Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Old Twany Port

I just bought my first bottle of Tawny Port and was wondering how long will it last after it is opened?

I just bought my first bottle of Tawny Port and was wondering how long will it last after it is opened?

Hello Bill, and welcome to the forum! Tawnies are made in an oxidative style, so further air exposure isn't as detrimental to them as the fresher styles of Port. But I still prefer to drink my Tawnies withing 3-4 days of opening because I find that they do lose the refreshing qualities within that time, even though they can remain perfectly drinkable for up to two weeks in some cases. So it is a case of when YOU find that there is a significant enough turn for the worse that matters. I find a lifted, bright character essential for enjoyment so I drink up my Tawnies pretty quickly, but you might well find them enjoyable for a longer period. I hope you open it and enjoy it and report back on how you like it and for how long you like it. I do warn you that a good Tawny is quite an irresistable drink so I find myself drinking a bottle in such a short time that such questions don't matter!

-Otto

Bill,

I agree with Otto. You probably have five days at the most before your Tawny falls apart. I would suggest doing an experiment: open your port and taste it every day for week to see at what point it begins to decline. Your experience maybe different than mine. Unfortunately, Vintage Port seems to be even shorter lived with a noticable difference even the next day.

It wont ever "go bad" in the sense of turning into vinegar, as ordinary, non-fortified wines do. Too much alcohol and sugar for that to happen.

In the presence of oxygen, those lovely aromatic nuances will gradually fade over a period of 4-5 days, as others have pointed out. You'll be left with a nice, palatable Port, but not the wonderful nectar of the gods that is was when you first opened it.

-Paul W.