NV, Quady 'Starboard Batch 88, California
Mix any six bottles and 15% comes off at checkout — no code needed.
At a glance
- Grape
- Port field blend
- Region
- California, USA
- Alcohol
- 20.00%
- Body
- Full
- Acidity
- Medium
- Tannins
- Medium
- Sweetness
- Very sweet
- Drink
- Long (10-20 yrs)
- Pairs with
- Cheese, Dessert
Why this wine
Port-style fortified wine made in California from Portuguese varieties, which US labelling law prevents them calling Port — hence the joke in the name. Rich and raisined at a fraction of vintage Port money.
Our advantages:
Description
How it tastes
Rich and spicy, with luscious ripe blackberry, raisin, and chocolate truffle flavours balanced by fine acidity and soft tannins — a refined Californian homage to classic Port style. Intense aromas of ripe blackberry, raisin, chocolate truffle, and warm spice with subtle vanilla and fig tones. Luscious and full-flavoured, offering a medley of dark fruits, raisin, and cocoa wrapped in gentle spice. The palate is rich and velvety yet balanced by fine acidity and soft tannins, giving a long, warming finish with hints of mocha and dried fruit. Contains sulphites. Information provided to the best of our knowledge at time of publication and subject to change by vintage.
The producer
Founded by Andrew Quady in 1975, Quady Winery transformed the perception of American dessert wines. Originally a fireworks technician, Quady redirected his creativity to winemaking, crafting his first port-style wine from Amador County Zinfandel. His breakthrough came with the release of *Essensia*, made from Orange Muscat, which became an instant success and established Quady as the leading U.S. producer specialising exclusively in sweet and fortified wines. Today, the winery continues to win international acclaim, using Portuguese varietals and traditional techniques to create modern, expressive dessert wines. Crafted using the same fortification method as traditional Port from Portugal's Douro Valley. A blend of several vintages, averaging five years of age, is matured in small 60-gallon oak barrels to achieve complexity and harmony. Only the finest wines from the best vintages are selected for inclusion in this cuvee, which stylistically lies between a ruby and a tawny Port. The first vintage was produced in 1988, hence the name “Batch 88”.
Food and drinking
Good with cheese and dessert. Drinking well now, with a decade or more ahead of it. Serve at 14–16°C.