Six Grapes Old Vines

[djewesbury]

I just read something elsewhere about a new limited edition, special release Port being issued.. The difference being that this one will be retailing for $40 / btl. That's a very encouraging sign – that the producers aren't just taking the buyers and drinkers for granted, and that they still see a point in making something special that's also affordable.

[LGTrotter]

It must have been the pressure of well reasoned argument from this forum.

[LGTrotter]

And where is this elsewhere of which you speak?

[djewesbury]

(shhhh...)

[LGTrotter]

(shhhh...)

Ah! You mean 'the other place'.

[djewesbury]

Quite.

[djewesbury]

Although that does raise the obvious question - which forum sits on the green leather, and which on the red?
I think we know the answer to that.

[Andy Velebil]

I thought this was the other place lol. (Just joking if course)


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[djewesbury]

The Commoners



and the Lords

'Another place' or 'the other place' is a euphemism used in many bicameral parliaments using the Westminster system, including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

A member of one house will not usually refer directly to the other, but refer to it indirectly using the phrase 'another place', or 'the other place'. So for example, a member of the Canadian Senate would not mention 'the House of Commons', but would use the phrase 'the other place'.

[…]

The reasons for the tradition are unclear, but it has been suggested that it dates back to a period of ill-feeling between the two houses of the UK Parliament. Similarly a member talking of their own house would refer to it as 'this place'.

Other uses
Similarly, the universities of Oxford and Cambridge refer to each other as "the other place",[2][3] as do the pupils of the British public schools Eton and Harrow.

[LGTrotter]

I thought this was the other place lol. (Just joking if course)


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I think he should have said 'I spy strangers' as he sits on the green benches. (As always with my tongue in my cheek.)

[djewesbury]

My previous post should really be titled 'How to take your own thread completely off-topic, part 27'.

The POINT was that I'm very, very pleased to see a focused return to the everyday market by one of the biggest shippers. I'm not surprised that it's SFE either, I think this shows a desire on their part to balance out their ongoing brand exercise. Too much supercuvée will just create an unhealthy niche.

[LGTrotter]

My previous post should really be titled 'How to take your own thread completely off-topic, part 27'.

Just nattering, no green pen tonight. Anyway I thought the bit about 'dating back to a time of ill feeling between the two houses' was apt. But this is never to be discussed.

[djewesbury]

My previous post should really be titled 'How to take your own thread completely off-topic, part 27'.

Just nattering, no green pen tonight. Anyway I thought the bit about 'dating back to a time of ill feeling between the two houses' was apt. But this is never to be discussed.

A time of ill-feeling that nobody alive today remembers. Or can believe ever really happened, such is the amity between us all.
Now, goodnight, again.

[LGTrotter]

My previous post should really be titled 'How to take your own thread completely off-topic, part 27'.

The POINT was that I'm very, very pleased to see a focused return to the everyday market by one of the biggest shippers. I'm not surprised that it's SFE either, I think this shows a desire on their part to balance out their ongoing brand exercise. Too much supercuvée will just create an unhealthy niche.

Yes.

[Andy Velebil]

I thought this was the other place lol. (Just joking if course)


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I think he should have said 'I spy strangers' as he sits on the green benches. (As always with my tongue in my cheek.)

Translate to "this side of pond English" please lol


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[LGTrotter]

I thought this was the other place lol. (Just joking if course)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think he should have said 'I spy strangers' as he sits on the green benches. (As always with my tongue in my cheek.)

Translate to "this side of pond English" please lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Saying 'I spy strangers' in the House of Commons (British parliament) is a ruse to disrupt proceedings. It dates back to times when spys or even actual attack was a possibility. It was used on occasion to devastating effect by Dennis Skinner among others to most theatrical effect. Sergeants at arms running around and Black Rod in a lather.
I hang my head in shame to say that by implying you sit on the green benches of the commons I was using a bit of one-upmanship to say that this was the 'Upper House' as the Lords is referred to. God it sounds complicated. And not in the least amusing.

[Andy Velebil]

Lol. No, not amusing but very educational for this Cali boy.


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[LGTrotter]

My previous post should really be titled 'How to take your own thread completely off-topic, part 27'.

The POINT was that I'm very, very pleased to see a focused return to the everyday market by one of the biggest shippers. I'm not surprised that it's SFE either, I think this shows a desire on their part to balance out their ongoing brand exercise. Too much supercuvée will just create an unhealthy niche.

Although this thread does seem holed below the waterline I shall try to sail on.

Does anyone know who will be selling this? Berrys seems to be where the other Graham limited release wines have ended up, so perhaps there. I also wondered whether it will be released in declared years or more for inbetweener years, a sort of multi Quinta vintage port.

[djewesbury]

My previous post should really be titled 'How to take your own thread completely off-topic, part 27'.

The POINT was that I'm very, very pleased to see a focused return to the everyday market by one of the biggest shippers. I'm not surprised that it's SFE either, I think this shows a desire on their part to balance out their ongoing brand exercise. Too much supercuvée will just create an unhealthy niche.

Although this thread does seem holed below the waterline I shall try to sail on.

Does anyone know who will be selling this? Berrys seems to be where the other Graham limited release wines have ended up, so perhaps there. I also wondered whether it will be released in declared years or more for inbetweener years, a sort of multi Quinta vintage port.

But Six Grapes is not a Vintage Port, it's their best reserve, or have I missed something?

[LGTrotter]

But Six Grapes is not a Vintage Port, it's their best reserve, or have I missed something?

No I expect I have. I know that it used to be NV but didn't realise that its latest incarnation would be.

Is this the super cuvée ruby then. With the same mark up as is seen between vintage port and the 'Bioma vina terraces'? ie about three or four times the price?

[DRT]

Does anyone know who will be selling this?

The biggest market for Six Grapes is the USA, with not very much of it sent here as the Brits seem to have a preference for things with dates on the label and a general belief that everything else is "just ruby". I suspect the Old Vines version will mostly go to the regular market otherwise there would be an uprising in the colonies. Perhaps this is the Symington's way of making up for not releasing some of their Single Harvest Tawnies over the pond?

[idj123]

To my mind, it's a shame that Six Grapes is not more widely available in the UK-it's a lovely, fleshy, workaday Port, not Vintage but isn't it unfiltered? Be interesting to see how this new mid-price version compares.

[PopulusTremula]

I thought this was the other place lol. (Just joking if course)


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I think he should have said 'I spy strangers' as he sits on the green benches. (As always with my tongue in my cheek.)

Translate to "this side of pond English" please lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Saying 'I spy strangers' in the House of Commons (British parliament) is a ruse to disrupt proceedings. It dates back to times when spys or even actual attack was a possibility. It was used on occasion to devastating effect by Dennis Skinner among others to most theatrical effect. Sergeants at arms running around and Black Rod in a lather.
I hang my head in shame to say that by implying you sit on the green benches of the commons I was using a bit of one-upmanship to say that this was the 'Upper House' as the Lords is referred to. God it sounds complicated. And not in the least amusing.

By forcing a vote as to whether the strangers should be removed from the Commons, uttering this phrase then has a similar effect to filibustering, no?

[Andy Velebil]

To my mind, it's a shame that Six Grapes is not more widely available in the UK-it's a lovely, fleshy, workaday Port, not Vintage but isn't it unfiltered? Be interesting to see how this new mid-price version compares.

Six Grapes is a bit different than most companies Ruby Reserve in that Graham's uses it's second best grapes (after VP) to make this, then their third best grapes for their LBV. Most companies it's the other way round.

It is unfiltered, IIRC, reading the back label...but in reality it's very lightly filtered. As you don't want that much sediment in a Ruby Reserve.

[Glenn E.]

But Six Grapes is not a Vintage Port, it's their best reserve, or have I missed something?

No I expect I have. I know that it used to be NV but didn't realise that its latest incarnation would be.

Is this the super cuvée ruby then. With the same mark up as is seen between vintage port and the 'Bioma vina terraces'? ie about three or four times the price?

I recall seeing that it would be offered around $40/bottle, which at least in Seattle would be double the normal price of the regular Six Grapes.

As Andy said, Six Grapes is made from Graham's second best grapes, so is often considered to be of LBV quality *. $40 for an Old Vines LBV doesn't seem bad at all.

* We'll just ignore the results of the Ruby Reserve Taste-Off, mmmkay?

[AW77]

Graham's uses it's second best grapes (after VP) to make this, then their third best grapes for their LBV. Most companies it's the other way round.

And what do Graham's use for their Crusted?

[AW77]

Graham's uses it's second best grapes (after VP) to make this, then their third best grapes for their LBV. Most companies it's the other way round.

I always wondered why the Six Grapes was more expensive than the LBV at the Graham's lodge. Now that makes sense.

Another thing: Now that the best grapes will go into the Old Vines blend, will the standard Six Grapes suffer in quality? Or will there just be so many bottles of the Old Vines blend each year that there is still sufficient juice of the old vines to keep the mixture of the standard Six Grapes?

[Andy Velebil]

Graham's uses it's second best grapes (after VP) to make this, then their third best grapes for their LBV. Most companies it's the other way round.

I always wondered why the Six Grapes was more expensive than the LBV at the Graham's lodge. Now that makes sense.

Another thing: Now that the best grapes will go into the Old Vines blend, will the standard Six Grapes suffer in quality? Or will there just be so many bottles of the Old Vines blend each year that there is still sufficient juice of the old vines to keep the mixture of the standard Six Grapes?

It sounds as if there was some left over top quality juice, which often happens, and they decided to make a very top end Six Grapes out of it. I would assume there would be no ill effects to the regular cuvee.

[Andy Velebil]

Graham's uses it's second best grapes (after VP) to make this, then their third best grapes for their LBV. Most companies it's the other way round.

And what do Graham's use for their Crusted?

Don't know, I've never asked as I don't think I've ever had a Graham's Crusted. Do they still make one? I ask as if they do I don't think we get it here in the States as I've never seen one for sale that I recall.

[AW77]

Yes, they still do Crusted Port. At the lodge they sell them with 10 years of age for around 20 Euros. So when I was there in February this year the 2004 Crusted was on the shelves. I think you can get more recent bottlings than this in the UK (for a better price as your English cousins told me).

[LGTrotter]

Graham's uses it's second best grapes (after VP) to make this, then their third best grapes for their LBV. Most companies it's the other way round.

And what do Graham's use for their Crusted?

Don't know, I've never asked as I don't think I've ever had a Graham's Crusted. Do they still make one? I ask as if they do I don't think we get it here in the States as I've never seen one for sale that I recall.

Get some, currently drinking Grahams Crusted, bottled 1998. Very toothsome. £15/bt

[AW77]

Grahams Crusted, bottled 1998.

This is a beast of a Crusted. I had this one last year and think that it still needs more time. How long do you decant it?

[LGTrotter]

Grahams Crusted, bottled 1998.

This is a beast of a Crusted. I had this one last year and think that it still needs more time. How long do you decant it?

Not too fussy about this, I have just opened it and poured it out with no ill effects, I should leave it a bit longer for the sake of decorum though.

[LGTrotter]

Back to the nub; isn't $40 rather a lot for a ruby port? Or should it be regarded as similar to 'Finest undated reserve' and kept for as long as you like, growing and improving the while?

[jdaw1]

I just read something elsewhere about a new limited edition, special release Port being issued.. The difference being that this one will be retailing for $40 / btl. That's a very encouraging sign – that the producers aren't just taking the buyers and drinkers for granted, and that they still see a point in making something special that's also affordable.

At £25, that would be well worth some experimentation. Where might one purchase this?

[LGTrotter]

I just read something elsewhere about a new limited edition, special release Port being issued.. The difference being that this one will be retailing for $40 / btl. That's a very encouraging sign – that the producers aren't just taking the buyers and drinkers for granted, and that they still see a point in making something special that's also affordable.

At £25, that would be well worth some experimentation. Where might one purchase this?

I touched upon this earlier, America was as near as I got to an answer.

[DRT]

Where might one purchase this?

I touched upon this earlier, America was as near as I got to an answer.

Have either or you ever heard of Wine Searcher?

[LGTrotter]

Have either or you ever heard of Wine Searcher?

No, my butler sends my merchant a note when more wine is needed.

[djewesbury]

Have either or you ever heard of Wine Searcher?

No, my butler sends my merchant a note when more wine is needed.

Very good, can you not leave it to the man to find out where to send his note then? Surely you can't do all his work for him? I mean to say, you already drink all the stuff he orders…

[AW77]

Have either or you ever heard of Wine Searcher?

No, my butler sends my merchant a note when more wine is needed.

Very good, can you not leave it to the man to find out where to send his note then? Surely you can't do all his work for him? I mean to say, you already drink all the stuff he orders…

You know, it's so hard to find good servants these days. If you want it done properly, you have to do it yourself. It was so much better before the Great War.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Where might one purchase this?

I touched upon this earlier, America was as near as I got to an answer.

Have either or you ever heard of Wine Searcher?

I can't find it using either Wine Searcher or Owen's butler. I've tried both routes.

[DRT]

I can't find it using either Wine Searcher or Owen's butler. I've tried both routes.

That's because we bought it all while you were drinking claret.

[djewesbury]

i don't believe it's been released yet. Is there an announcement about it on any Graham's / Fell's website (i.e. can someone else be bothered checking?)

[Andy Velebil]

i don't believe it's been released yet. Is there an announcement about it on any Graham's / Fell's website (i.e. can someone else be bothered checking?)

There was an announcement on the SFE's USA importer's Facebook page. A picture of the bottle as well. But no release date or other info that I saw, as of yet.

[LGTrotter]

I wish they had gone for driven corks. Despite the endorsement of trusted advisors on this forum for T stoppers I think it seems a bit tacky on a bottle that otherwise has gravitas.

[DRT]

I wish they had gone for driven corks. Despite the endorsement of trusted advisors on this forum for T stoppers I think it seems a bit tacky on a bottle that otherwise has gravitas.

+1

[djewesbury]

I wish they had gone for driven corks. Despite the endorsement of trusted advisors on this forum for T stoppers I think it seems a bit tacky on a bottle that otherwise has gravitas.

+1

I disagree. I think there are plenty of us very happy to drink bottles with stoppered corks. I don't feel non-U for drinking them. It makes perfect sense for them to make this more market-friendly by having a stopper. Stop finding something to whinge about!

[LGTrotter]

Stop finding something to whinge about!

Do you want me to be silent forever?

I disagree.

Well there's a turn up for the books.

[DRT]

I can't believe that you two are over here arguing when the cricket is so riveting.

[djewesbury]

I can't believe that you two are over here arguing when the cricket is so riveting.

Oh go and hoover the landing.