ThePortForum.com

I haven't bought any port since before Christmas - that's nearly a month now. Is this the credit crunch having an impact?

AHB wrote:I haven't bought any port since before Christmas - that's nearly a month now. Is this the credit crunch having an impact?

Christmas was 15 days ago.

DRT wrote:

AHB wrote:I haven't bought any port since before Christmas - that's nearly a month now. Is this the credit crunch having an impact?

Christmas was 15 days ago.

I'm sure he knows, don't rub it in

I almost made it. Having set myself the challenge of not buying any port in January I managed to hold out for 27 days. I was then sent an email by Seckford Wines offering me a case of Martinez 1967 for £276 including duty and VAT - £23 per bottle, the same price as Vargellas 1998 in UK supermarkets today. Not fair. Not my fault that I caved and bought a case. I was so close to achieving my goal but there really was nothing else I could do

DRT wrote:I was then sent an email by Seckford Wines offering me a case of Martinez 1967 for £276 including duty and VAT - £23 per bottle

How do i get emails like that? Mine are always "do this" "do that" and occasionally "burgundy!" I need to get to the UK and enjoy some of those fine prices.

SushiNorth wrote:

DRT wrote:I was then sent an email by Seckford Wines offering me a case of Martinez 1967 for £276 including duty and VAT - £23 per bottle

How do i get emails like that?

You need to contact James Maitland at http://www.seckfordwines.co.uk and ask him to email his list to you 1 hour after he emails it to me

DRT wrote:I almost made it. Having set myself the challenge of not buying any port in January I managed to hold out for 27 days. I was then sent an email by Seckford Wines offering me a case of Martinez 1967 for £276 including duty and VAT - £23 per bottle, the same price as Vargellas 1998 in UK supermarkets today. Not fair. Not my fault that I caved and bought a case. I was so close to achieving my goal but there really was nothing else I could do

Yes, incredible offer, wasn't it? I straightened my back and didn't bite. Am I feeling proud? No, more sorry actually...

My problem with those mailing lists in the US is that I really don't need to hear about daily wine specials - yes, literally daily - because I don't drink wine.

I've only found one site that has a sparkling/sweet/Port exclusive list.

My most recent purchases:

6 x Taylor 1997
12 x Delaforce Quinta de Corte 1997


...at prices that make me feel like this

I now have 77 bottles of 1997 VP. Is that enough, bearing in mind I do not yet have Graham's or Fonseca?

Sandeman's Vau Vin 1997. Bought another mag. "at those prices..." I figure I've now got enough that, should there be a gathering of some 40 people down the road, I'll have enough port for everyone's glass.
On the way (as soon as I work out the details) are some Smith Woodhouse 91's, 85's, and 83's, as well as the 20yr tawnies for our Feb 27 tasting.

I just ordered 3 bottles of 1937 Moreira Colheita this weekend. The price was really low for a 1937, so I figured it was worth a shot.

The 1941 we had at the Port Gala wasn't stellar, but it was pretty good. I've heard they need a ton of decant time - like at least a week - in order to really show well. Thankfully, that's not a problem for me!

I also just ordered a 1963 Romariz Colheita and a 1997 Romariz VP. The VP goes on death row immediately... the Colheita goes in the fridge for later.

SushiNorth wrote:On the way (as soon as I work out the details) are some Smith Woodhouse 91's, 85's, and 83's, as well as the 20yr tawnies for our Feb 27 tasting.

Tawnies + SW 83, SW 85, SW 91 all arrived. Next up in the shipping queue:
SW 03 (2), SW 00 (4), SW 97 (2), SW 94 (2), SW LBV84 (2). And no, I wasn't planning a vertical... but someone is dumping SW on the market cheap and I'm taking advantage.

3 x Qta, de Eira Velha 1995

Talylors VP 1997
Taylors VP 2003

Looking forward to taste all of them

Quinta do Vesuvio 1995 x 6
Quinta do Vesuvio 1997 x 6
Warre 1997 (in halves) x 24

but still need to buy more for current drinking from the '70s and '80s.

1x Sandeman 1960
1x Martinez 1963

1995 Quinta do Vesuvio x6 - was alerted to a great deal (for the US, anyway) at Chicago Wine Company for $50/bottle.

g-man wrote:1x Martinez 1963

I'd be very interested to hear how you like this. I've been seen this port for an attractive price but can hardly find any information on it, other than that Michael Broadbent wasn't too enthusiastic.

6 x Fonseca 1997

Bonhams, today.

• Lot 580:
  • Fonseca 1966 (1) UK, very top shoulder, embossed capsule-signs of seepage, unlabelled;
  • Fonseca 1970 (1) OB, base of neck, torn label;
  • Dow 1970 (10) UK, Courtenay, 4 base of neck, 1 top, 2 high shoulder;
• Lot 594
  • Quarles Harris 1977 (5);
  • Kopke Quinta São Luiz 1970 (14), labels- 4 detached, 2 lacking, 1 damaged seal;
  • Offley Boa Vista 1972 (1);
  • Quinta do Noval 1975 (7), labels torn, 1 lacking.

Yes, I know. I bought some 1975s. But I valued them at zero, and suspect that my contribution to next year’s CUTwC Dinner will be some N75 and some KL70. And a mysterious perhaps-1955.

Hi guys.... my first post here (this is David Spriggs for those that know me.... and those that don't):

Bonham's today for me as well,

1966 Graham (9) - 3 very top, 1 top with signs of seepage; labelled (I'm splitting this with Andy)
1985 Graham's (12) - owc

I put in many bids at the Straker Chadwick auction a couple of weeks ago, but only came away with:

believed 1966 Fonseca (3)

-Dave-

Hi David, welcome!

Welcome indeed. I’m pleased we weren’t bidding against each other.

Acquired from Brentwood Wine in the auction that closed today:

1967 Vargellas Vintage Port
1937 Warre's Grand Reserve x2

A little birdie told me the story about the Porto Rocha 150th Anniversary Tawny blend error. That blend was supposed to be similar to the Three Centuries blend, which is to say some 1937, some 1957, and some younger Colheitas. In actuality, however, nearly 2/3 of the blend comes from the late 1800s and the 1900 Colheita itself.

So these are bottles that, had the actual blend been known at release, should have sold in the $600-800 range at retail. Instead, they were offered at $150. Naturally once word got out they sold out quickly, but somehow a few bottles were lost and forgotten about. The little birdie told me that those occasionally pop up on the internet, so I did a quick search.

Score! 2 bottles available in California for $235 each. Mine. Shh, don't tell my wife.

At online auction/retailer:
Fonseca 85
Dow 85
Warres 77
Warres 85
Fonseca 2000
Dow 85 (a half)
Guedes 77!! hehehe
SW 97
Gould Campbell 80

(a mistake was made in my order and an extra of a more expensive bottle was put in the case instead of a second of a less expensive one. oops!)
(Guedes 77 is just into the neck and a heavily corroded capsule. we will need to start that experiment soon)

Please post or send quality photographs of the Guedes ’77.

jdaw1 wrote:Please post or send quality photographs of the Guedes ’77.

Tax tag: CV/961604/38
Neck tag: IMPORTED / ROYAL PORT / BOTTLED IN PORTUGAL

Front tag:
PORTO
Guedes
1977 VINTAGE PORT
PRODUCED IN THE DOURO DISTRICT
What Port is to Portugal
Guedes is to those who
appreciate a rare vintage wine,
clothed with all the dignity of a proud name
Produced, Bottled and Shipped by
COMPANHIA GERAL DA AGRICULTURA DAS VINHAS DO ALTO DOURO, S.A.R.L.
V. N. DE GAIA OPORTO-PORTUGAL
CONTENTS/750ML Est. 1756 ALCOHOL/20% BY VOLUME

Back tag:
Guedes
A SPLENDID VINTAGE PORT
Please treat this bottle with respect and you will
enjoy this fine Vintage Port to its best advantage.
Normally, keep this bottle lying on its side. Prepare
to enjoy it by standing the bottle upright for
at least a week, and then carefully decant. Your
full pleasure will repay you for this extra care.
IMPORTERS FOR THE U. S. A.
JOHN GROSS & Co.
BALTIMORE, MD.

Thank you.

Please treat all bottles of vintage port with respect.

jdaw1 wrote:Please treat all bottles of vintage port with respect.

Including Warre's 1975?

OK, the last batch has arrived (picked up while trying to get a Warre 63)
Warre 85 (3), Dow 77 (5, stained selos), Taylor 85 (3). This was purchased before my "I'm not buying anymore, really" and now i mean it

I just received a pair of Fonseca '70s that I ordered a while back. I'd been hearing so many good things about them right around Christmas that I had to buy some even though I thought they were a tad expensive at $155 each. I haven't seen a better deal since, though, so maybe they weren't as bad as I thought.

F70 is usually excellent stuff.

Croft 1975 (2x)
Croft 1977 (3x)
Croft 1982 (4x)

My wee wine fridge is full already, so I'll have to officially open my new wine cellar for these bottles
(the crawling space beneath my house ).

In addition to my case of 1995 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Madelena, which should be arriving today or tomorrow, I also won at auction two bottles of 1990 Dow's Quinta do Bomfim.

Both of these purchases will help me keep my hands off things that should be left alone. I nearly opened a 97 Vesuvio the other night because I have so few cellar defenders.

Portman wrote:
Both of these purchases will help me keep my hands off things that should be left alone. I nearly opened a 97 Vesuvio the other night because I have so few cellar defenders.

thats what bordeauxs are for.. 98s are beaut now, as are some 02s, 94s, 83s

I just picked up a pair of Magnums of 1995 Quinta do Crasto Vintage Port for $50 each... if they arrive today as expected, I'll let one of them stand up here at the office and then open it for the weekly all-hands meeting on Friday afternoon.

Nice pickup Glenn.

1986 Fonseca Guimaerens - 20$
1995 Fonseca Guimaerens - 25$

Hmm... TCWC has the 1980 Gould Campbell for $35/bottle. TNs place it in the 85-87 point range. To buy or not to buy...

Glenn E. wrote:Hmm... TCWC has the 1980 Gould Campbell for $35/bottle. TNs place it in the 85-87 point range. To buy or not to buy...

Some of us acquired a bit of that from them. The test bottle opened showed well for a $35, 30y.o. VP.

The heat mentioned concerns me. I don't mind some heat in younger Ports, but in a 30-yr old VP it can be really annoying and ruin the Port for me. Was it just heat, or was it bordering on tasting alcoholic?

Also from the same tasting... I acquired some 1999 Quinta de Roriz for $30. Is the GC80 at $35 a better buy?

I have to pick and choose purchases carefully these days because I'm quite literally out of storage space. For something to go in the fridge, something else has to come out and my rate of consumption isn't high enough to match the rate at which I find good deals.

umm ... taylor 1924

g-man wrote:umm ... taylor 1924

You won it?

SushiNorth wrote:

g-man wrote:umm ... taylor 1924

You won it?

yea apparently

Nice, congratulations!

Glenn E. wrote:Nice, congratulations!

haha the wife's going to kill me =)...

gotta go check out the bottle to see if the condition matches.

g-man wrote:1986 Fonseca Guimaerens - 20$
1995 Fonseca Guimaerens - 25$

Nice prices!

I've just bought some Dow 2003 at £16.66 ($25) a bottle - not really a cellar defender but not something I could turn down at that price.

AHB wrote:

g-man wrote:1986 Fonseca Guimaerens - 20$
1995 Fonseca Guimaerens - 25$

Nice prices!

I've just bought some Dow 2003 at £16.66 ($25) a bottle - not really a cellar defender but not something I could turn down at that price.

Pray tell from where?!

woah, dow 03 for 25$!!!!

in enough quantity and air time it could be a cellar defender!

Great price on the Dow's 03. I'd get all I could at that price.