RKS Wines: White Port You Say? Stay Away Tonic Water!

On my visits to The Douro White Port was rarely seen and so little is imported to Canada. It most often seems to be used in a cocktail of Port and Tonic. It can be refreshing but I will admit it is not compelling but then again the most exotic I get is a Mojito when there is fresh mint in my garden.

Now to be fair a few years ago while in Porto I stumbled across a small bar serving a wide range of White Port most from small producers and the couple I tried were brimming with character.

So let’s give a White Port from Martha’s Wine and Spirits a try. In colour it is not white at all but more of a golden orange. On the nose there is orange, quince, apricot and caramel. Excuse my inexperience with White Port but there are similarities with a Tawny Port on the nose. On the palate electric peach, quince jam, baklava, spice, pear and honey. By Jove this is a complicated creature. A long finish with no presence on the nose or palate of spirits. This one should be chilled and savoured on its own. Do you remember Dorothy throwing water in the “Wizard of Oz” on the Wicked Witch well don’t throw tonic on this beauty or you might kill it.

(Martha’s Fine White Port, Gold Mountains Company, Santa Marta de Penguiao, Portugal, $19.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 249044, 750 mL, 19.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 91/100)