Broadbent White Port

White Port from Broadbent is listed as a fortified wine with a Massachusetts, United States designation. The label doesn't state the grape, sweetness level or alcohol strength, so what follows describes how white ports usually behave and what to expect from a bottle like this. Check the label for the finer points. White port is made from white grapes, and fortification with grape spirit usually stops fermentation early enough to leave some natural sweetness. Expect aromas of orchard fruit, citrus peel, dried apricot and a little honey or almond. Styles in the drier, lighter range tend to taste fresher and nuttier. Richer versions lean toward ripe pear, candied orange and caramel. In either case the body is medium to full, there is essentially no tannin, and the alcohol lift is noticeable, typically somewhere in the high teens. Oak influence, if there is any, shows as a soft nutty or waxy note rather than overt wood. The finish should be moderately long and warming, and the acidity decides whether it ends crisp or syrupy. Serve it cold, around 6 to 8°C (43 to 46°F), which keeps the alcohol from dominating and brings out the citrus. Thirty minutes in the fridge, or a short time in an ice bucket, is enough. Decanting isn't needed. Pour it from the bottle into a small tulip-shaped glass or a standard white wine glass filled only a third to halfway, so the aromas can collect without the spirit stinging the nose. The best-known use is a white port and tonic. Pour two parts chilled port over ice, add one part tonic, and finish with a lemon or orange slice and a sprig of mint. It also works neat as an aperitif alongside salted almonds, green olives, aged hard cheeses or a sharp blue. Sweeter bottles go well with fruit tarts, almond cake or fresh melon, and drier ones suit smoked fish, pâté and fried appetizers. This is a drink-soon style. White ports are made to be enjoyed within a year or two of purchase, not cellared for decades. Once opened, recork it and keep it in the refrigerator. Its flavor will hold for a few weeks, though the fruit fades slowly after that.