It’s the most wonderful time of the year: supermarkets are brimming with port and cheese packages and it’s easy to understand why. Port offers an array of flavours from sweet, fruity and ripe berries to figs, raisins and toasted almonds. Cheese has a savoury and sometimes salty tang that contrasts beautifully with the port’s sweetness and the partnership makes for the ultimate Christmas indulgence. You don’t even have to wait until after dinner – this is the time of year that is made for exciting nibbles and drinks throughout the festive season. 
We have picked four ports from leading port lodge Taylor’s (First Estate, Late Bottled Vintage, 10 year old Tawny, 2003 Vintage) and in an effort to find the perfect match, we tried them with a range of widely-available cheeses. We found that in general, most ports go well with most cheeses – it’s a versatile wine. But there are some fantastic pairings that we can’t wait to try again over Christmas. Remember, though, pairing port and cheese is a matter of personal taste and there are no wrong answers: the idea is to have fun and experiment.
These are our favourite matches:
Taylor’s First Estate Reserve Port with Camembert de Normandie
Taylor’s First Estate Reserve is a full-bodied, youthful and fruity port that marries superbly with the full flavour and rich creaminess of cheeses such as Camembert de Normandie or try it with a Pont L’Evêque.
Taylor’s Late 
Bottled Vintage 2009 with Valençay
LBV makes an excellent match for goat’s milk cheeses such as a fresh Valençay or a Sainte-Maure. As the thick crumbly texture of the chevre dissolves in contact with the wine, the ripe and opulent fruitiness of the LBV merges with the rich, tangy flavours of the cheese.
Taylor’s 10 Year Old Tawny with farmhouse Cheddar
Aged tawnies are characterized by an attractive amber colour, smooth silky palate and sublimely complex and opulent flavours. These pair beautifully with the rich, nutty and fruity character of mature farmhouse Cheddar. Aged tawnies also work well with Comté and Gouda. 
Taylor’s Vintage 2003 with Stilton
The pairing of vintage port and mature blue cheeses such as Stilton is one of the great classic food and wine combinations. In fact, Stilton goes brilliantly with vintage-style ports like LBV or the fruit-packed First Estate. The soft, buttery texture, mellow character and piquancy of the cheese match perfectly with the powerfully majestic flavours of Vintage 2003. Try it with Cashel Blue and Roquefort, too.
To get started on your Christmas port and cheese odyssey, here are a few of the widely available packs that you can pick up at your local supermarket, and add to liberally…
TESCO
Taylors First Estate Port 37.5cl and Stilton jar
Taylors Select Port 5cl and Waxed Stilton Wedge
ASDA
Triple Crown Croft Port 20cl and Stilton wedge
LIDL
Taylors Select Port 20cl and Stilton wedge
WAITROSE
Taylors LBV 2009 20cl and Stilton jar
SELFRIDGES
Taylors LBV2009 20cl and Stilton wedge