1. Peel and core pears; set aside in water with lemon drops added to prevent browning. Cut pear bottoms to make a flat surface. 
2. Combine wine, sugar, cinnamon, anise,lemon and water in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. 
3. Nestle pears in pan containing wine mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, until a knife slides into pears with ease, 50–60 minutes. Once cooked, carefully remove the pears and set them aside in a bowl to cool. 
4. Reduce wine mixture over medium. Continue to reduce the sauce until it becomes nice and thick, but still able to be drizzled, about one hour. There should be about 1 cup once passed through a sieve.
5. To serve, reheat the pears in a microwave until warm and place on serving plates. Drizzle the port sauce over the pears, ensuring the sauce covers the bottom of the plate. 
6. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
7. For that extra holiday touch, garnish with mint leaves and dust with icing sugar.