Churchill's Port Club

[Alex Bridgeman]

Churchill have today launched a direct to consumer Port Club for the UK.

You can enrol (free of charge) for the mailing list at https://port.club, if interested. Membership perks include 3 shipments of Port a year, including some bends unique to Port Club members, discounts at the Churchill Club online shop, VIP tour of Quinta da Gricha and an invitation to tread grapes for harvest 2021.

Paid for membership starts at £20 per month for a minimum of 1 year.

I have no affiliation with the Club other than being delighted to help a producer being creative by spreading the word.

[JacobH]

I think we both managed to post about this at the same time but in different places so I will just copy my post across!

Something a bit different: Churchill’s have started https://port.club/ which is a subscription-based Port delivery service.

For £240 p/a you apparently get 4 deliveries of three bottles: “1 x Anytime Port”; “1 x The Right Time Port”; and “1 x One Time Port” which is, intriguingly, a “Unique Club Blends bottled only for member shipment.” There are also a load of discounts for things in Portugal / virtual tastings etc.

Strangely, I can’t see any details of bottle sizes on the website. If they are in 50cl bottles (which Churchill seems to like a lot) it wouldn’t be bad value at £15 a bottle, but I would be a lot less tempted if they are halves or even 20cl bottles.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful is someone independent tried something like this so you could get bottles from different shippers, too?

[nac]

Looks interesting. There's a picture on the website which suggests 75cl bottles, however I've emailed to ask them. Will post response.

[Doggett]

Quarterly bottles appear to be 2x75cl 1 x 50cl

1 x Anytime Port (75cl)
Hardworking ports for everyday drinking.

1 x The Right Time Port (50cl)
Ports that makes a moment and command attention.

1 x One Time Port (75cl)
Unique Club Blends bottled only for member shipment.

[JacobH]

Looks interesting. There's a picture on the website which suggests 75cl bottles, however I've emailed to ask them. Will post response.

I have done so, too! No doubt they will be fed up by our emails! I assume they won’t all be 75cl since Churchill’s only bottles their tawnies and white in 50cl / or 20cl (I think!).

[hadge]

the sizes are on their website as per what simon said.

[JacobH]

the sizes are on their website as per what simon said.

That’s definitely been amended since we started hassling them.

[Glenn E.]

The picture they use in their shop for the subscription purchase looks very much like:

1 x VP (in this case SQVP, 2009 Quinta da Gricha)
1 x 20 Year Old Tawny
1 x Ruby Reserve

The 20yo looks like it could be a 50 cl bottle because the shoulders are different than the Ruby Reserve and VP, but it isn't explicitly stated nor is the bottle size visible in the picture.

Based on current exchange rates and current (rough) retail prices, this seems like a pretty good deal. An SQVP of Churchill's quality would normally run $50-$60 at retail. A 20yo in 75 cl would run $50-$60, so in 50cl would probably be $40-$45. And a Ruby Reserve runs around $15-$20. So each quarterly shipment has a retail value of around $110 to $125 for a yearly total of $450-$500, all for an actual cost of $320.

Of course, that analysis is based on US prices. You can probably get all of these Ports for less in the UK, so this may not actually be that great of a deal for you.

[JacobH]

Yes: they’ve just emailed me to say that that’s what the first batch will be. The 20YO is a 50cl bottle and the QdG ’09 is apparently a special blend.

It seems to me to be a fair price, especially since I might actually enjoy the bonus items, although I am conscious that Churchill is always a bit more expensive than the mainstream brands we get from supermarkets here. Also if you sign up now you seem to be able to give a further initial set of three bottles to a friend free, lowering the price per bottle by another 20%.

[benread]

I took the plunge! The sign up process is a bit vague. Quick to take my money. No contact (so far) about the bonus bottles.

Personally I discovered I really like the Churchill style at their lockdown tasting but found their bottles hard to find in the U.K. Buying from Portugal was certainly more expensive than these prices!


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[JacobH]

I took the plunge! The sign up process is a bit vague. Quick to take my money. No contact (so far) about the bonus bottles.

Personally I discovered I really like the Churchill style at their lockdown tasting but found their bottles hard to find in the U.K. Buying from Portugal was certainly more expensive than these prices!

I’ve done so too. I am sure there are cheaper ways of buying Port but I like Churchill; it seems good value; and I think we should encourage these sorts of things!

[benread]

I’ve done so too. I am sure there are cheaper ways of buying Port but I like Churchill; it seems good value; and I think we should encourage these sorts of things!

I enjoyed being able to gift a pack too - and my recipient was very pleased.

[nac]

I’ve done so too. I am sure there are cheaper ways of buying Port but I like Churchill; it seems good value; and I think we should encourage these sorts of things!

I enjoyed being able to gift a pack too - and my recipient was very pleased.

Also joined up. Gifted the bonus pack to Mrs NAC.

[idj123]

Just purchased annual membership. Do I need to wait for confirmation in order to be be able to take advantage of the gifting option (it didn’t give me this option when subscribing)?

[benread]

Watch your spam folder for an email then log in and use the code you are sent.

I got the email about 2-3 hours later I think. I suspect it is a manual process so don’t be surprised if it comes tomorrow!

If you need to email them they are quite responsive. I emailed to check I had everything right and got a fairly quick reply.


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[idj123]

Thanks Ben- I think their website probably needs a little working on (not sure what Julian makes of it!)

[Alex Bridgeman]

Out of interest, who do the Port Club emails come from?

[idj123]

The Port Club emails come a chap also called Ben-from a Port club email address.

[JacobH]

Out of interest, who do the Port Club emails come from?

It's Ben Himowitz who according to this is Zoe Graham's (Johnny's daughter) husband and Churchill's director of business development. It looks like they (re?)joined the business a year ago so I guess it's probably their idea?

[JacobH]

My second box arrived today. It contained a 2005 LBV, the white reserve and what is described as Johnny Graham’s first ruby port: the “Club Ruby”. I guess by “first ruby port” they mean first basic ruby as opposed to a ruby reserve.

The Club Ruby is the most interesting of the Ports. From the blurb that came with it, they say that this a single-harvest Port from 2015 which got 2 years in a 30,000 litre oak vat and then another 4 “mellowing in a Portuguese oak barrel” which I presume was a pipe. So I guess it is effectively a colheita which hasn’t had enough time in wood to qualify for that distinction?

I’m really pleased to see something like this because I find Port oddities really interesting and it is quite hard to get them in the UK. Hopefully we will get some more in the future.

[pipos2000]

Hi,

I'm following this thread for a time. I also did ask Churchill's but I didn't het an answer.
Does anyone know when it will be able to purchase outside GB?
In my case it would be in Europe.

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[Glenn E.]

The Club Ruby is the most interesting of the Ports. From the blurb that came with it, they say that this a single-harvest Port from 2015 which got 2 years in a 30,000 litre oak vat and then another 4 “mellowing in a Portuguese oak barrel” which I presume was a pipe. So I guess it is effectively a colheita which hasn’t had enough time in wood to qualify for that distinction?

4-6 years in wood is an LBV, regardless of the size of the barrel (ignoring organoleptic characteristics). Most producers release their LBVs after 4 or 5 years in wood, but 6 is still an option.

[JacobH]

I was wondering about that. I couldn't remember the maximum and whether it was 5 or 6 years. But I'm think I'm right in saying that an LBV has to pass the subjective test, too? I presume they either decided that this would be too tawny to pass or that it was easier to send it out as a Ruby since that doesn't get tested (I think?).

[Glenn E.]

I was wondering about that. I couldn't remember the maximum and whether it was 5 or 6 years. But I'm think I'm right in saying that an LBV has to pass the subjective test, too? I presume they either decided that this would be too tawny to pass or that it was easier to send it out as a Ruby since that doesn't get tested (I think?).

I think they both have to pass subjective tests. Or rather, I think that all Port has to pass subjective tests. Even VP, which is probably the only reason that we've never seen a white VP since there are no laws prohibiting one. Tawnies have subjective tests, too, and if you try to age a Port in 30k liter vats for 10 years and then release it as a Tawny Port you'll be denied.

Plus, if this were even close to a Colheita, they'd send it out as a "Club Tawny" rather than as a "Club Ruby". Given the discussion during the virtual tasting, this sounds like a VP-level Port that they're calling a "Club Ruby" because it lacks documentation or registration to be used as originally intended. It sounds to me like the kind of thing that they probably had a plan to use as something specific, but forgot about it or thought they'd lost it/already used it, then found it an wondered what the heck they were going to do with it.

[MigSU]

A ruby that spends a few years in wood is not automatically an LBV. First, you have to request it; second, it has to be approved; and third (from the consumer's viewpoint), it has to, well, taste and smell like an LBV - which sends us back to my second point.

EDIT: you might be right on how this particular wine came to be.

[rich_n]

I was wondering about that. I couldn't remember the maximum and whether it was 5 or 6 years. But I'm think I'm right in saying that an LBV has to pass the subjective test, too? I presume they either decided that this would be too tawny to pass or that it was easier to send it out as a Ruby since that doesn't get tested (I think?).

I think they both have to pass subjective tests. Or rather, I think that all Port has to pass subjective tests. Even VP, which is probably the only reason that we've never seen a white VP since there are no laws prohibiting one. Tawnies have subjective tests, too, and if you try to age a Port in 30k liter vats for 10 years and then release it as a Tawny Port you'll be denied.

Plus, if this were even close to a Colheita, they'd send it out as a "Club Tawny" rather than as a "Club Ruby". Given the discussion during the virtual tasting, this sounds like a VP-level Port that they're calling a "Club Ruby" because it lacks documentation or registration to be used as originally intended. It sounds to me like the kind of thing that they probably had a plan to use as something specific, but forgot about it or thought they'd lost it/already used it, then found it an wondered what the heck they were going to do with it.

Certainly the conversation on the previous virtual tasting that Churchill held for Port.Club was that it was of a standard of quality that they believed to be similar to a youthful SQVP. Who knows how much of that is bullish marketing bluster, but I'm intrigued to see how it tastes. I'm keen to see if they'll reveal more about the origins of the wine.

[JacobH]

I think they both have to pass subjective tests. Or rather, I think that all Port has to pass subjective tests. Even VP, which is probably the only reason that we've never seen a white VP since there are no laws prohibiting one. Tawnies have subjective tests, too, and if you try to age a Port in 30k liter vats for 10 years and then release it as a Tawny Port you'll be denied.

Isn’t it “especially VP” since the IVDP can reject samples as not being good enough? (Cue those stories about producers re-submitting the same sample and pretending it is different!).

But I thought the point with basic ruby is that the IVDP didn’t monitor it? Hence things like those white colheitas and other oddities being sold as rubies in the past?

[MigSU]

I think they both have to pass subjective tests. Or rather, I think that all Port has to pass subjective tests. Even VP, which is probably the only reason that we've never seen a white VP since there are no laws prohibiting one. Tawnies have subjective tests, too, and if you try to age a Port in 30k liter vats for 10 years and then release it as a Tawny Port you'll be denied.

Isn’t it “especially VP” since the IVDP can reject samples as not being good enough? (Cue those stories about producers re-submitting the same sample and pretending it is different!).

But I thought the point with basic ruby is that the IVDP didn’t monitor it? Hence things like those white colheitas and other oddities being sold as rubies in the past?

White colheita being sold as ruby? What?

[CMB]

Hi all - Just received my 3rd case from the port club and I was surprised to see another bottle of 20 year old tawny, as this was delivered in the first case. Just wondered if this was an error or if others received this too? TIA.

[benread]

10 year old, 20 year old and a ‘club tawny’. Thought we might get a white port as it’s summer!


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[jdaw1]

10 year old, 20 year old and a ‘club tawny’.

Ditto. The indication-of-age tawnies seem like small bottles — presumably 50cl.

[CMB]

Thought we might get a white port as it’s summer!

Thanks for confirming! I’m surprised they are having to duplicate bottles so soon. I got a bottle of white port in the last case - couldn’t cope with a duplicate of that as well.

[JacobH]

10 year old, 20 year old and a ‘club tawny’.

Ditto. The indication-of-age tawnies seem like small bottles — presumably 50cl.

I think they only bottle their tawnies—and the white—in 50cl bottles.

Incidentally, I think there is going to be quite a lot of duplication unless or until they start including Ports from other producers (which I assume is a possibility and why they have branded it as “Port Club” not “Churchill’s Port Club”). Their range isn’t actually that big, I think their current releases are only a ruby reserve & white; a 10, 20, 30 YO tawny; and a LBV, SQVP and VP. I assume, but might be wrong, that we are unlikely to see the 30 YO tawny and the VP in a box. That gives only 6 to play with. I’m quite happy with all of this since I’m happy to drink any of their Ports, including their white!

[Doggett]

I agree with Jacob’s comments about the range. The team at Port Club have said there will be duplication especially over the long term, but I am very happy with that as the quality is so good. I hope overtime they duplicate some of the club bottlings so I can taste one and decide if the other is to save and see how it develops with age. I think they are providing good value and the whole concept should be applauded and hopefully supported to see how it evolves with time. I hope we might see a club Colheita and maybe some blended VPs that may produce some ‘premium’ Crusted bottles that don’t necessarily need IVDP approval for a club bottling as has been written about in another post.

[rich_n]

The tasting for the latest pack has been confirmed for Thursday 8th July, I assume we may have interest in an after party zoom, correct?

[JacobH]

Rather nice mixture in this quarter’s box: a 2006 Crusted; a 2016 traditional LBV; and a “Club White” which is described as a sweeter alternative to Churchill’s off-dry standard blend. All in full-sized bottles, too. I hope they’ve made enough money this year to keep it going in the future, especially with all of the problems with shipping.

[Glenn E.]

The Club White sounds like it could be very nice! I'm not fond of dry whites, but middling-ranged to sweet ones are very nice.

Minor rant: there's Dry, Off Dry, Semi Sweet, and Sweet. What do you call a wine or Port that is neither Off Dry nor Semi Sweet? And yes, I've had many that fall into this range, especially now that white Ports are becoming more common.

[rich_n]

Do we have a confirmation of the date for the Churchill tasting? I'd be keen to do a virtual after that's finished.

[Doggett]

I am not sure how far they are through their distribution. I am yet to get the notification it is on its way, let alone delivery. I suspect an early December date, but it will b e good to check in with Jamie at the ‘94 tasting if we don’t hear before that.

[DanSelk]

Received mine on Wednesday, not using UPS so no notifications sent out according to Jamie.

[Doggett]

… and as if by magic… my Port Club pack and my 3 x 2019 Quinta da Grichas, together with a half bottle sample, have been delivered this morning.

[DanSelk]

Just wanted to put it out there for those who have not seen this thread.
I have just signed up for my 2nd year of Port.Club.

For Port lovers I think it is great and can highly recommend you take a look.
The last pack received at Christmas also contained some nice additional gifts.

[nac]

Received my first installation pack for year 2 last week and wondered if anyone else had used the waiter’s friend corkscrew that came with it?

My usual opener is showing some wear, so tried this new one out and it’s really rather good.

[Justin K]

Yes Neil, I’ve used it, thought the mechanism was a little stiff but drew the cork cleaner than my normal waiter’s friend. Will use the bag for shopping but not sure about the notebook and pencils; does anybody use pencils anymore?

[flash_uk]

Received my first installation pack for year 2 last week and wondered if anyone else had used the waiter’s friend corkscrew that came with it?

My usual opener is showing some wear, so tried this new one out and it’s really rather good.

Yes I thought so too. The jointed lever is the best I've seen.

[JacobH]

I was impressed with it, too. It’s the first corkscrew with a non-stick coating on the screw which I think actually makes a difference. It makes me even sadder that my Niepoort one (which Dirk said was supposed to be a decent corkscrew rather than a piece of promotional tat) isn’t that good.

[JacobH]

Yes Neil, I’ve used it, thought the mechanism was a little stiff but drew the cork cleaner than my normal waiter’s friend. Will use the bag for shopping but not sure about the notebook and pencils; does anybody use pencils anymore?

I love pencils! It gives me an excuse to buy expensive stationery without worrying about the consequences of losing them. Even the most expensive pencil is still a pencil. My current favourites are the Musgrave Pencil Tennessee Reds made from cedar.

[nac]

Received my first installation pack for year 2 last week and wondered if anyone else had used the waiter’s friend corkscrew that came with it?

My usual opener is showing some wear, so tried this new one out and it’s really rather good.

Yes I thought so too. The jointed lever is the best I've seen.

Exactly. The two part lever is much better than any model I’ve previously had. I suspect these weren’t cheap.

[JacobH]

My most recent box turned up today. A really nice selection, I think: a 1992 SQVP; 2014 Crusted and 10-year-old tawny.

I’m a bit worried about the long-term survival of the Port.Club, though. They seem to have terrible trouble with shipping: my box was marked as being sent on 28 March and I am not sure if reducing the number of shipments to 3 times a year is a good sign.

[Alex Bridgeman]

My most recent box turned up today. A really nice selection, I think: a 1992 SQVP; 2014 Crusted and 10-year-old tawny.

I’m a bit worried about the long-term survival of the Port.Club, though. They seem to have terrible trouble with shipping: my box was marked as being sent on 28 March and I am not sure if reducing the number of shipments to 3 times a year is a good sign.

I’m very happy if reducing the number of shipment to 3 per year means we get gems like the Água Alta 1992! The Crusted and 10YO will get drunk for fun, the 1992 at a special moment.