2005, 2007 + 2010 Birthday Presents

[Coneyhurst Blue]

Hi All,

Newbie here so please be gentle !
I'm trying to source something for my 3 boys born in the above years ?
Maybe a bottle/case - presentation box for each to open at some later date (18,21,25 etc) ?
I'd like the three to be from the same 'shipper' - my personal favourite is Graham's - I had a bottle of Graham's on each table at my wedding severed with the cheese, also I enjoyed the visit when in Porto a couple of years ago.
Any suggestions ?
Thanks everyone,

[Glenn E.]

If you want the same shipper from all three years then I think that your best bet is going to be Quinta do Vesuvio. I know their 2005 well and it is delicious. 2007 was a generally declared year so just about everyone of note produced a VP that year. 2010 could be tricky, but that's why Vesuvio is a good choice - they produce their VP in all but the absolute worst years, so I would think that they'd have released a 2010 vintage.

Most other shippers will have missed either 2005, 2010, or both.

Conveniently, Quinta do Vesuvio ships in very nice "6 pack" boxes that are much nicer than standard wine/Port cases. Very suitable as gifts.

edit: After a quick internet search, it appears that Quinta do Crasto also produced a VP in 2005, 2007, and 2010. Dow produced their Senora da Ribeira single-Quinta VP in 2005 and 2010, and of course their regular Dow's VP in 2007, so that might also work.

[LGTrotter]

Glenn is right, Vesuvio is the obvious choice, it doesn't look like they are making a Graham in 2005 or 2010.

[Andy Velebil]

Personally, I would go with the 2005 Quinta d. Roeda before the Vesuvio as I think it has better aging capabilities. But both are very nice.

Any of the top producers from 2007...you won't go wrong.

2010...a tough vintage, but the Vesuvio is nice.

[DRT]

a bottle/case - presentation box for each to open at some later date (18,21,25 etc) ?
I'd like the three to be from the same 'shipper'

Given those desires I think Vesuvio is the answer. Every vintage of Vesuvio comes in a presentation six-pack that will look like this...

vesuvio-case.jpg (25.93 KiB) Viewed 6585 times

These would make very nice gifts and all of the vintages in the timespan you are looking at will be excellent.

[Coneyhurst Blue]

Wow great responses thanks everyone !
Is there an on-line shop for Vesuvio - I can see some vintages at BB but not all of the ones I am after ?
If anybody has a link I would be really grateful ?
Thanks in advance.

[flash_uk]

Corkr are offering the 2005 and 2010 in cases of 6. Give them a call and they might also find the 2007 for you. If not, then Bon Coeur have it.

[Coneyhurst Blue]

Corkr are offering the 2005 and 2010 in cases of 6. Give them a call and they might also find the 2007 for you. If not, then Bon Coeur have it.

Thank you very much 'flash' - I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be an expensive day !
I will do as you suggest and call Corkr and see what they say.
Thank you all for your help.
I'll post pictures once they arrive.

[Coneyhurst Blue]

To bring this full circle !
Thanks to Flash I did indeed order form both Corkr and Bon Coeur who were extremely helpful as one would expect.
I am thrilled, the oak boxes each come with a lovely book and also a ceramic bin label - you can see these in the single box photo.
Not cheap but so worthwhile !
Let the wait begin !
Thank you all for your help.

If anyone can suggest storage ideas I'd be grateful.

[flash_uk]

Nice one! Three lucky guys will get to enjoy these in a few decades. Please do remember to keep them stored somewhere cool, dark and not too damp.

[Glenn E.]

Congrats! I hope your children enjoy your gift, and that you're still around to enjoy it with them.

Do try to keep them stored in a reasonably cool location that maintains as constant of a temperature as possible. If you have a basement then a back corner of an exterior room can suffice. Ideally you'd like the temperature to be held constant at 55 degrees F (which is... 12-13 C?) but temps up to 65 F (~18 C?) are probably fine provided they are constant. If you don't have a constantly cool location at home, then professional storage is advisable.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Thank you for posting what happened after we gave our advice. So often we don't get to hear whether our advice helped or not.

You asked after storage advice. Here are my thoughts:
(1) Store them at home. Put them somewhere dark, with the bottles lying on their sides, and leave them alone. The place where you store them should have a steady temperature and preferably be cool - 12-14C is ideal, but steady temperature is more important than a cool temperature. Don't let the sun get anywhere near them. A concrete or packed earth floor under the stairs often works fairly well.

(2) A wine cabinet - you can buy specialist fridge designed to be used for long term storage of wine. These are modified versions of domestic fridges with the compressors standing seperately from the storage compartment so that the bottles are not being constantly vibrated by the compressor. Samsung, Bosch, Leibherr, Eurocave...lots of people make them. Prices start at around £800 for a 45 bottle cabinet that will fit under a kitchen worktop. Occasionally second hand cabinets come up on eBay.

(3) Off site storage - prices start at around £4.50 per year for a 6 bottle pack such as the ones that you have. Plus you'll have to pay a handling fee when you drop off the bottles and when you pick up the bottles, plus you'll have to pay for collection / delivery if you're not delivering / collecting the wine yourself. There might also be a minimum annual charge for storage. Take a look at Seckford Wines, which many people on the forum use and they have looked after us well. If you talk to them nicely, you might persuade them to waive the minimum fee.

(4) Off site wine locker storage - Big Yellow in Fulham have fitted out their basement as a wine cellar, kept at a constant 12-14C and 65% humidity; perfect conditions for long term storage of wine. You have to hire a locker, and it is then down to you what you keep in it. I forget their rates, but they are not cheap but they are convenient.

Hope these ideas help.

[djewesbury]

Also see Fine + Rare Wines for storage of small quantities.

[jdaw1]

Thank you for posting what happened after we gave our advice. So often we don't get to hear whether our advice helped or not.

Seconded.

And I concur with all the comments on storage.