ThePortForum.com

I’ve been struggling but failing to buy a bottle of the Graham’s № 5 White Port (the one with the fancy bottle) locally so I have bitten the bullet and bought it online at full price (£21). I hope it is worth it!

The auction market having gone slightly demented this year, I've only bought 17 bottles of VP so far this year, and nothing at all for the last two months.

The release prices for the 2018's I've seen so far seem to be broadly in the same ball-park as the retail prices for the same wines from the 1970 vintage - which is just insane..

That really is crazy, but then I get the impression that some wines, particularly the Dow’s SdR are being marketed firmly at the investors rather than the drinkers (who understand en primeur releases but not secondary auctions)....

I also am drawing a blank on recent auction purchases (just two bottles of burgundy since early April). Post-virus madness seems to be infecting the markets. Instead I have been hoovering up at retail bottles I have tried and considered to be underpriced After buying a case of 2000 Sainsbury's TTD on 30 June I am now having a month of no wine buying.

Sadly the case of 2000 Sainsbury's TTD I had planned on acquiring turned into 6 bottles on arrival at the store, with the 2015 Taylor LBV being the offered substitute. I look forward to trying some of it in the coming weeks, until I joined TPF I was always of the notion that the supermarket OL offerings were always far inferior, but it seems they are actually potentially decent juice...

winesecretary wrote: ↑21:50 Mon 06 Jul 2020 I also am drawing a blank on recent auction purchases (just two bottles of burgundy since early April). Post-virus madness seems to be infecting the markets. Instead I have been hoovering up at retail bottles I have tried and considered to be underpriced After buying a case of 2000 Sainsbury's TTD on 30 June I am now having a month of no wine buying.

Would that be the rest of June being the "month of no wine buying"?

Day ten; wine stocks worryingly close to dipping below four figures; will I make it to the end of the month without running out?

I have actually been reasonably active in the auction market this year. I don’t think there has been a huge amount of supply which together with some more active buying generally of wine when people have been stuck at home has pushed prices up. However I have managed to acquire some bottles I am very happy with.
I note your comment Tom about the latest release prices V older ports and therefore to me I am happy to keep on buying these older vintage and paying up a bit when I think the bottles look excellent, fundamentally I ask myself where are these prices going and I just think they are going up and in a few years time we will look back as be amazed at what we are paying today. The same as we do today looking back 10 years ago. Of course there are parts of the Port market and specific vintages that will perform better than others.
I do think the reduction of VP production since 1985 is coming through in way less supply at auction and I actually am happy to buy on release selectively, I am not convinced I will buy the specific 2011‘s I purchased cheaper than I did at release and I like the fact I purchased them then.
The growth of Port tourism is not only creating a lot more demand for new vintages that are sold through the shops at the lodges over multiple years. It also creates new consumers as they get to try the more premium end of the Port market creating more demand for that ‘special bottle’.

3 x Taylor 1977 VP for £113 all in per bottle.

Alex M wrote: ↑19:26 Tue 14 Jul 2020 3 x Taylor 1977 VP for £113 all in per bottle.

A very good wine, but seriously compromised by truly dreadful corks when first bottled. Recent late releases are all re-corked.

Around 70% of T77 at auction have seepage issues..

uncle tom wrote: ↑19:45 Tue 14 Jul 2020

Alex M wrote: ↑19:26 Tue 14 Jul 2020 3 x Taylor 1977 VP for £113 all in per bottle.

A very good wine, but seriously compromised by truly dreadful corks when first bottled. Recent late releases are all re-corked.

Around 70% of T77 at auction have seepage issues..

Levels about 2cm into neck on all. Each bottle weights 1349g and no signs of seepage. They've not been moved since the 1980's. Hopefully i've done alright. I'll open one in a few days and post a note.

At last!

My first bargain of the year..

8 bottle lot, six asst. 80's era Mz VP, one Crasto '85 VP, but the star turn, an uber rare RCV 1973 colheita.

Cost: £220 hammer..

nice buy tom from a good auction house

uncle tom wrote: ↑14:22 Wed 15 Jul 2020 At last!

My first bargain of the year..

8 bottle lot, six asst. 80's era Mz VP, one Crasto '85 VP, but the star turn, an uber rare RCV 1973 colheita.

Cost: £220 hammer..

73 my year..cool!

I've had mixed experiences with the 85 crasto VP. Early on it was holding but lately it has gone rather pale and in a place to start drinking them up.

I thought that might grab your attention Andy - have you had/own that wine..?

uncle tom wrote: ↑19:53 Wed 15 Jul 2020 I thought that might grab your attention Andy - have you had/own that wine..?

No. Never seen a bottle in person.

Bonhams sale today ran out of steam towards the end..

I scored a small lake of the well regarded SW97 in owcs (dozens) - PM me if interested in a case..

uncle tom wrote: ↑17:33 Thu 16 Jul 2020 Bonhams sale today ran out of steam towards the end..

I scored a small lake of the well regarded SW97 in owcs (dozens) - PM me if interested in a case..

Darn good VP. Well done!

just bought a couple of bottles of Calem 85 and 2011 from Tony

3 bottles of G77. Worked out £90 all in per bottle, which I think isn’t bad.

nac wrote:3 bottles of G77. Worked out £90 all in per bottle, which I think isn’t bad.

Very good price, on this side of pond anyways.

6bts of 91 Vargellas
12bts of 70 Gonzalez Byass

Might dispose of a couple of bottles of each. Let me know if interested.

12bts of 70 Gonzalez Byass

A very good QV wine - I bought a 12 bottle owc if it way back in 2005 from Sothebys, for a princely £197.01 inclusive.

At auction last year it made over three times that - but still good value..

I have to say around 2005/2006 was an amazing time to buy vintage port there were some amazing bargains!

uncle tom wrote: ↑15:11 Thu 13 Aug 2020

12bts of 70 Gonzalez Byass

A very good QV wine - I bought a 12 bottle owc if it way back in 2005 from Sothebys, for a princely £197.01 inclusive.

At auction last year it made over three times that - but still good value..

£525 all inclusive, from BidForWine.

Not arrived yet, but from pictures looked pretty good and was in OWC.

Clearly some 15 year price inflation, but probably a good deal (I hope)!