1994 Tesco

[jdaw1]

Not a stab in the dark - a reaction to the quoted price and the fact you are in France.

So without reference to the colour or taste. Hmmm. Some might call that a wild stab in the dark.

[DRT]

So you are suggesting that anyone who guesses based on someone else's description of the taste, colour and nose without being within 300 miles of the glass is not having a stab in the dark?

[jdaw1]

There are others for whom it would be a wild guess. But you should know.

[DRT]

I am going to completely ignore your last statement and take a wild stab in the dark...

Is it a 1994 VP produced by Symington Family Estates for Tesco that might or might not be Quarles Harris?

[DRT]

And is the major flaw that is becoming more obvious anything to do with the size of the bottle?

[jdaw1]

I am going to completely ignore your last statement and take a wild stab in the dark...

Is it a 1994 VP produced by Symington Family Estates for Tesco that might or might not be Quarles Harris?

Yes! Found at the Epicerie Anglaise, 6 boulevard Magenta, so just north-east of République. There were (emphasise past tense) in stock two bottles.

And is the major flaw that is becoming more obvious anything to do with the size of the bottle?

Did it need saying?

[DRT]

You see! I knew my analytical approach would work out the answer in the end.

You should inform the shop keeper that you would not be insulted if he replenished his stock.

[jdaw1]

You should inform the shop keeper that you would not be insulted if he replenished his stock.

I had already planned same.

[jdaw1]

Is it a 1994 VP produced by Symington Family Estates for Tesco that might or might not be Quarles Harris?

QH owns no vineyards. They use whatever bought-in or left-over grapes can make good juice (for it often is good juice). Your phrasing suggests that anything made by the Symingtons with grapes not grown themselves is QH. If that isn’t what you meant, in what sense can this, or anything without a Quarles Harris label, be Quarles Harris?

[JacobH]

Did DRT really just blind-guess a Port correctly based on someone’s else’s tasting note? I call foul-play. This has all the hallmarks of a far-Eastern betting cartel scam...

QH owns no vineyards. They use whatever bought-in or left-over grapes can make good juice (for it often is good juice). Your phrasing suggests that anything made by the Symingtons with grapes not grown themselves is QH. If that isn’t what you meant, in what sense can this, or anything without a Quarles Harris label, be Quarles Harris?

I thought that the Symingtons attempted to run their brands as if they were still independent shippers. That would mean that although Quarles Harris did and does not own any shippers, the Port used to make it mostly comes from the same independent quintas each year. In that way they can preserve something of a house-style. You could therefore have something without a Quarles Harris label on it which is essentially the Quarles Harris blend, much in the way that a blend of Vargellas, Terra Feita, Junco (etc.) could still sensible be referred to as a ‟Taylor’s”, even if it was sold under a Tesco label.

[jdaw1]

Did DRT really just blind-guess a Port correctly based on someone’s else’s tasting note? I call foul-play. This has all the hallmarks of a far-Eastern betting cartel scam...

Of course, he wasn’t at all helped by his recently posting me a Tesco 1994, nor by

There are others for whom it would be a wild guess. But you should know.

I thought that the Symingtons attempted to run their brands as if they were still independent shippers. That would mean that although Quarles Harris did and does not own any shippers, the Port used to make it mostly comes from the same independent quintas each year. In that way they can preserve something of a house-style. You could therefore have something without a Quarles Harris label on it which is essentially the Quarles Harris blend, much in the way that a blend of Vargellas, Terra Feita, Junco (etc.) could still sensible be referred to as a ‟Taylor’s”, even if it was sold under a Tesco label.

Fair. How consistent a set of sources does QH use?

[JacobH]

Of course, he wasn’t at all helped by his recently posting me a Tesco 1994, nor by

There are others for whom it would be a wild guess. But you should know.

Ah, mis-understood the importance of that comment!

Fair. How consistent a set of sources does QH use?

A very interesting question, to which I do not know the answer. Perhaps one to ask the next time someone meets someone in the trade?

[DRT]

When the Tesco BOB 1994 first appeared on the shelf about three years ago the label ststed that it was produced by Quarles Harris. My assumption at the time was that it was the QH94 relabelled specially for Tesco. Later releases omit the reference to QH. It might or might not be a different wine to that which was first sold under the Tesco brand name.h

[jdaw1]

When the Tesco BOB 1994 first appeared on the shelf about three years ago the label ststed that it was produced by Quarles Harris. My assumption at the time was that it was the QH94 relabelled specially for Tesco. Later releases omit the reference to QH. It might or might not be a different wine to that which was first sold under the Tesco brand name.h

Maybe the Symingtons decided to protect the QH a brand a little?

[JacobH]

I seem to remember a discussion at some stage as to whether two blends were being sold as the Tesco 1994, with one (perhaps the Quarles Harris blend) being much better. Am I imagining that?

[jdaw1]

I seem to remember a discussion at some stage as to whether two blends were being sold as the Tesco 1994, with one (perhaps the Quarles Harris blend) being much better. Am I imagining that?

Perhaps in this TN.

[DRT]

I seem to remember a discussion at some stage as to whether two blends were being sold as the Tesco 1994, with one (perhaps the Quarles Harris blend) being much better. Am I imagining that?

Perhaps in this TN.

Also discussed here and here.

This one incorrectly indexed.