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Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 18:37 Tue 14 Mar 2017
by Rufio
Hi,

I am new to this site and Ill be honest I don't know anything about Port or how to sell it.

I am looking to raise some funds for a engagement ring and hopefully can get some money for a wooden case of 12 1986 Dow Port that has never been opened and stored away in a larder.

I got the port from my godfather when I was christened and they have been stored at my parents house for 29 years in the UK since. They love wines and other drinks and have a purpose build larder for different drinks.

Does anyone know roughly what I could get for them and should I sell on here? (I found this website on a Google search).

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Rufio

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1986 Dow

Posted: 21:03 Tue 14 Mar 2017
by flash_uk
Welcome Rufio!

When I saw your message my eyes popped out of my head as I had misread and thought you said you had a case of 1896 Dow for sale!! I can tell you if that were the case you would be searching for one massive diamond for that ring :D :D

Anyhow, back to reality...hints and tips for selling can be found here. The 1986 Dow will be Dow Bomfim. Does it say Quinta do Bomfim on the case?

Can you let us know roughly where in the world you are located?

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1986 Dow

Posted: 21:38 Tue 14 Mar 2017
by Rufio
Hi Flash.

Thanks for the fast reply! Wish I did have the 1896 now haha. I am located in salisbury in the UK but the port is in Crowborough near Tunbridge Wells kept in a larider.

I'll send a message to my dad to ask what it says on the wooden box and if he can send me a picture so I can let you know. I take it will make a difference?

Thanks
Rufio

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1986 Dow

Posted: 22:17 Tue 14 Mar 2017
by flash_uk
Rufio wrote: 21:38 Tue 14 Mar 2017 I'll send a message to my dad to ask what it says on the wooden box and if he can send me a picture so I can let you know. I take it will make a difference?
Port houses will "declare" the port produced in a particular year if the wine is of especially high quality. In the '80s Dow declared 1980, 1983, 1985. In other non-declared years the houses usually release what is called a Single Quinta port, which is a port produced from the grapes from a single vineyard/estate. In the case of Dow, this is Quinta do Bomfim. These ports can very often still be of very high quality. A number of port fans would argue that 1986 and 1987 were really quite good vintages despite not being declared.

Others here might have a better handle on prices but to give you a rough idea, the 1985 Dow (declared year) you could probably pick up at retail for around £60 a bottle. Compare that to something like the 2001 Dow Bomfim which you could pick up for £30. So somewhere between these, recognising that you will only get about 50% of retail prices for a private sale.

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1986 Dow

Posted: 22:25 Tue 14 Mar 2017
by Glenn E.
flash_uk wrote: 22:17 Tue 14 Mar 2017 Others here might have a better handle on prices but to give you a rough idea, the 1985 Dow (declared year) you could probably pick up at retail for around £60 a bottle. Compare that to something like the 2001 Dow Bomfim which you could pick up for £30. So somewhere between these, recognising that you will only get about 50% of retail prices for a private sale.
One thing that 1986 Dow Bomfim has going for it is that it's relatively rare. It's much easier to find 1995 Dow Bomfim, for example, which puts its price at around $50 retail in the US. (As opposed to $80-90 for 1985 Dow.) It wouldn't surprise me a bit to find that 1986 Dow Bomfim runs toward the higher end of the range - so closer to the fully-declared 1985 Dow - than to the lower end of the range. In a private transaction, you'd normally expect to get about half of retail.

Sorry, prices in $$ because I'm from the US.

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1986 Dow

Posted: 22:30 Tue 14 Mar 2017
by Rufio
Ah I see. Looks like I've come to the right place as you know your stuff!
Would you normally get more for an unopened case or if you sold the bottles seperatly?
Yeah I've seen prices range for the port I have. Some even in the 70£ but I take it that's new.
This subject is actually quite interesting to me. Didn't realise there was so much to port!

Rufio

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1986 Dow

Posted: 03:09 Wed 15 Mar 2017
by DRT
Hi,

I will send you a private message.

Derek

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1986 Dow

Posted: 05:38 Wed 15 Mar 2017
by Glenn E.
Rufio wrote: 22:30 Tue 14 Mar 2017 Yeah I've seen prices range for the port I have. Some even in the 70£ but I take it that's new.
Keep in mind that listed prices don't necessarily mean sales actually occur at that price. It's generally safest to use the low end of prices displayed on winesearcher.com as those are the bottles most likely to sell. Port is a very sturdy wine and isn't really bothered by shipping, so savvy buyers will often simply order from the cheapest internet store rather than pay a significant premium at their local wine shop.

There are shops that will display a rarer Port at an unrealistic price just to draw attention, too. It's basically a form of advertising on internet search engines. They really have no belief that the bottle will sell at that price, though of course they'd be happy if someone walked into the store and bought it. I see this often with bottles of Noval Nacional.

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1986 Dow

Posted: 08:10 Wed 15 Mar 2017
by Rufio
Just spoke to dad it's 1985. So not sure how much of a difference that makes. I believe it's better vintage

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1986 Dow

Posted: 08:35 Wed 15 Mar 2017
by Rufio
DRT wrote: 03:09 Wed 15 Mar 2017 Hi,

I will send you a private message.

Derek
Hi Derek

It doesn't say that I got any messages so I am unable to reply. I've been told the vintage is actaully 1985 and not 1986 like I first thought. The 1985 is a good vintage from what I've read.

Rufio

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 09:37 Wed 15 Mar 2017
by DRT
Ah, in which case please ignore my message if you find it.

Cheers
Derek

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 09:44 Wed 15 Mar 2017
by PeterPort
For sale also in France for 35 euro. http://www.ebay.fr/itm/like/28239326255 ... rmvSB=true

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 11:30 Wed 15 Mar 2017
by Rufio
I'll keep an eye on that auction to see what it goes for. From what I've read the 1985 is better than the 1986?

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 12:58 Wed 15 Mar 2017
by PhilW
Hi Rufio. Yes 1985 is the the better year (and is a declared year). If you look at the usual fine wine vendors, Dow 1985 is easily available in 6/12 bottle cases at an effective £54-60/bottle; you should be aiming for around half this selling privately for bottles in top condition, so around £30/bottle depending on condition and storage.

You also asked whether it is better to sell bottles or cases; while it will depend on what you are selling and where you are based, generally the answer would be cases, simply because of the additional transport/delivery costs. I would suggest selling your 12 as a case, though being open to splitting them 6 and 6 might also be an option.

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 22:40 Tue 28 Mar 2017
by Rufio
I am looking to sell the whole case for £500. If anyone is interested let me know.

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 12:56 Wed 29 Mar 2017
by flash_uk
Not looking for any Dow '85 myself Rufio, but if I was, I'd buy the case of 12 from Farr Vintners for £540. I think you are perhaps about £200 too optimistic with your price. At auction I have bought a case of Dow '85 for £350.

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 19:11 Wed 29 Mar 2017
by Rufio
Ah that's a shame. If I hold for longer do you think price will go up?

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 19:15 Wed 29 Mar 2017
by flash_uk
Rufio wrote: 19:11 Wed 29 Mar 2017 Ah that's a shame. If I hold for longer do you think price will go up?
The 1985 vintage has really quite a large amount of supply available, so I don't expect the price to move a huge amount for quite a long time.

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 19:50 Wed 29 Mar 2017
by Rufio
Doh. May sell it to my father. He said he will give me 500 for it.

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 21:31 Wed 29 Mar 2017
by jdaw1
£500 is an excellent price — perhaps, as he is your father, you might give him a discount on that generous price. Whether or not you do, he is your buyer.

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 21:54 Wed 29 Mar 2017
by Old Bridge
Maybe he will let you taste a glass, and then you will want to buy it back. At a greatly reduced price of course, since the case is now broken.

Re: Looking to sell a case never opened. 1985 Dow not 86

Posted: 22:05 Wed 29 Mar 2017
by Rufio
Haha yes great idea! He is a great dad. Although reading through this port site has got me interested in trying different types and researching more.