ThePortForum.com

I recall suggesting somewhere else a couple of year ago that it would be a good idea for the large port shipper groups like Taylor Fladgate and the Symingtons to release mixed cases of their new VPs.

Not many people have the purchasing power or inclination to buy whole or half cases of every major VP release but it wouldn't it be great if you could buy a 12 bottle case containing two bottles each of Dow, Graham, Warre, Smith Woodhouse, Gould Campbell and Vesuvio 200? to stick away for the long term?

Does anyone else like this idea? If so we could either petition the large shipper groups to provide this as a product or collaborate to buy a case or two of each of the major wines of each new vintage and put them together ourselves.

This could be done by buying each vintage as it is released or, more cost effectively, by starting with a vintage like 2003 now and buying from the secondary market at cheaper prices and moving forward one year at a time and 3 years behind the money-grabbing merchants

Thoughts?

Derek

A collaboration example...

Fine & Rare Wines have, amongst others, the following 1997 VPs on their list...

• Dow= £315
• Fonseca - £379
• Graham - £320
• Tayor - £424
• Vesuvio - £316
• Warre - £320

Total price for a case of each is £2074 + Duty + VAT

The price for a mixed case would be £364 + Duty + VAT

Whilst the first option seems ideal, the second may be a more practical way of each of us assuring a broad range of VPs from each vintage in our cellars.

Derek

where do I sign up?

g-man wrote:where do I sign up?

Here

The Wine Society has done this before - but only once as far as I know

Their mixed cases of '85's periodically appear at auction.

The main stumbling block to such a scheme, however - is price..

Tom

If Symingtons will put all their 2007s in same-shaped bottles, they could even do a mixed in OWC.

I add to the discussion that Berry's have also done this in the past. I believe that when the 2003 vintage was released that I had some blurb from them which, amongst other things, offered mixed cases.

Alex

Not all great ideas are unique

I generally aim for a mixed case from any 92+ year (94, 97, 00, 03, would have done 83 & 85 if I'd started a few years earlier). As I've generally bought them all at retail -- and endured significant pain in the process -- I would certainly be interested in purchasing cases as a group, mixing, and sharing the cost.

The trick is knowing when its a good year, and who's coming out on top. I've gotten very lucky in 00 (Graham: tipped off when I was in Lisbon) and 03 (Croft: tipped off by a friend with WS connections, wish i bought more!), but i doubt i can rely on that for the future.

I cant really afford full cases of good stuff, and I'm not overly interested in laying down.

But I would love a half case of say 80's VP. But the seller would presumably say, "just pick your own 6 and stop mithering"???

Alan

As someone who is just starting to put together a collection of vintage port, I would find this a very attractive offer.

If only...

I like the idea Derek. Did you discuss this with the people from Symington and TFP while in VNG?

I'd like it if the OWC had a stamp of each house and the bottles had a unique label.

RonnieRoots wrote:I like the idea Derek. Did you discuss this with the people from Symington and TFP while in VNG?

No, I didn't ask this question. I suspect that the shippers would not be keen as anything which strays from the normal production line simply adds cost for them and the consumer. That's why I'm suggesting we do this ourselves as a group. That way we benefit from the lowest possible price we can find for each wine and then mix up the cases ourselves.

There is no reason why we would need to stick to new vintages. There are good bargains to be had on 80, 83, 91, 92, 97 and 00. A few people here may already have a number of different cases from each of those vintages by I would think that the vast majority, including me, do not.

We could try it with 1997 if enough are interested?

Derek

I want to drink the stuff, not watch it gather dust! I'm still looking at those Taylors V98 and wondering when I can drink them.....

Of course if you worked out a mixed case of 80's that would get my attention.

Conky wrote:Of course if you worked out a mixed case of 80's that would get my attention.

In which case I would be happy to chime in as well.

I'd be interested in a mixed case of '80s ports - something for current drinking would be perfect.

Alex

I would also be very interested in the case of 1980 and a general point am happy to break a case I get - purely on a non commercial basis.

Heh, check out the obsession thread
But for now, I'm holding off for the next declared. Then I'm all for this plan.

I too would be interested in an 80s mixed case for drinking over the next few years.

Seems like we've gathered a healthy crowd.

Derek, do you know of any good addresses where we could source such a case of mixed '80's?