Port for sale by retailer

[Zelandakh]

Following on from RAYC's tip, Tesco at Henley has a dozen less of the Dow's Master Blend LBV 2006.

The eleven bottles I bought should be very good and I am planning to show all ten bottles that I purchased to my friends on Saturday...

[SushiNorth]

Does anyone have suggestions for places that I should stop by while in central London?

[Alex Bridgeman]

Does anyone have suggestions for places that I should stop by while in central London?

In terms of supermarkets, try Tesco in West Kensington as they usually have a decent (12-15) range of port. Waitrose in Canary Wharf offers second growth claret by the case (at least they used to, its a while since I've been there). Fortnum & Mason and Harrods both have good wine shelves with decent port selections. Last time I was in Harrods they had a bottle of Scion on display under nice bright lights.

Berry's is a must visit - but call ahead and see if you can get someone to give you a little tour round the shop and cellar. Give yourself an extra few minutes to visit the (very) small square behind Berry's where the Embassy of Texas was based during their brief period of independance.

Justerini & Brooks, Davys, Soho Wines, Uncorked, Bibendum, Farr Vintners and Corney & Barrow are all London based wine merchants, but I would recommend reviewing their on-line wine lists rather than visiting their shops. El Vino, Davys, Nicholsons, Corney & Barrow are all wine bars that offer port by the glass. There's also another wine bar next to Charing Cross Station that I can never remember the name of that's worth a visit - Jacob, help me out here please?

[RAYC]

BBR and Fortnums are close by each other and can be done together easily.

For wine-based activities, the Sampler is also good fun - their South Kensington store has 80 wines available to taste - including (currently, but changes every 2 weeks): Taylors 1966 ; La Rioja Alta 890 GR 1970; Voerzio Brunate Barolo 1998; Gaja Barbaresco 1991; Chave Hermitage 1999; Margaux 1985; Valdespino Toneles; and Palmer 1986.

Also worthy of a mention is a Douro dinner being held by Boisdalesin Canary Wharf on Friday 18 November. It is being hosted by Henry Shotton, chief wine maker at Malvedos. I have never been to Boisdale in Canary Wharf, but i am a big fan of their Belgravia restaurant (nr Victoria station), which has, in addition to good steak, an excellent cigar terrace (though you need to book that separately at the same time that you book your meal) and great live jazz/blues every night. Boisdale is the company that had the Nebuchadnezzer of Dow 1896 that prompted a few threads earlier in the history of this forum, and has a good menu/wine (though is expensive).

If you want a quirky traditional British restaurant, specialising in game, with a good Rhone-based wine list and an excellent little pre/post-dinner cocktail bar, i think Rules is very nice - located just of Covent Gdn. It apparently has good claim to be the oldest restaurant in London.

[RAYC]

There's also another wine bar next to Charing Cross Station that I can never remember the name of that's worth a visit - Jacob, help me out here please?

Gordon's Wine Bar? I have never been, but have always been intrigued by their "beaker of tawny" out of the barrel

[Edit: yes - here is Jacob's review, together with his review of El Vino. Perhaps we should have an easily accessible thread with good TPF recommendations for thirsty visitors to London. Maybe that's what Jacob's thread was intended to be...]

[Alex M]

Has anybody had any experience of using Wilkinson Vintners? They have the 1958 Vargellas that I am after however my order would not come close to breaching their £500 minimum. Has anybody managed to bypass this rule?

[Alex Bridgeman]

I have used WiIlkinson Vintners on a handful of occasions, but have never tried to have them relax their £500 minimum spend - it never really occurred to me that they would.

[RAYC]

Has anybody had any experience of using Wilkinson Vintners? They have the 1958 Vargellas that I am after however my order would not come close to breaching their £500 minimum. Has anybody managed to bypass this rule?

I have run across this problem before with other wine merchants due to their status as "wholesale" rather than retail sellers (i haven't looked into alcohol licensing laws, so won't pretend to know the finer details of this or their concerns).

If you are unable to persuade them, i do currently have an order placed with Wilkinson. I would be happy to add to this, if you were willing to transfer money to me (or to another TPF member) on trust and central London were a convenient place to arrange hand-over of the ports. Or i'm sure i could arrange separate shipping to you directly from Wilkinson, presumably at an additional fee.

[Alex M]

RAYC- i've sent you a message.

[DRT]

I can't remember if I have ever asked Wilkinson to do this but I have definitely purchased port below the stated minimum order value from more than one merchant. The worst that can happen is that they say no when you ask but I have found that they tend to be more interested in making a sale than turning away the business.

[benread]

So...an interesting trip to Tesco tonight.

As griff alluded to upthread (or on the recent buy thread), there is both a Noval 2005 lbv and a Quinta do Noval "single vineyard" lbv on sale at Tesco.

Except...when I took my goodies to the checkout, there was no code for the single vineyard lbv so they would not sell it to me and proceeded to clear the shelves of the other bottles!

Rob,

Work necessitated a trip to Tesco on Purley way tonight, where I spotted a single bottle of the Noval 2005 Unfiltered Single Vineyard LBV. I encountered the same initial problem - but a different outcome! No code = problem. Supervisor = solution! How much she asked, did I thin k it was advertised for. £11 something I replied. HOw does £11 exactly sound. Great I said!

One bottle now available for avaluation against a normal 2005 Noval LBV as and when we can find a suitable moment!

Happy birthday for yesterday.

Ben

[Alex Bridgeman]

Tesco appear to have reintroduced the discount on the half bottles of Croft 2004 - now down to £4.20.

Also reduced prices on Tesco 1994 VP, Noval 2005 LBV (but no single quinta on the shelf) and Dow 2006 LBV.

[jdaw1]

3 cases Quinta do Noval 1963 £1195
3 cases Warre 1970 £695
3 cases Fonseca 1970 £1250
5 cases Dow 1977 £695
2 cases Taylor 1977 £1180

Southwick Court Fine Wines Ltd
2 Spice Court|Ivory Square|Plantation Wharf|London|SW11 3UE
Tel: +44 207 801 2432

[DRT]

Seckford Wines have lots of 6-packs on their list at very good prices. It looks very like one of their customers has asked them to sell their cellar (or part of it).

[Glenn E.]

Too bad, no 2000 Vesuvio OWC.

[jdaw1]

Quinta do Noval Extra Dry Port

With a bright, golden colour with an almond nuttiness on the nose, this fine festive port shows great, fresh-fruit character on the palate and some almond-vanilla character in the finish. Slightly off-dry and crispness, perfect when chilled in the fridge.

Date Distilled: 2004

£14.00

4 bottles remaining

[Alex Bridgeman]

Tesco have launched a bid for the last minute before Christmas rush and my local has the following prices of interest:
* (The much improved) Cockburn Special Reserve - £10.25 for 1 litre
* Dow Master Blend finest reserve - £6.49 per bottle
* Dow Master Blend 2006 LBV - £7.15 per bottle
* Taylor 10 yo tawny - £17.29 per bottle
* Graham 10 yo tawny - £14.99 per bottle
* Graham LBV (didn't note the vintage) - £9.99 per bottle
* Taylor 2005 LBV - £10.10 per bottle
* Bomfim 1999 - £21.50 per bottle
* Taylor 1985 - £56.99 per bottle
* Tesco 1994 - £17.99 per bottle

You also get an extra 5% off if you buy 6 or more bottles

[smisse]

The German discounter Aldi has a Almeida 20y old for sale in Holland. 14,99eur

Would be interested to know if anyome knows this port or dares trying it


Edited to add link with picture
http://www.aldi.nl/TIPP_NL_SA/index51.shtml

[DRT]

The label appears to say "Bottled by Sogevinus Fine Wines" so this is probably produced by Barros Almeida. Given that their specialty is tawny rather than ruby ports there is no reason why this shouldn't be a good bottle, especially at that price.

Good luck!

[smisse]

The label appears to say "Bottled by Sogevinus Fine Wines" so this is probably produced by Barros Almeida. Given that their specialty is tawny rather than ruby ports there is no reason why this shouldn't be a good bottle, especially at that price.

Good luck!

Maybe I should indeed try it.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Farr Vintners have just announced the start of their sale. Minimum order for sale items is £350, but they have the following port on offer:

Vargellas Vinha Velha - £990 per case of 3, 1 case available
Churchill 1994 - £220 per case of 12, 1 case available
Gould Campbell 1994 - £295 per case of 12, 1 case available
Graham 1991 - £360 per case of 12, 2 cases available

I make no comment as to how good these prices are, other than to reflect that BBR currently has the Vargellas Vinha Velha on offer for £450 per case of 3 in bond and the Gould Campbell for £539 per case of 12, duty and VAT inclusive.

[Andy Velebil]

Farr Vintners have just announced the start of their sale. Minimum order for sale items is £350, but they have the following port on offer:

Vargellas Vinha Velha - £990 per case of 3, 1 case available
Churchill 1994 - £220 per case of 12, 1 case available
Gould Campbell 1994 - £295 per case of 12, 1 case available
Graham 1991 - £360 per case of 12, 2 cases available

I make no comment as to how good these prices are, other than to reflect that BBR currently has the Vargellas Vinha Velha on offer for £450 per case of 3 in bond and the Gould Campbell for £539 per case of 12, duty and VAT inclusive.

And you all say it's cheaper over there than here, Bah!

[PhilW]

Waitrose currently have Warre's Quinta da Cavadinha 1996 on offer at £25 per bottle.

[PhilW]

Waitrose currently have Warre's Quinta da Cavadinha 1996 on offer at £25 per bottle.

Warre 96 also now on offer at Morrisons (until Sunday) at £23 each.
(Warre 2006 LBV available at £10/bottle in same offer, although it's the filtered version).

[RAYC]

The Cruz 2002 lbv is on sale for £6.99 at Sainsbury (seemingly until 06/03/12).

Despite my preconceptions, this was actually a rather good port when i tried it (see also Carl's recent note). Driven cork, so i believe to be unfiltered, but did not look closely at label.

At that price, i think it is certainly a go-er, though i would want to re-try (in a more sober state) before piling in for multiple bottles!