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NV Vargellas Crusted (bottled 1969)
In 2010 the annual Christmas event, The Unknown Shipper and His Peculiar Friends, happened on Thursday 16 December.

Links:

• Review of the evening as whole;
• Tasting notes:
  • 1904 Croft;
  • Unknown, perhaps 1917 Taylor;
  • 1917 Unknown, perhaps Croft or Fonseca;
  • 1927 Martinez;
  • 1942 Niepoort;
  • 1947 Smith Woodhouse;
  • 1955 Barros;
  • 1955 Taylor;
  • 1955 Tuke Holdsworth;
  • 1966 Fonseca;
  • Vargellas Crusted bottled 1969;
  • 30Y Niepoort Tawny;
• Planning and arrangements;
• Paperwork (tasting-note sheets, and several sets of stickers).

I'm not convinced this should not be properly described as a 1969 Ruby Vargellas. Deep red. Blackberries on the nose. Very elegant in the mouth with well integrated alcohol. Excellent. Probably better than the Varegllas SQVPs from the 1960s!

A bottle of "Vargellas Ruby, bottled in 1969 in commemoration of the investiture of the Prince of Wales" which was deduced to mean that this was a Crusted port bottled in 1969.

Modest red, looking middle-aged. Full on the nose, lively and lovely and full of fruit. Medium bodied, nice mid-palate and lovely - delightful - development. Light presence, but wonderful length and aftertaste. Elegant and perfect. 92/100.

Does anyone have any further thoughts on this bottling? What deductions led to it being a crusted port? I'm hoping to pick one up over the next few days.

Alex M wrote:Does anyone have any further thoughts on this bottling? What deductions led to it being a crusted port? I'm hoping to pick one up over the next few days.

First of all, the label said that this was a ruby port, thus eliminating the whole of the blended tawny family. Secondly, the label carried no vintage date, only a bottling date, thus implying that the wine in the bottle was a blend of vintages. Thirdly, the label referred to Vargellas, rather than Quinta de Vargellas, which implies that the base wines for this port came from a wider range than just the Quinta. Lastly, there was a fair amount of sediment in the bottle when decanted, which was interpreted to mean that the wine was of sufficient quality when bottled to have been intended to be capable of maturing in the bottle. So, while this could simply have been a ruby reserve of exceptional quality, we chose to conclude that it was actually a crusted port, bottled in 1969.

Thankyou for taking the time to reply. Managed to source a bottle for £34. Do you have any thoughts on its ability to last a few more years?

The bottle that we had was capable of lasting for a few years more. 5 years without any concern - or were you thinking of leaving it for longer?

I intend to keep it for atleast a decade. Time will tell I suppose.

Alex M wrote:I intend to keep it for atleast a decade. Time will tell I suppose.

I would expect it to be very pleasant in a decade, but perhaps a little more faded than it is today - but that's true about most quality port that's been in the bottle for 40 years!

From the worn, faded and patchy label of my one remaining bottle:

FRONT LABEL

Picture of Quinta

Banner/logo with:
"Toast to Quality
Mundays
est 1837"

Text (with space for 3 - 5 words missing on each line due to rip in label):

"The Qui[.........sho]wn above is the Quinta de [Vargella]s situated in the very
best part [............] Vineyards. The Quinta [is owned by] Taylors Port shippers
since 1692, [..........sel]ection of wines from this [and other qu]intas owned by the
Taylor Fam[ily..............] casks, matured in our bond and botteld at the cellars that
finally bec[..................] known as Dessert Port. This high quality wine has all the
characteristi[tics...........] Ruby Port, rich and full bodied, deep colour, smooth and
round, with [.................s]pirit."

Banner at foot: "Fine Ruby Port"

BACK LABEL:

"On the occasion of [the investiture] of His Royal Highness
Prince Charles as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle
on July 1st, 1969, we have made a special shipment of 3
pipes of our finy Ruby Dessert Port.

The corks are branded Investiture, 1969. This wine can
be drunk now but will improve greatly over many years.
Please decant before serving."

Banner at foot:

"Mundays
Wine Merchant, Swansea
Special bottling of
Mundays Dessert Port
for Investiture of the Prince of Wales, July 1st, 1969
Bottle No. 60..[missing text]..00 bottles"

With regards to the missing section at the bottom, it is bottle No. X of 2000.