Latest buy
- uncle tom
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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- Location: Near Saffron Walden, England
Re: Latest buy
A little turkey shoot at Brightwells this week (while others were watching N31 and D27 go for astronomic sums elsewhere..)
My goodies included 10bts of Cruz '99 VP for less than the LBV price, half a case of the rarely seen Rebello Valente '75, a pristine case of Martinez '63 and some magnums of Croft 2000.
My goodies included 10bts of Cruz '99 VP for less than the LBV price, half a case of the rarely seen Rebello Valente '75, a pristine case of Martinez '63 and some magnums of Croft 2000.
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
Re: Latest buy
I was half tempted by that Cruz lot but had no idea on whether it was a wine worth having a look at. Some interesting bidding going on, I didn't end up getting anything but it was a fun first dig at an online auction.uncle tom wrote:A little turkey shoot at Brightwells this week (while others were watching N31 and D27 go for astronomic sums elsewhere..)
My goodies included 10bts of Cruz '99 VP for less than the LBV price, half a case of the rarely seen Rebello Valente '75, a pristine case of Martinez '63 and some magnums of Croft 2000.
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- Warre’s Traditional LBV
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Re: Latest buy
I wish there was more. I won it at Zachy's London Auction yesterday. I couldn't believe no one had bid on it so I put in a low ball offer and won.Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑00:55 Fri 03 Dec 2021 I saw the price of the Warre '94 and thought just the same - you have got yourself an absolute steal Mike. If there's more available at the same price, buy it!
Re: Latest buy
After finding out - to my astonishment - that Maynard's vintage 2016 got 99 points on Wine Enthusiast and finding it for €42, I couldn't resist and got a couple of bottles.
- nac
- Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
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Re: Latest buy
1 x Warre 1960
2 x Quarles Harris 1978 LBV
2 x Quarles Harris 1978 LBV
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- Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
- Posts: 2438
- Joined: 14:35 Mon 13 May 2019
Re: Latest buy
3 x Martinez 1985
- uncle tom
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3559
- Joined: 22:43 Wed 20 Jun 2007
- Location: Near Saffron Walden, England
Re: Latest buy
1 x Cockburn Crusted 1960 (and a case of W77)
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
Re: Latest buy
6 x 2011 Vintage Port @ £320. Selling on VWP for £99 a bottle. Shipped in January.

Re: Latest buy
3 x Niepoort Crusted (bottled 2015)
3 x Niepoort LBV 2017
2 x Graham's 2000
2 x Fonseca Guimaraens 2015 (a bargain in Garrafeira Nacional)
Quite curious to try the crusted.
3 x Niepoort LBV 2017
2 x Graham's 2000
2 x Fonseca Guimaraens 2015 (a bargain in Garrafeira Nacional)
Quite curious to try the crusted.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15922
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: Latest buy
Two miniatures of Warre’s Warrior “special reserve”.
Purchased because they came in a pack like this:
Purchased because they came in a pack like this:
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
Re: Latest buy
Whence?
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
- Posts: 15922
- Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Re: Latest buy
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
Re: Latest buy
Yesterday I picked up a Graham's 2015 LBV for £9 from Asda.
I also received a few bottles of Taylor's 2017 LBV and Tesco 2016 LBV for Christmas too.
I also received a few bottles of Taylor's 2017 LBV and Tesco 2016 LBV for Christmas too.
Re: Latest buy
I wish more people gave me wine as a gift.
- JacobH
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
- Posts: 3300
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Re: Latest buy
I have to say the quality of wine that I have been given has increased immensely over the last year, entirely thanks to Vintage Wines & Port. On three occasions people who know I like Port have ordered something from them rather than going to their local wine-merchant or supermarket. There’s been a resulting huge increase in quality in all price ranges.
Re: Latest buy
Cherish them, Jacob. Cherish them.JacobH wrote: ↑10:38 Thu 30 Dec 2021I have to say the quality of wine that I have been given has increased immensely over the last year, entirely thanks to Vintage Wines & Port. On three occasions people who know I like Port have ordered something from them rather than going to their local wine-merchant or supermarket. There’s been a resulting huge increase in quality in all price ranges.
- JacobH
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
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Re: Latest buy
It’s taken a lot of practice: “Please don’t buy me socks. Ever. I have very specific tastes. Please buy me a bottle of Port instead. Yes. Even a £8 ruby. I promise it isn’t boring. I promise I will enjoy it. Every year.”
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- Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
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- Joined: 14:35 Mon 13 May 2019
Re: Latest buy
A half of Niepoort Bioma Vinha Velha 2013 in the Solent Cellar's refurbishment sale.
Re: Latest buy
12 x T70 PB in 
Re: Latest buy
Less of a latest buy and more of a "latest arrival", with the 2018 wines finally making it safely to our shores.
The Guimaraens is in 375s, I'm looking forward to regularly sampling those over the next couple of decades and seeing how they evolve.
The Guimaraens is in 375s, I'm looking forward to regularly sampling those over the next couple of decades and seeing how they evolve.

- Delinquent
- Cockburn’s Special Reserve
- Posts: 39
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Re: Latest buy
I had the opportunity to buy some really old Tawnies from a dear Lady who's husband recently passed.
Does anyone ever saw or tasted some of those?
Did get alongside some old Sherries and a Madeira.
Looking forward to open the first one.
Does anyone ever saw or tasted some of those?
Did get alongside some old Sherries and a Madeira.
Looking forward to open the first one.
Re: Latest buy
The “Récolte 1958” (= Harvest 1958) is strangely ill-fitting to some of the other words on the bottles.
- Delinquent
- Cockburn’s Special Reserve
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Re: Latest buy
They lived in france, so thats might be the reason.
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- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
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Latest buy
Agree. I don’t think I’ve seen something labeled very old/old and then have a year on a neck tag as well from back then. But weirder things have happened.jdaw1 wrote:The “Récolte 1958” (= Harvest 1958) is strangely ill-fitting to some of the other words on the bottles.
No Selo’s as well.
Regardless, seem to be more basic ports. Perhaps what would be a Reserve Ruby/Tawny today?
Re: Latest buy
1 x Grahams '70
1 x Dow '70
1 x Taylor '77
Caught my eye in the Nickolls & Perks sale.
1 x Dow '70
1 x Taylor '77
Caught my eye in the Nickolls & Perks sale.
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- Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
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- Joined: 14:35 Mon 13 May 2019
Re: Latest buy
@ richmills - thanks for the tip on the N&P sale, have just snapped up a 6-pack of Vesuvio 1992. I love that wine.
Re: Latest buy
I believe Julian refers not to the fact that it is in French, but rather to the fact that at least 3 of those bottles look like types of Port that would not normally be year-dated.
The Special White, Finest Old White, and Finest Old Ruby sound like entry-level Ports to me, and so would not be year-dated. I'm not familiar with how Vintage Character Ports were normally labeled, so that's the one that I'm not sure about. But I suspect that they were also not normally year-dated.
Glenn Elliott
Re: Latest buy
I think I've seen one other vintage character with a date on it, but the vast majority don't have it.
- Delinquent
- Cockburn’s Special Reserve
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Re: Latest buy
I've opened a bottle of the Special White. It had a regular corck, no stopper.
It is still very enjoyable to drink, it has a nice elegant hazelnut nose, in the mouth as well alongside with plum and cinamon.
Let's see how it improves (or not) in the next days.
It is still very enjoyable to drink, it has a nice elegant hazelnut nose, in the mouth as well alongside with plum and cinamon.
Let's see how it improves (or not) in the next days.
- Delinquent
- Cockburn’s Special Reserve
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Re: Latest buy
Thats what it looks like:
- JacobH
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
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Re: Latest buy
Thank you for posting this. As I seem to be mentioning very frequently at the moment, I find these old non-Vintage Ports really interesting. It is such a pity that we don’t know exactly what these Ports are. Although it must have been pretty good to be enjoyable after 65ish years in a bottle!
How sweet is it? I’m trying to work out whether the description of “dry” you see on older adverts for Port (including ruby Ports) actually means “dry” in the modern sense or something else.
How sweet is it? I’m trying to work out whether the description of “dry” you see on older adverts for Port (including ruby Ports) actually means “dry” in the modern sense or something else.
- Delinquent
- Cockburn’s Special Reserve
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Re: Latest buy
It isn't very sweet I must say - way less than i would have expected from a white Port.
Now after beeing open for a while it got even better. Walnut now, fresh an citrus with very nice plum. I must say I relly enjoy it.
But dry as I know it from some old wood-driven Whiskies or Champagnes it is not - not at all.
Now after beeing open for a while it got even better. Walnut now, fresh an citrus with very nice plum. I must say I relly enjoy it.
But dry as I know it from some old wood-driven Whiskies or Champagnes it is not - not at all.
- Delinquent
- Cockburn’s Special Reserve
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Re: Latest buy
Yesterday I've opened another bottle of these old ones. I picked one who had lost quite a bit - so I was wondering if it is still good.
After the removal of the cap I saw that the cork has fallen into the bottle... no good sign. I don't know how long ago that happend...
So I poured a glass, and hey it is still good... I'll try it again and post some notes.
After the removal of the cap I saw that the cork has fallen into the bottle... no good sign. I don't know how long ago that happend...
So I poured a glass, and hey it is still good... I'll try it again and post some notes.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
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Re: Latest buy
That’s a great colour for a wine whose cork had fallen into the bottle. Glad it’s still good.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
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- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
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Re: Latest buy
Nice! Crazy how a cork can fall in and still be good. Guess those old capsules really sealed.Delinquent wrote:Yesterday I've opened another bottle of these old ones. I picked one who had lost quite a bit - so I was wondering if it is still good.
After the removal of the cap I saw that the cork has fallen into the bottle... no good sign. I don't know how long ago that happend...
So I poured a glass, and hey it is still good... I'll try it again and post some notes.
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- Cheap Ruby
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Re: Latest buy
6x Fonseca 1985 (0 points for originality!)
And 3x Vesuvio 1996 magnums (fun!) that I wasn’t looking for but popped up for what seemed a good price. I was never lucky enough to be given any birth year port either so thought that I might as well do it myself!
With thanks to all who posted on my thread a few days ago but In particular to Glenn and Akzy who inspired the above.
I’ve had a bit of a search on this but couldn’t find any directly relevant threads - is there a vague rule of thumb about the effect that bottle size has on port ageing, beyond just ‘bigger = slower’? Will it follow there or thereabouts the same patterns/rates as dry red wine?
And 3x Vesuvio 1996 magnums (fun!) that I wasn’t looking for but popped up for what seemed a good price. I was never lucky enough to be given any birth year port either so thought that I might as well do it myself!
With thanks to all who posted on my thread a few days ago but In particular to Glenn and Akzy who inspired the above.
I’ve had a bit of a search on this but couldn’t find any directly relevant threads - is there a vague rule of thumb about the effect that bottle size has on port ageing, beyond just ‘bigger = slower’? Will it follow there or thereabouts the same patterns/rates as dry red wine?
- nac
- Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
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Re: Latest buy
2 x 1971 Taylor's Single Harvest
3 x 1996 Graham's Malvedos
3 x 1996 Graham's Malvedos
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- Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
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Re: Latest buy
12 x Martinez 1985 at a very good price.
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- Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
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Re: Latest buy
@ Jamiesan12o - Hello! Magnums tend to mature about 50% slower than bottles in my experience, no matter what is in them (wine/madeira/port/sherry). In bottle terms the usual rule is 21 years from vintage as a starting point. So magnums 32. Your Vesuvio 96 is now 26. But 96 is a minor vintage so perhaps earlier drinking. So maybe think about cracking one open in a couple of years, but be prepared to wait for the other two.
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- Warre’s Traditional LBV
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Re: Latest buy
1 x 1983 Graham's VP
1 x 1985 Fonseca VP
1 x 1987 Niepoort VP
1 x 1985 Fonseca VP
1 x 1987 Niepoort VP
- Delinquent
- Cockburn’s Special Reserve
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Re: Latest buy
Just finished the vintage character Port - it had much depot left in the bottle, that explains that it really had vintage character 

- Delinquent
- Cockburn’s Special Reserve
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Re: Latest buy
As the old one is empty, a new one is in the line:
Very fruity - lots of strawberries and raspberries. Wonderfull stuff.
Very fruity - lots of strawberries and raspberries. Wonderfull stuff.
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- Warre’s Traditional LBV
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Re: Latest buy
G07 - 1 case of 6.
- Alex Bridgeman
- Fonseca 1966
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Re: Latest buy
I tasted the Ramos Pinto 2015 LBV yesterday and loved it so much I bought 4 bottles (available from the Whisky Exchange).
My first Port purchase of 2022!
My first Port purchase of 2022!
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
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- Warre’s Traditional LBV
- Posts: 322
- Joined: 16:41 Sun 31 Jan 2021
- Location: In the middle of cornfields & cow pastures, PA
Re: Latest buy
That's a great buy. I love that Port. In another 10 years it'll really be shining.