All wine deteriorates over time after being opened and exposed to oxygen, when it starts to turn to vinegar. Luckily if you have an open bottle of port, especially young port, the liquid is less susceptible to the damaging effects oxygen and will keep longer than your average bottle of table wine.
Port stays good whether stored in the fridge or at room temperature. But when it comes time to open a bottle and drink it, they hit a wall of myths, misconceptions and plain misunderstandings. Being British, I can honestly say it is our fault. We created the traditions that can be so off-putting. We made drinking vintage Port seem like something only done in clubs amongst elderly colonels and, in the Empire era, that was rather correct.
On behalf of my island, I am here to set things right. Treat vintage Port like the great wine it is and, like the English still do, enjoy it.
In the past, young vintage Port was tough, tannic and not worth serving. It needed many years to soften and mature. That can be 20 or 50 years, or even longer. Because the current style is still relatively new beginning in the mids , your descendants will be the judges of that. In fact, the general consensus is that the aroma, mouthfeel and taste of a full-bodied cigar can cancel the aroma, mouthfeel and taste of vintage Port.
If cigars are a priority, and you want a vintage Port instead of a spirit, then balance the opulence of the cigar with the opulence of the Port. You can drink vintage Port while dining on the patio in the summer, sitting around a log fire or at a restaurant. Port wine sealed with a stopper can be stored upright. Meanwhile, corked bottles are best kept on their sides. Taking this step allows the liquid to hydrate the cork and prevent it from drying.
As the fermentation process has been halted by adding alcohol, port wine tends to have a relatively long shelf life.
Indeed, a well-sealed port bottle can last for far longer than most wine. However, most ruby and tawny port is bottled and released when the producer feels that they are ready to drink.
These are often bottled-aged for decades by the producer before being made available to the public. Bear in mind that vintage port requires decanting from its sediment. Therefore, once opened, it will need to be consumed within a few days. Depending on its temperature and consistency, port can often be served directly from the cellar. Indeed, a fridge will be too cold for long-term storage.
Additionally, the frequent exposure to light, vibrations, and changes it temperature when the door is opened could upset it after a while.
As a general rule, unopened port should be fine if kept in the refrigerator for between two to three months. Any longer and we would recommend finding a cool and dark place in your house. As a result, its lifespan will have shortened even after you replace the cork of stopper.
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