say 1-2 days are being way to conservative IMHO.

By day 6.... Well, no wine holds up forever once opened...

< Message edited by KPB -- 4/2/2015 2:53:25 PM >

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RE: Port wine - how long will it last once opened? - 4/2/2015 4:20:52 PM

tantotinto

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Old Doug

I am surprised at what seem relatively short life expectancies for vintage port, i.e. only a day or two. Not arguing; just thought it would be longer than that.

I think you are correct. It is hard to imagine anyone being more knowledgeable than Dominic Symimgton as he is the head of the family that makes Dow, Graham's, Warre's and Smith Woodhouse etc. If he says "several" days that sounds good to me and is certainly more than two.

I usually save my Port for special occasions with friends and cannot remember a bottle getting through the night undrained. So I have to admit to no personal experience on the subject.

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