ThePortForum.com

Hello again,

Trying to make use of your centuries' worth of experience here's another question:

Would you consider a Kopke LBV 1981 Magnum as "most likely deceased" or did they make unfiltered, high quality LBV's in those days that could still be really good?

It appears to be a Tappit Hen bottle. Perhaps all they had was mag labels and that is what they used. Or it's a smaller Tappit Hen look-a-like. If a true Tappit Hen then it's rare for LBV to be in that style bottle. That won't make it valuable except to someone who may want it just for the bottle.

I'd assume it was unfiltered to a degree given the bottle they used and verbiage on the label, but that's a pure guess. It's a single vineyard (Quinta) LBV, which I don't recall seeing from them in the past. It may drink ok if well stored. Only one way to find out....

I think that is a very handsome bottle. I don't know the wine but it has several points in it's favour. Firstly it is in a magnum. A large bottle gives it the best chance to age well. Secondly the small print at the bottom suggests it will throw a deposit which bodes well for it to be (hopefully) not too filtered. Thirdly it mentions a specific Quinta which is unusual for an LBV, but I would think a sign of quality. 1981 is a vintage I have never seen before. If you are planning on opening it then perhaps not too long a decant. But then again it isn't that old and is in a magnum. Not worth a fortune either way, more of a drinker's item than a collector's item. Broadbent says that '81 produced some decent LBVs, "but not for cellaring". The kind of curiosity which interests :tif:, a good find.

I've had unfiltered LBV from 1981 but from Warre rather than Kopke. The Warre was very tasty and enjoyable. I would expect that the wine would be drinking very nicely indeed. I'm slightly envious of you — I'd love to taste it! Please be sure to let us know what you think of it when you drink it.

New pictures added.
It seems that it really is a smaller version of a tappit hen bottle.