Port and Madeira inquiry

Port to sell? Excellent! Please post here, with details of what you have, how stored, and where in the world it is. Please start by reading our ‘Standard advice to would-be vendors' and ‘A note to wine merchants’.
Post Reply
Paulbarrow1
Cruz Ruby
Posts: 2
Joined: 12:50 Tue 07 Nov 2017

Port and Madeira inquiry

Post by Paulbarrow1 »

My father recently passed away and whilst we were clearing out some of his things we came across some Port and Madeira that had been gifts to my father when he was in business. We are guessing that they are at least 30 years old. He retired 19 years ago so this would seem to be a reasonable guess as to their age. We were just going to throw them out, but a friend suggested they may have some value to collectors or enthusiasts. I have attached pictures. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Attachments
Cockburns LBV 1961
Cockburns LBV 1961
fullsizeoutput_d31.jpeg (199.98 KiB) Viewed 5984 times
Blandy's Duke of Clarence Madeira
Blandy's Duke of Clarence Madeira
fullsizeoutput_d30.jpeg (166.81 KiB) Viewed 5984 times
Dow's Vintage Character Port
Dow's Vintage Character Port
fullsizeoutput_d2f.jpeg (177.3 KiB) Viewed 5984 times
Taylor's Late Bottled Vintage Port 1981
Taylor's Late Bottled Vintage Port 1981
fullsizeoutput_d2e.jpeg (176.2 KiB) Viewed 5984 times
King's College Fine Old Wood Port
King's College Fine Old Wood Port
fullsizeoutput_d2d.jpeg (218.03 KiB) Viewed 5984 times
Andy Velebil
Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
Posts: 3028
Joined: 22:16 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Los Angeles, Ca USA
Contact:

Re: Port and Madeira inquiry

Post by Andy Velebil »

None of these are expensive Ports or Madeira. All are basically "lower to middle tier" and current equivalents sell for around $15-30 (USD), which probably means they sell for less in the UK. I assume you're in the UK based on the plug in the pictures background, that is. If well stored they may still be enjoyable to drink, but don't expect them to be great. There is no collectors value to these. The only bottle worth selling is potentially the Cockburn's, but you won't get much for it so probably not worth the hassle of doing so.

Some comments about each;

1961 Cockburn's LBV is most likely unfiltered but odd as it's bottled 8 years later. That would be illegal under today's rules. But that was then and this is now, LOL. This has the best hopes of being decent still. It will throw a sediment so decant prior to drinking.

Blandy's is a modern bottle and label. I am quite certain this is far younger than 19 years old. I suspect he acquired after he retired. A basic Madeira made from Tinta Negra grapes (generally, used for the lowest quality Madeira's).

Dow's Vintage Character is basically akin to a modern LBV or upper end Ruby Reserve

1981 Taylor's LBV is filtered and the ones I've tried from this era have been well past their best and should have been drunk a long time ago.

King's College is a more basic wood aged Port. Probably aged around 7 years (the legal minimum for wood aged Ports)
DaveRL
Warre’s Otima 10 year old Tawny
Posts: 512
Joined: 15:04 Tue 18 Mar 2014
Location: London

Re: Port and Madeira inquiry

Post by DaveRL »

They may be past their best but will still probably be quite pleasant. They may not be worth very much to sell, but a good option perhaps is to drink these with family and friends in memory of your father.
User avatar
DRT
Fonseca 1966
Posts: 15779
Joined: 23:51 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Chesterfield, UK
Contact:

Re: Port and Madeira inquiry

Post by DRT »

Hi Paul,

I am quite interested in the Cockburn 1961 LBV and the King's College bottles. Could you please let me know roughly where you are in the world and if possible post a picture of the capsules on the top of the bottles so that I can see their condition? Also, if you hold them up to a light can you see the level of the wine in the bottles? Is it in the neck (like a normal bottle of wine) or are they in the shoulder (like the picture of the Blandy's Madeira)?

Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Paulbarrow1
Cruz Ruby
Posts: 2
Joined: 12:50 Tue 07 Nov 2017

Re: Port and Madeira inquiry

Post by Paulbarrow1 »

I have attached pictures of the bottle top, showing the levels. The seals are intact as you can see. I am based in Barnet near M25/A1 junction.
Attachments
Cockburns bottle top
Cockburns bottle top
fullsizeoutput_d37.jpeg (148.73 KiB) Viewed 5940 times
Kings bottle top
Kings bottle top
fullsizeoutput_d36.jpeg (158.4 KiB) Viewed 5940 times
User avatar
DRT
Fonseca 1966
Posts: 15779
Joined: 23:51 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Chesterfield, UK
Contact:

Re: Port and Madeira inquiry

Post by DRT »

Paulbarrow1 wrote: 12:33 Thu 09 Nov 2017 I have attached pictures of the bottle top, showing the levels. The seals are intact as you can see. I am based in Barnet near M25/A1 junction.
I drove past there about four hours ago on my way hoe to Chesterfield :roll:

Thanks for the pictures. I will send you a private message.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Post Reply