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The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 12:42 Wed 03 May 2023
by nac
Being sold at Sotheby's in the US.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction ... 8-liter-bt

Bidding ends tomorrow. Probably only for the really thirsty.

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 12:49 Wed 03 May 2023
by JacobH
That’s excellent! Maybe not one for solo drinking, though.

Someone should ask the IVDP about the number on the selo. Or were you allowed to sell Port in 98-litre bottles in 1982?!

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 13:10 Wed 03 May 2023
by nac
Text from lot description:

Fonseca Port
In a custom handmade 98-liter bottle packed in an original wooden crate.
Bottled circa 1982, 1 of 3 made and believed to be the only existing bottle remaining
1 x 98-Liter bottle (owc)

Provenance:
Morrell, New York 1998, Lot # 866, for $24,150

Catalogue Note
Originally sold as "The Largest Wine Bottle in the World" in 1998, this very rare and unique bottle was created in collaboration between the house of Fonseca and an American doctor in the 1980s. The idea was to create a unique bottle to offer in a charity auction to raise awareness of a rare disease that was ravaging the local fishing communities in Portugal.

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 13:13 Wed 03 May 2023
by hadge
humm how to get it back! :lol:

not sure it will get through the cellar door, maybe a new cellar will have to be built

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 13:14 Wed 03 May 2023
by nac
Pictures from Sotheby's website:
Fonseca98L-1.JPG
Fonseca98L-1.JPG (53.53 KiB) Viewed 11764 times
Fonseca98L-2.JPG
Fonseca98L-2.JPG (96.53 KiB) Viewed 11764 times

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 18:07 Wed 03 May 2023
by Mike J. W.
You're going to need a damn big set of Port tongs to open that baby.

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 10:20 Thu 04 May 2023
by JacobH
Classic case for the Port Garotte, I think!

I assume Bin 27 was chosen so it wasn’t necessary to find a decanter large enough to decant it!

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 12:09 Thu 04 May 2023
by Alex Bridgeman
6 hours to go and still only $1400, with no reserve.

That works out at $10.70 per bottle, to which you need to add buyer’s premium and sales tax. Say $14 per bottle all in.

I wonder what Bin27 sells for in New York?

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 17:30 Thu 04 May 2023
by Glenn E.
Alex Bridgeman wrote: 12:09 Thu 04 May 2023 6 hours to go and still only $1400, with no reserve.

That works out at $10.70 per bottle, to which you need to add buyer’s premium and sales tax. Say $14 per bottle all in.

I wonder what Bin27 sells for in New York?
It is $18 at Sherry Lehman, who aren't known for great prices. It can be ordered over the internet from a NY seller for as low as $15.

So when you consider that this was bottled 40-ish years ago and that bin 27 isn't meant to be aged, it's probably already overpriced just on the basis of the Port it contains.

Having the largest bottle of Port in the world? Priceless.

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 17:45 Thu 04 May 2023
by Alex Bridgeman
Glenn E. wrote: 17:30 Thu 04 May 2023
Alex Bridgeman wrote: 12:09 Thu 04 May 2023 6 hours to go and still only $1400, with no reserve.

That works out at $10.70 per bottle, to which you need to add buyer’s premium and sales tax. Say $14 per bottle all in.

I wonder what Bin27 sells for in New York?
It is $18 at Sherry Lehman, who aren't known for great prices. It can be ordered over the internet from a NY seller for as low as $15.

So when you consider that this was bottled 40-ish years ago and that bin 27 isn't meant to be aged, it's probably already overpriced just on the basis of the Port it contains.

Having the largest bottle of Port in the world? Priceless.
Whoever buys it will need to build a special shelf for their trophy bottles!

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 18:21 Thu 04 May 2023
by JacobH
Glenn E. wrote: 17:30 Thu 04 May 2023 So when you consider that this was bottled 40-ish years ago and that bin 27 isn't meant to be aged, it's probably already overpriced just on the basis of the Port it contains.
I’d stick it in some bottles for 10 years and treat is as a DIY Garrafeira!

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 20:20 Thu 04 May 2023
by jdaw1
nac wrote: 13:10 Wed 03 May 20231 of 3 made and believed to be the only existing bottle remaining
Were the other two, ahem, consumed?

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 20:50 Thu 04 May 2023
by JacobH
I am worried that bottle 2 was the victim of a "let's just open one more" miscalculation after bottle 1 was finished...

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 21:20 Thu 04 May 2023
by nac
Appears to have sold for $2,125, which is about $20k less than the previous price achieved.

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 21:22 Thu 04 May 2023
by nac
Wonder what Harry's going to do with this?

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 21:26 Thu 04 May 2023
by jdaw1
nac wrote: 21:22 Thu 04 May 2023Wonder what Harry's going to do with this?
Siphon it into decanters; drink with (many) friends.

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 21:27 Thu 04 May 2023
by nac
jdaw1 wrote: 21:26 Thu 04 May 2023
nac wrote: 21:22 Thu 04 May 2023Wonder what Harry's going to do with this?
Siphon it into decanters; drink with (many) friends.
A pretty normal lunch then.

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 22:58 Thu 04 May 2023
by Alex Bridgeman
jdaw1 wrote: 21:26 Thu 04 May 2023
nac wrote: 21:22 Thu 04 May 2023Wonder what Harry's going to do with this?
Siphon it into decanters; drink with (many) friends.
Don't, just don't, think it's a good idea to open it at home on your own. I once did that with a double magnum of Sandeman Vau. I was so bored with the Port I was drinking by the end of the double magnum that I was seriously considering pouring it down the sink even though there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Re: The World's Largest Bottle of Port

Posted: 23:05 Thu 04 May 2023
by jdaw1
Alex Bridgeman wrote: 22:58 Thu 04 May 2023Don't, just don't, think it's a good idea to open it at home on your own. I once did that with a double magnum of Sandeman Vau. I was so bored with the Port I was drinking by the end of the double magnum that I was seriously considering pouring it down the sink even though there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.
Of course. Harry would have friends — at least three of them.