Port for sale at auction

[Glenn E.]

In regard to the 1967 Vargellas...From drinking experience, over the past 2-3 years all the bottles I've had have shown an excessive amount of heat and have been average at best.

The bottle I had started out that way with only 6-8 hours of decanting, but with significant time in the decanter (days 2 and 3, as I recall) the heat subsided and it turned into a very pleasant (and very Taylor) Port. That signature Vargellas pepper and spice was very prominent.

Mine was an Oporto 1970 bottling.

[g-man]

The noval lot sure was intriguing,

Jay from the love of port forum sent me some pics.

These bottles look too clean to be true. They also have a surgeon general's warning about how it's bad to drink alcohol (including all the wines from the 60s)

I was thinking that at 150$/bottle it'd be a steal/200$ an okay deal but at 300$ for suspect bottles, I'm probably going to pass on this lot.

[Glenn E.]

They also have a surgeon general's warning about how it's bad to drink alcohol (including all the wines from the 60s).

That just means they were imported after that label requirement became law. I have bottles with the required importer labels on them from companies that didn't exist when the Port was bottled.

[g-man]

That nacional lot got put back onto acker's

clearly something is wrong with the lot .

[mosesbotbol]

That nacional lot got put back onto acker's

clearly something is wrong with the lot .

Do you think the winner backed out? Has anyone seen the bottles first hand? Very odd this has not sold in two rounds of auctions. There are a couple of vintages I am interested in, but will wait until the last minute to bid.

[mosesbotbol]

In regard to the 1967 Vargellas...From drinking experience, over the past 2-3 years all the bottles I've had have shown an excessive amount of heat and have been average at best.

Same here.

[g-man]

That nacional lot got put back onto acker's

clearly something is wrong with the lot .

Do you think the winner backed out? Has anyone seen the bottles first hand? Very odd this has not sold in two rounds of auctions. There are a couple of vintages I am interested in, but will wait until the last minute to bid.

me thinks the winner might have been the seller trumping up the bid!

[SushiNorth]

me thinks the winner might have been the seller trumping up the bid!

This is a rather unscrupulous practice, though we've seen it go on for some time. Is there any regulation in bidding that prevents the auctioneer from bidding up their own property?

[Alex Bridgeman]

me thinks the winner might have been the seller trumping up the bid!

This is a rather unscrupulous practice, though we've seen it go on for some time. Is there any regulation in bidding that prevents the auctioneer from bidding up their own property?

It's considered poor form and should not be financially rewarded for the seller as there was a sale completed so he should be having to pay out his seller's fees.

Of course, if there are no seller's fees then the seller has no incentive to behave in a fair and moral way...

[Glenn E.]

me thinks the winner might have been the seller trumping up the bid!

This is a rather unscrupulous practice, though we've seen it go on for some time. Is there any regulation in bidding that prevents the auctioneer from bidding up their own property?

Auctioneer, yes. Seller, no.

Though as AHB mentioned if the Seller bids on his own property and wins, he has completed a sale and will have to pay whatever fees that the auctioneer earns for the auction (whether seller's or buyer's).

[g-man]

hart davis has a agood fair chunk of port coming up for auction.

good chance to pick up some from the 50s and 60s and for those of us looking to restock on fonseca 70s and grahams 63 =)

[g-man]

Damn they pulled the f70 and the g63 lots!!!
booooooo

[uncle tom]

This is a rather unscrupulous practice, though we've seen it go on for some time. Is there any regulation in bidding that prevents the auctioneer from bidding up their own property

Nope (not in the UK, at least..)

But the antique, fine art, and wine auctioneers are absolute saints compared to those who auction motor vehicles..

..but at least those buying a car or truck at auction know that they are dealing with the dodgier end of humanity (- or at least they should..!)

The wine trade loves to present itself as being a purveyor to the gods, and beyond reproach; yet in truth, the term 'reputable wine merchant' is pretty much an oxymoron..

- Caveat emptor!

Tom

[Alex M]

Something interesting popped up on ebay recently:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cockburns-1966-Vi ... 27b8ea73ef

As far as I knew, Cockburns didnt declare a 1966?

[DRT]

Something interesting popped up on ebay recently:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cockburns-1966-Vi ... 27b8ea73ef

As far as I knew, Cockburns didnt declare a 1966?

They didn't declare 1966. But the description on Ebay says:

Seven bottles of 1966 Cockburns Vintage Port, given to me as an 18th birthday present by a relative who is a portshipper

Cockburn, like many other shippers, produce port in in years that they do not delcare and use it within the family for drinking.

[RonnieRoots]

Something interesting popped up on ebay recently:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cockburns-1966-Vi ... 27b8ea73ef

As far as I knew, Cockburns didnt declare a 1966?

They didn't declare 1966. But the description on Ebay says:

Seven bottles of 1966 Cockburns Vintage Port, given to me as an 18th birthday present by a relative who is a portshipper

Cockburn, like many other shippers, produce port in in years that they do not delcare and use it within the family for drinking.

Extremely interesting find, and worth a bid I would say!

[g-man]

lucky owner of some rare and odd 70s American port style wines =)

[Alex Bridgeman]

Something interesting popped up on ebay recently:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cockburns-1966-Vi ... 27b8ea73ef

As far as I knew, Cockburns didnt declare a 1966?

Did anyone on this board win these (and is willing to 'fess up)?

[Alex M]

Dear all,

A quick question for those that buy at auction regularly. Are you dubious of buying cases of port when one or two bottles have been removed? Is this a sign that the wine was corked and likely that the rest of the case is?

[uncle tom]

A quick question for those that buy at auction regularly. Are you dubious of buying cases of port when one or two bottles have been removed? Is this a sign that the wine was corked and likely that the rest of the case is?

When whole private cellars are sold, this is not uncommon, and not a major issue.

When odd lots are seen, 11 bottles must always be regarded as being a bit suspect (especially with white wines), 10 bottles less so..

Auctions are all about buying for less, and if a lot carries a degree of suspicion, the price should be lower still. If you pick the odd lame duck, you can always cut your losses and stick the rest back in the next sale..

Tom

[Chris Doty]

When odd lots are seen, 11 bottles must always be regarded as being a bit suspect (especially with white wines), 10 bottles less so..

If you pick the odd lame duck, you can always cut your losses and stick the rest back in the next sale..

Tom

Based on the second comment, why should 10 bottles be any less worrysome than 11?

[g-man]

Acker's is having their typical monthly inet auction:

http://www.ackerwines.com/onlineauctions/search.cfm

Some eye watering retail prices of some lots (pre buyer's premium) so i'm going to pass on most.

Bottom lots like the sandeman 77 for 50$ is not cheaper then retail either.

One did catch my eye and could be of interest:
For novel value unless people on the boards say otherwise, but I certainly would NOT want 12 bottles of a 1988 VP from GC.

New York (lot location)
8375
Gould Campbell Vintage Port - Vintage 1988
12lbsl, 12scl

12 bottles per lot $350-500


Minimum Bid: $ 280

[Zelandakh]

Those 66 on eBay would have been tempting if I'd seen them in time!

After way too many months unemployed, I'm finally working again so I may be in the market for a case of every day drinkers. If anyone knows of an auction with some likely suspects, please advise in this thread or via PM. Many thanks,
Nick

[SushiNorth]

Acker's is having their typical monthly inet auction:

http://www.ackerwines.com/onlineauctions/search.cfm

Some eye watering retail prices of some lots (pre buyer's premium) so i'm going to pass on most.

Bottom lots like the sandeman 77 for 50$ is not cheaper then retail either.

One did catch my eye and could be of interest:
For novel value unless people on the boards say otherwise, but I certainly would NOT want 12 bottles of a 1988 VP from GC.

New York (lot location)
8375
Gould Campbell Vintage Port - Vintage 1988
12lbsl, 12scl

12 bottles per lot $350-500


Minimum Bid: $ 280

I think $30/btl for GC is decent, i lucked out with the GC80 a while back. However, we knew 80 was a good year. 88 is mediocre.

[SushiNorth]