MigSU wrote: ↑17:51 Wed 14 Apr 2021
Glenn E. wrote: ↑17:31 Wed 14 Apr 2021
JacobH wrote: ↑09:52 Wed 14 Apr 2021
No sign of my favourite, the Roriz
Roriz is no longer used for Port - I heard somewhere (but now can't find the source) that it is now dedicated to dry wines.
That is correct. It's Prats & Symington territory now! (well, mostly)
When I asked in December they said that they were still making it in the best years. The last one that I am aware of is a 2016. I’m not surprised they didn’t declare a 2018 or 2019 and I hope that 2017 was just an aberration. We will have to see when we get to the next general declaration!
Andy Velebil wrote: ↑17:39 Wed 14 Apr 2021
I’ve never quite understood the SQVP naming thing nor it’s origin of use, just accepted it as a common term since I’ve been into Port. Probably a good time to start changing, especially with so many smaller to medium sized producers now selling on the global stage with their Quinta VP’s. As QVP is a far more accurate term and also doesn’t tend to have the negative connotation that SQVP sometimes has.
For me, the problem with “QVP” is that it seems to be dropping the key word, “single”. Especially since it is pretty common in other drink industries, too (e.g. single-origin coffee; single malt whisky etc. etc.).
That said, I agree that the term is a bit of a mess. Firstly, it has never made much sense to me why secondary VPs should be SQ ones. If anything, you might expect the very best Ports not to require as much blending between vineyards. But then, although many shippers have tried to produce second-label VPs (e.g. Sandeman Vau, Niepoort Secundum, Noval Silval etc.) I think only Fonseca Guimaraens has stuck around for any length of time. So obviously SQVP works whereas second-label VP doesn’t.
Also, of course, there is a lack of clarity to consumers as to whether any given SQVP is a secondary-year Port (e.g. Taylor Qd Vargellas), an every-year-bar-1993 Port (e.g. Veusvio), or a best-year-only Port (e.g. Noval). And I bet almost no-one knows the difference between a “Noval LBV” and a “Quinta do Noval LBV” outside Port-drinking circles.
Christopher wrote: ↑22:24 Wed 14 Apr 2021
This type of release is designed as I see it for people who appreciate wine, who value the fact these boxes all have the same provenance that takes away one of the big uncertainties when doing verticals. We never used to get these types of releases with a new vintage l. I think as Port fans we should be really happy, this is for us!!
Before we start speculating about prices let’s just appreciate for what a big step it is for us as passionate drinkers and wait for the price to be released. I hope other producers follow this step.
I hope you are right. My speculation was that this wouldn’t be aimed at Port drinkers who would like to open all three as a tasting-in-a-box but, instead, wine investors who would squirrel it away hoping that it would appreciate in value. I only think this because quite a few of the recent “limited editions” have been squarely aimed at the collector rather than the drinker and it has been these that have been heavily advertised. For example, I remember seeing some adverts for a “Primum Familiae Vini” case which sounded like a fun thing, but when it was released they clearly went big, putting all of the first and ultra-premium labels in a box and selling them for £81K:
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction ... ?locale=en
I don’t really buy much Vesúvio to know what a fair price would be for that tasting case. I would have thought a 2019, 2009 and 1999 Dow SdR would be worth about £120 retail but I get the impression that they want to try to push the price of that up (hence the 2018 being essentially double what I would expect).
But, I would like to make this very clear, this is just idle speculation!