Latest buy

[Alex Bridgeman]

Great price on the Dow's 03. I'd get all I could at that price.

I did - and generously shared what I found with Julian's first born.

[Michael M.]

60 bottles of Graham's CrustedPort, bottled 2001. My House Port for the next four weeks.

Michael

[Alex Bridgeman]

Wow! That's a lot of port. Going to tuck any away to see how it is in 10 years?

[Michael M.]

Going to tuck any away to see how it is in 10 years?

Yes, indeed. Although it's drinking nice now. Some bottles also for my Portwine-Bar I am planing to open in 10 years or so. I already had this Crusted last year. I find it to be more in style of a solid VP than of an LBV. At less than 8 EUR no hesitation.

Michael

[uncle tom]

A very good price!

I had the '98 not long ago, and found it showing very well, much better than a couple of years ago; and with the promise of a little more to offer.

I wouldn't rush to drink through that stash, they will keep a long time. 12-25 years is probably a good target window for drinking the bulk of a case of Crusted, before hanging on to the odd bottle or two for the long haul..

Tom

[Michael M.]

Tom,

thanks for your evaluation. Similar thoughts ended in my buying decision. Maybe my kind of 1991 Morgan VP in 10-20 years.

Michael

[SushiNorth]

Acquired 2 Fonseca 1997, and two old bottles not to be named as tasting discussions are still underway

update -- ok, one of those is a Dow 1970 for our December tasting.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Acquired 2 Fonseca 1997, and two old bottles not to be named as tasting discussions are still underway

update -- ok, one of those is a Dow 1970 for our December tasting.

And the other is a Taylor 1920 to go with the taylor '24 we saw recently...?

[Alex Bridgeman]

Just picked up six bottle of Vesuvio 1990.

I really should stop buying Vesuvio as it still makes up just under a third of my port, but I had nearly run out of the '90.

[jdaw1]

I really should stop buying Vesuvio

Only if you’re also going to stop drinking it.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I really should stop buying Vesuvio

Only if you’re also going to stop drinking it.

I feel better now.

[jdaw1]

That’s good: you have two 2007 Vesuvio declarations to buy.

[Glenn E.]

I'd like to get ahold of one of these rumored mixed TFP 6-packs, and I'd also really like to get some VAC (Vesuvio A Capela). Anyone have any idea what VAC is going to cost? Is it going to be Nacional-style pricing, or something more realistic?

[Alex Bridgeman]

I'd like to get ahold of one of these rumored mixed TFP 6-packs, and I'd also really like to get some VAC (Vesuvio A Capela). Anyone have any idea what VAC is going to cost? Is it going to be Nacional-style pricing, or something more realistic?

It's clear that prices are going to be set by market, so I can't give you an accurate guide price for the US, but the TFP mixed pack I estimate will be offered at roughly £250 per pack, in bond, in the UK. Since these are coming from Oporto in mixed packs, they should be available in the US through the Taylor Fladgate usual agents. Get in touch with your local fine wine merchant and create a demand that they can pass on to the US agent.

No-one was giving even the faintest indication of where Capela was to be priced, or even when it would be offered. My instinct makes me feel that it will be similar to VVV, but I have nothing to go on other than the body langauge of the people who were showing the wines, I could be completely wrong.

I also asked the Symingtons about the idea of mixed cases. It's less easy for them to offer these ex-cellars as there are some major markets where the Symingtons have different agents in the same territory for different labels - an historic thing, I guess. However, in the UK Fells are the agents for all Symington labels and would - in principle - be prepared to break full cases received from Oporto and make up mixed cases provided we made it easy for them by ordering only mixed cases of Graham, Dow and Warre and then only in multiples of 12 of each. I'm happy to see if we can pull together a decent order that will make this worthwhile for Fells once pricing has been released.

[jdaw1]

Will the TFP mixed pack be (O)WC?

[g-man]

I've sent an inquiry with Kobrand, US importer of TFP wines.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Will the TFP mixed pack be (O)WC?

I am led to believe so.

[jdaw1]

Which will therefore be better than a DIY Symington mixed pack.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Which will therefore be better than a DIY Symington mixed pack.

Agreed. I suspect that if there are some Symongton mixed packs made available in the UK that Fells will do a perfectly good job of making them presentable, but the cases (or perhaps cardboard boxes) will not have the same romance or provenance as would an OWC.

Alex

[g-man]

Clarified.

Bad news to state side port lovers only;

This mix case would not be offered in the states.

"Dear Mr. Ghi

Thank you for contacting Kobrand.

Concerning the subject of the 2007 Vintage Portos, any information that
a mixed case would be offered is erroneous. Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca and
Croft are independent operations and are treated as such.

All retailers will have the opportunity to purchase the wines in June.
Due to the small size of our production, retailers will only receive the
wines they ordered in September and will unlikely be able to purchase
more later on in the year.

If you are interested in purchasing Vintage 2007 from these houses
please contact your normal fine wine retailer in the beginning of June.

Robert Bower
Category Manager
The Fladgate Partnership Portos"

[DRT]

Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca and
Croft are independent operations and are treated as such.

Oh dear. What a blunder telling that lame story to someone from here

[g-man]

Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca and
Croft are independent operations and are treated as such.

Oh dear. What a blunder telling that lame story to someone from here

the really sad news is that he also says that because the Taylor VVV is at a higher price point, many retailers are going to pass up on the opportunity in the states

[DRT]

Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca and
Croft are independent operations and are treated as such.

Oh dear. What a blunder telling that lame story to someone from here

To clarify the meaning of my earlier comment: If the various companies within the TFP can organise themselves sufficiently to ship mixed cases in the UK (and Europe?) there is no logical reason why they could not do the same in any other territory, unless either (a) they do not want to or (b) an external influence (such as the law or the importers marketing strategy) prevents them from doing so.

[JacobH]

Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca and
Croft are independent operations and are treated as such.

Oh dear. What a blunder telling that lame story to someone from here

To clarify the meaning of my earlier comment: If the various companies within the TFP can organise themselves sufficiently to ship mixed cases in the UK (and Europe?) there is no logical reason why they could not do the same in any other territory, unless either (a) they do not want to or (b) an external influence (such as the law or the importers marketing strategy) prevents them from doing so.

I suppose there are two other possibilities i) the mixed case will not happen anywhere (hopefully unlikely) or ii) Mr Bower has simply not heard that it will be happening.

[jdaw1]

Perhaps reply with a link to this thread, asking if he is certain.