After Dinner Port and ?

We will be having Port with friends after dinner this weekend. What would be a good dessert/food to pair with it?

Leftover Halloween chocolate.

Dan, not to be a smartass, but it depends on the type of Port. White Port? Tawny? LBV? Vintage?

White Port -- Roasted almonds, hard crumbly cheese, such as Wensleydale, Cheshire

Tawny Port -- Crème Brulée, apple or pecan pie, almond biscotti, cheeses like an aged Gouda or Morbier, walnuts and hazelnuts

LBV -- Dark chocolate desserts with strawberries and raspberries, chocolate almond tart, soft, creamy cheeses such as Brie de Meaux, Waterloo

Vintage -- Blue cow’s milk cheeses such as Stilton, Dorset Blue Vinny or Roquefort, hazelnut chocolate tart, dried apricots and figs, and walnuts

That ought to get you a start....

Other than nuts I've not had great results matching after-dinner foods with Ports, but Randy's biscotti recommendation intrigues me. That sounds like a winner. I'll give it a try with a Colheita (vintage aged tawny).

My word! I agree completely with Randy. But he forgot Ruby.

With Ruby, chocolate or maybe some chocolate, and if you can't find any, get some chocolate. The combination is like those alcohol-filled candies.

Dan, not to be a smartass, but it depends on the type of Port.

Not being a smartass at all. Your comments are appreciated. I realized when I hit the Submit button that not all ports are equal and that I should have described it.

It's an '02 Veritas Ruby Port from Boordy Vineyards in Maryland that was part of tasting at AWS last week. We liked it enough that we bought a bottle.

The label says the the aroma is a seductive (whew!) mixture of plums and chocolate and the flavor is full bodied with a sweet finish. Suggests having with rich cheeses.

Dan,

The problem with coming up with a suggested pairing for an American port style wine is that the words to describe the wine have no meaning. We generally know what a Ruby Port tastes like; we really have no idea what Boordy ruby port would taste like since we have no idea of its production method.

But I know I have loved chocolate with Ruby Port.

Last Sunday night we had a Ruby Port from some producer who is now entirely absent from my mind. It was served with a flourless chocolate torte that had dried cherries reconstituted in the same Port sprinkled over it.

I didn't want to eat the last bite or swallow the last drop.

I know it doesn't really help but generally I like a cigar after a big dinner with my glass of port. I know that's what I'll be having on Thanksgiving evening. But more to the point, I have found that a dessert that has both sweetness and tartness goes well with port... like a fruit tart.

Glenn

Leftover Halloween chocolate.

I have dibs on the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

I seem to have found that dates wrapped in bacon and grilled are pretty tasty. Good with any port in my books, then there is my famous Raisin Pie!!!!!

Last Sunday night we had a Ruby Port from some producer who is now entirely absent from my mind. It was served with a flourless chocolate torte that had dried cherries reconstituted in the same Port sprinkled over it.

I didn't want to eat the last bite or swallow the last drop.

Cynthia, have just posted some notes on a Port tasting over on Wine Focus here.

Probably not much help but I find port to be a dessert by itself and not something that matches food very well. I love the stuff and usually drink it by itself. If dessert is served I usually eat the dessert and then drink the port. The classic matches are supposed to be chocolate and a blue cheese but quite honestly they have never impressed. If forced to supply a dessert I guess I would offer a very good piece of chocolate and possible some nuts.
Walt