Marks & Spencer launch pink port for women

Michael M. · Post by **Michael M.** » 18:30 Tue 29 Jan 2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... ort128.xml

Ouch, what's this? Kind of Pink Floyd?

Post by **DRT** » 18:42 Tue 29 Jan 2008

This is hideous. Does anyone know which shipper is producing it for them? If I'm not mistaken all f their port normally comes through Taylor Fladgate's shipping company.

Derek

PS: Must pick one up and try it

Luc · Post by **Luc** » 01:56 Wed 30 Jan 2008

Can't wait 'till It comes to Québec ,
The SAQ will probably sell It for $50.00 !!
The money grabing bas . . .

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 06:26 Wed 30 Jan 2008

Derek T. wrote:This is hideous. Does anyone know which shipper is producing it for them? If I'm not mistaken all f their port normally comes through Taylor Fladgate's shipping company.

Derek

PS: Must pick one up and try it

I'm pretty sure that it is a TFP product from their BOB company.

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 07:58 Wed 30 Jan 2008

Ouch.

But what is it? A real rosé port? Some sort of tawny? Does anybody know?

Post by **DRT** » 08:38 Wed 30 Jan 2008

RonnieRoots wrote:But what is it?

It is the work of the Devil, that's what it is. It's even worse than the Chocolate Ruby they were selling at Christmas

From the description in the article linked to above it seems to just be plain old ruby port that has had the skins removed from the fermentation tank early in the process so that they don't give off too much colour.

Whatever it is, it's just wrong.

Derek

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 08:44 Wed 30 Jan 2008

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that this was being made as a white port with a touch of red port being blended in for colour.

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 09:00 Wed 30 Jan 2008

Ah, so the old-fashioned 'fine tawny' came back to life!

Michael M. · Post by **Michael M.** » 12:04 Wed 30 Jan 2008

Does anyone know if it also will be offered in a neat can- as this luxury commodity?

http://www.richprosecco.com/

And what food would be recommended? Cracker with Nougat Creme made of pig blood?

There are so much questions.

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 12:22 Wed 30 Jan 2008

Before I join in what seems a thoroughly enjoyable rant about this product, shouldn't at least someone taste it? I'm not keen to take a punt myself, as I'd rather waste my money on stuff I know is half decent. I am therefore a tad reticent on judging it too early.
I am also far to sceptical of journalistic experts to accept their verdict. Anyone feel like a frivolous experiment?

Alan

Post by **DRT** » 13:14 Wed 30 Jan 2008

If I come across one I will happliy take one for the team

Luc · Post by **Luc** » 14:53 Wed 30 Jan 2008

If I come across one , I'll happily . . . ship It to one of you blokes !!

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 16:05 Wed 30 Jan 2008

This is made by the Fladgate Partnership (taylor/fonseca)

Post by **DRT** » 16:40 Wed 30 Jan 2008

Disgracefull behaviour. I am sure Mr Taylor and Mr Fonseca are turning in their graves.

Luc · Post by **Luc** » 16:47 Wed 30 Jan 2008

Are these people aware of the uproar in they are causing in TPF ??
Surely they are not . . .
You don't jump on Supermans cape ,
You don't spit into the wind ,
You don't pull the mask off the Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with Derek !!

Post by **DRT** » 17:05 Wed 30 Jan 2008

Is it OK to spit on Superman's mask?

Luc · Post by **Luc** » 17:35 Wed 30 Jan 2008

If he had one , which he doesn't , he'd wear It while drinking Pink Port . . .

Michael M. · Post by **Michael M.** » 18:12 Wed 30 Jan 2008

Isn't there really any fear amongst you british people?

Luc · Post by **Luc** » 01:35 Thu 31 Jan 2008

Michael , you're quite right .
But , ya gotta call a spade a spade . . .

Post by **DRT** » 01:38 Thu 31 Jan 2008

No. We fear nothing and no one.

This is a ridiculous fashion thing that will vanish as quickly as it arrived.

Come on lads. Stiff upper lips all round and don't let these namby pamby girls win the day!

Derek

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 02:00 Thu 31 Jan 2008

For your viewing pleasure

ohh, before you ask, I have no idea what the Rose 17% is.

g-man · Post by **g-man** » 03:57 Thu 31 Jan 2008

ADV wrote:For your viewing pleasure

ohh, before you ask, I have no idea what the Rose 17% is.

roses is what my poo smells like .. perhaps there's some correlation?

SimonSaysDrink · Post by **SimonSaysDrink** » 09:53 Thu 31 Jan 2008

Word on the street is the 'Rose 17%' is the M&S Pink Port PLUS a 17% dollup of experimental Zinfandel. That, or on a more speculative note, it's a 'Fine Ruby' that never quite made it to the requisite alcoholic strength, and thus was labeled 'Rose 17%', as in, 'No Other Rose On This Planet Will Get You Nearly as Pissed As This One.'

Word on the street...

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 11:02 Thu 31 Jan 2008

Andy,

after Simon's interrogation of the Hood, and the others hearty criticism, do you intend to give it a bash, or are you 'laying it down'?

Alan

PS. Are there many M&S stores over there?

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 21:28 Thu 31 Jan 2008

Conky wrote:Andy,

after Simon's interrogation of the Hood, and the others hearty criticism, do you intend to give it a bash, or are you 'laying it down'?

Alan

PS. Are there many M&S stores over there?

No stores over here...I took that pic at the TFP building.

As for laying it down...YES, should be hitting its peak around 2089 (long after I am gone, thank goodness)

Simon Lisle · Post by **Simon Lisle** » 22:12 Thu 31 Jan 2008

Hopefully if it's aimed at female drinkers it will be buy one get one free

Post by **DRT** » 15:02 Fri 01 Feb 2008

I found one in an M&S in Edinburgh today.

The TN is here.

Post by **DRT** » 15:28 Thu 07 Feb 2008

For those of you who don't stray from the righteous path of The Port Forum I thought I would let you know that a hornet's nest has been disturbed on this subject on FTLOP

Interesting to see the big guns come out in support of their new baby.

Derek

Michael M. · Post by **Michael M.** » 18:10 Fri 08 Feb 2008

Derek T. wrote: Interesting to see the big guns come out in support of their new baby.

Derek

Do you guys know "Rosemary's Baby", a horor film from the polish stage director Romam Polanski? T h i s is a very good one.

PortDude · Post by **PortDude** » 11:02 Mon 03 Mar 2008

Ok,

So I've succumbed to the devil's temptation and tried some of that pink... something. If you ask me, I didn't find it at all disgusting, as some of you said it was. The nose is somewhat "medical" and reminded me of some sort of cough-syrup I had in my younger days. On the palate the alcohol really came out, with flavours of red fruit (strawberry).

If I had to guess if this was Port, I'd say "no way!" It does not have any resemblance to Port whatsoever and I'm having strong doubts as to whether this drink should even be allowed to carry such a name. However, this IS a rosé-style drink which will drink beautifully in hot summer afternoons (chilled, of course). It's one of those drinks that will appeal to a large range of non-Port drinkers, but if Croft's strategy is to get people to drink more Port, I don't think that anyone who buys this (and thus "Port") for the first time will ever upgrade to an LBV or some other premium category.

By the way, the IVDP did not create a new category for this wine. It is is being classified as a standard ruby (light ruby).

SushiNorth · Post by **SushiNorth** » 17:47 Mon 03 Mar 2008

Ok, so if i come upon some of this, I'm going to try bringing it to a party populated with rose' lovers and see what happens.

By the way, Derek, the explanation provided for your experience with the pressurized cork is very odd. When you sealed the air in the bottle, it was likely at room temperature. the chill of the fridge may have caused the air to shrink in volume (negative pressure) but when you let the bottle return to room temp (before unsealing it) the air should have already expanded to normal (thus zero pressure difference).

I am more suspicious that there was gas dissolved in the port that escaped after it was unsealed for the first time. It is possible that the gas more easily escaped into the larger volume of air in the bottle (post-tasting-#1) than it did before you opened it.

Post by **DRT** » 00:25 Wed 05 Mar 2008

SushiNorth wrote:By the way, Derek, the explanation provided for your experience with the pressurized cork is very odd. When you sealed the air in the bottle, it was likely at room temperature. the chill of the fridge may have caused the air to shrink in volume (negative pressure) but when you let the bottle return to room temp (before unsealing it) the air should have already expanded to normal (thus zero pressure difference).

I am more suspicious that there was gas dissolved in the port that escaped after it was unsealed for the first time. It is possible that the gas more easily escaped into the larger volume of air in the bottle (post-tasting-#1) than it did before you opened it.

The bottle was already well chilled when I replaced the cork so it is possible that the air above the wine, which was still at a reasonably high level, would have been cold due to the cold glass that surrounded it and the cold wine beneath. After the cork was replaced the bottle was stored in the fridge for a few days more and then removed and placed in a cupboard where it would have reached room temperature. This is the point at which I removed the cork and heard the ruch of gas/air.

I still have the bottle in the fridge, now about half empty, and removed the cork again to test the gas in the wine theory. There was no gas pressure inside the bottle.

I don't really know what all this means but now you have all the facts.

Derek