Ports

The 2021 Library Release Port from Dow's was made with the 1994 harvest and bottled in 1996. The nose is fresh and fruity, with hints of liquorice, while the palate offers notes of dark berries, black pepper, tart plums and soft spice that linger in the finish.

Dirk Niepoort's philosophy is to 'innovate, diversify, break taboos, but maintaining tradition'. He challenges us with the packaging while keeping to tradition with the quality of his ports. The Senior Tawny has been aged for seven years in small oak barrels; a smooth nutty tawny that has plenty of fruit on the palate to work perfectly with your favourite chocolate dessert.

Most people think of sweet red wine when Port is mentioned, but here's a dry white one from Taylor's. Aromatic and refreshing, it's delicious served with tonic on a warm day.

A 20-year-old tawny Port from Sandeman that offers notes of blackberries, plums, cinnamon and cloves.

This 2004-vintage Guimaraens Port from Fonseca is a fruity, balanced Port, with fresh aromas of blackberries filling the nose. The palate offers notes of dark berries, chocolate, rich spices and toasted oak. This gift set comes with a funnel for easy decanting.

A 20-year-old tawny port from Graham's, ruddy in colour and starting to develop the richness that comes from ageing port in wood.

A 2000-vintage Port from Dow's, this has aromas of plums, cassis, prunes and raspberries on the nose. The palate offers notes of liquorice, ripe fruit, dark berries, spices and black pepper. Try pairing this Port with cheese and nuts.

A bottle of 2007 vintage Port from Taylor's. An excellent vintage, this was awarded 94+ points by Neal Martin on erobertparker.com, who described it as 'elegant, with notes of marzipan'.

A superb 30-year-old tawny port from the legendary house of Taylor Fladgate and Yeatman. Wonderful complexity allied with a delicate touch make this a superb wine for the end of a meal.

Perfect for drinking this Christmas, this bottle of 1980-vintage Warre's is at the height of maturity – one to savour.