New Vintage Port Mixed Cases
New Vintage Port Mixed Cases
I recall suggesting somewhere else a couple of year ago that it would be a good idea for the large port shipper groups like Taylor Fladgate and the Symingtons to release mixed cases of their new VPs.
Not many people have the purchasing power or inclination to buy whole or half cases of every major VP release but it wouldn't it be great if you could buy a 12 bottle case containing two bottles each of Dow, Graham, Warre, Smith Woodhouse, Gould Campbell and Vesuvio 200? to stick away for the long term?
Does anyone else like this idea? If so we could either petition the large shipper groups to provide this as a product or collaborate to buy a case or two of each of the major wines of each new vintage and put them together ourselves.
This could be done by buying each vintage as it is released or, more cost effectively, by starting with a vintage like 2003 now and buying from the secondary market at cheaper prices and moving forward one year at a time and 3 years behind the money-grabbing merchants
Thoughts?
Derek
Not many people have the purchasing power or inclination to buy whole or half cases of every major VP release but it wouldn't it be great if you could buy a 12 bottle case containing two bottles each of Dow, Graham, Warre, Smith Woodhouse, Gould Campbell and Vesuvio 200? to stick away for the long term?
Does anyone else like this idea? If so we could either petition the large shipper groups to provide this as a product or collaborate to buy a case or two of each of the major wines of each new vintage and put them together ourselves.
This could be done by buying each vintage as it is released or, more cost effectively, by starting with a vintage like 2003 now and buying from the secondary market at cheaper prices and moving forward one year at a time and 3 years behind the money-grabbing merchants
Thoughts?
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
A collaboration example...
Fine & Rare Wines have, amongst others, the following 1997 VPs on their list...
The price for a mixed case would be £364 + Duty + VAT
Whilst the first option seems ideal, the second may be a more practical way of each of us assuring a broad range of VPs from each vintage in our cellars.
Derek
Fine & Rare Wines have, amongst others, the following 1997 VPs on their list...
- Dow= £315
- Fonseca - £379
- Graham - £320
- Tayor - £424
- Vesuvio - £316
- Warre - £320
The price for a mixed case would be £364 + Duty + VAT
Whilst the first option seems ideal, the second may be a more practical way of each of us assuring a broad range of VPs from each vintage in our cellars.
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
mixed in OWC
If Symingtons will put all their 2007s in same-shaped bottles, they could even do a mixed in OWC.
- Alex Bridgeman
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I add to the discussion that Berry's have also done this in the past. I believe that when the 2003 vintage was released that I had some blurb from them which, amongst other things, offered mixed cases.
Alex
Alex
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
- SushiNorth
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I generally aim for a mixed case from any 92+ year (94, 97, 00, 03, would have done 83 & 85 if I'd started a few years earlier). As I've generally bought them all at retail -- and endured significant pain in the process -- I would certainly be interested in purchasing cases as a group, mixing, and sharing the cost.
The trick is knowing when its a good year, and who's coming out on top. I've gotten very lucky in 00 (Graham: tipped off when I was in Lisbon) and 03 (Croft: tipped off by a friend with WS connections, wish i bought more!), but i doubt i can rely on that for the future.
The trick is knowing when its a good year, and who's coming out on top. I've gotten very lucky in 00 (Graham: tipped off when I was in Lisbon) and 03 (Croft: tipped off by a friend with WS connections, wish i bought more!), but i doubt i can rely on that for the future.
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No, I didn't ask this question. I suspect that the shippers would not be keen as anything which strays from the normal production line simply adds cost for them and the consumer. That's why I'm suggesting we do this ourselves as a group. That way we benefit from the lowest possible price we can find for each wine and then mix up the cases ourselves.RonnieRoots wrote:I like the idea Derek. Did you discuss this with the people from Symington and TFP while in VNG?
There is no reason why we would need to stick to new vintages. There are good bargains to be had on 80, 83, 91, 92, 97 and 00. A few people here may already have a number of different cases from each of those vintages by I would think that the vast majority, including me, do not.
We could try it with 1997 if enough are interested?
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
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