Looking back over 2017, this is the first year since starting to build up the cellar where I have taken more bottles out of the cellar than I have put in. At the of the start of 2018, my cellar comprises the following (2017 values in brackets for comparison):
Port by type:
81% Vintage/SQVP (82%)
9% LBV (9%)
3% Crusted (4%)
6% Tawny/colheita/white (6%)
Vintage port by shipper:
The producers with highest representation for VP in my cellar are Fonseca at 23% (23%), Warre at 22% (23%) and Graham at 9% (9%).
Vintage port by years:
The years with highest representation for VP in my cellar are 1970, 1985, and then 1977 (previously 1970, 1977 and then 1985).
The above figures show minimal overall change; the underlying detail also shows:
- a notable reduction in representation of '77s (due to drinking them).
- a notable increase in '85s (from purchasing).
- the lack of Dow has been partially repaired.
Pointless Statistics
Re: Pointless Statistics
I am very late this year, but I have finally updated my stats. Thus I can see that as of 1st Jan 18 my port 'cellar' held the following:
Taylor 13% (15%) last year
Dow 12% (8%)
Fonseca 11% (14%)
Graham 9% (11%)
Warre 9% (8%)
If port is ready to be drunk at 21 years of age then 63% is 'ready' and the top 4 vintages are:
1977 12% (15%)
2011 10%
1994 9%
1970 8%
5.1% of my port is in magnum or Tappit Hen
4.3% is in half bottles
I opened bottles from 25 different vintages and 25 different shippers in 2017 (plus Tesco, Avery and BBR which I am not sure how to classify!) 6% was Tawny/Colheita, 6% was LBV and 12% SQVP
Taylor 13% (15%) last year
Dow 12% (8%)
Fonseca 11% (14%)
Graham 9% (11%)
Warre 9% (8%)
If port is ready to be drunk at 21 years of age then 63% is 'ready' and the top 4 vintages are:
1977 12% (15%)
2011 10%
1994 9%
1970 8%
5.1% of my port is in magnum or Tappit Hen
4.3% is in half bottles
I opened bottles from 25 different vintages and 25 different shippers in 2017 (plus Tesco, Avery and BBR which I am not sure how to classify!) 6% was Tawny/Colheita, 6% was LBV and 12% SQVP
Re: Pointless Statistics
I was fairly restrained in my purchases last year - until two 'turkey shoot' sales cropped up late in the year at Bonhams and Christies.
This has resulted in my collection of vintage port now topping one thousand imperial gallons, with an average bottle age of just over one billion seconds.
The collective age of my VP now advances by one day every 14.5 seconds and is currently just under 192,000 years in total..
This has resulted in my collection of vintage port now topping one thousand imperial gallons, with an average bottle age of just over one billion seconds.
The collective age of my VP now advances by one day every 14.5 seconds and is currently just under 192,000 years in total..
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
Re: Pointless Statistics

I recall you telling me about a decade ago that you planned to keep your collection at around 2,000 bottles. 500+ case is slightly more than that

"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn