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The latest tasting note from Alex reminded me of the bargain I got at auction when I bought the case of Adams 1967 along with cases of Cockburns 1960 and Taylors 1960. After discarding the serious leakers the bottles worked out at €14.18 each (£10.50 or $11.50). Even the Adam's worked out well! So what's your lucky buy?

My luckiest buy was about a year ago. Nine bottles of Graham's 1970 and six bottles of "believed Fonseca 1970" for £40 each from a wine merchant that didn't seem to know what they had. The Graham's have been consistently fabulous, the Fonseca variable.

Not an auction but I once had just over two cases of port from the sixties and 1970 at a tenner a bottle. This was in the late nineties and although I had offered a bit more than this (I knew him), he said no, that was all the merchant had offered him so I could have it at that price. This was in my early days of buying port so I assumed I would find port that cheaply again and necked the lot in short order. But no one seems to want to offer me classic vintage port at a tenner a go anymore. No? Anyone? I've got thirty quid here now, so if you change your mind...

My best auction buy was 4 bottles, Croft 1935, Taylor's 1945 Warre's 1958(undrinkable) and SmithWoodhouse 1983, all for £100 plus buyers premium.

My best result ever was the case of unknown port in pristine condition, that turned out to be N31 - this cost me just £720, nearly a decade ago.

Last year I secured some perfect bottles (also unknowns) for £30 each, that turned out to be T35..

I've had some good auction deals in the last couple of years, including:

- sixpacks of Vesuvio 1995, 1997 and 1998 all at €30 a bottle
- Fonseca 2000, 7 bt @ € 48 a bottle
- Mix lot of 9 bt. Borges & Irmao 1970 (2), C da Silva 1977 (2), Niepoort 1978, Dow's 1980, Warre Cavadinha 1984, Burmester Nossa Senhora 1992, 1937 White Colheita Pinto & Co, all @ € 22 a piece
- Sandeman 1945 (3) at € 150 each
- Taylor's Vargellas 1991 (15) @ €27 each
- Kopke over 40 yo Tawny, bottled 1980 (9) @ € 16 each

two bottles of 1820 Ferreira VP for about $700 each (all in after premium and taxes). Sounds like a lot until to see what the Quinta wants to sell it to you for, if you can get them to release a bottle.

Recently also got 9 bottles of 1960 Graham's VP for $100/per (all in).

Andy Velebil wrote:two bottles of 1820 Ferreira VP for about $700 each (all in after premium and taxes). Sounds like a lot until to see what the Quinta wants to sell it to you for, if you can get them to release a bottle.

What do they want for the bottles these days? I've not seen library stock prices from them for a couple of years now.

AHB wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote:two bottles of 1820 Ferreira VP for about $700 each (all in after premium and taxes). Sounds like a lot until to see what the Quinta wants to sell it to you for, if you can get them to release a bottle.

What do they want for the bottles these days? I've not seen library stock prices from them for a couple of years now.

Last I was told, and that was some 4-5-ish years ago, was in the 4,000 Euro per bottle range. So given exchange rates back then around $5,000 USD

Andy Velebil wrote:

AHB wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote:two bottles of 1820 Ferreira VP for about $700 each (all in after premium and taxes). Sounds like a lot until to see what the Quinta wants to sell it to you for, if you can get them to release a bottle.

What do they want for the bottles these days? I've not seen library stock prices from them for a couple of years now.

Last I was told, and that was some 4-5-ish years ago, was in the 4,000 Euro per bottle range. So given exchange rates back then around $5,000 USD

that's not cheap! But I guess that's in line with the prices that the colheita ports from the 19th century are now achieving.

10 bottles of 2000 Fonseca vintage port @ €175 (£148)
I asked twice if he was serious. Guess he thought it was the LBV...

Monique wrote:10 bottles of 2000 Fonseca vintage port @ €175 (£148)
I asked twice if he was serious. Guess he thought it was the LBV...

Fabulous result! Nice port at an amazing price.

Monique wrote:10 bottles of 2000 Fonseca vintage port @ €175 (£148)
I asked twice if he was serious. Guess he thought it was the LBV...

That is a ridiculously good price. It is always good to share these stories with people who care about such things. And a little bit of envy is good for us all.

LGTrotter wrote:

Monique wrote:10 bottles of 2000 Fonseca vintage port @ €175 (£148)
I asked twice if he was serious. Guess he thought it was the LBV...

That is a ridiculously good price. It is always good to share these stories with people who care about such things. And a little bit of envy is good for us all.

Sorry guys... but when I ever get to meet with you, I'll bring a bottle to share

Monique wrote:10 bottles of 2000 Fonseca vintage port @ €175 (£148)
I asked twice if he was serious. Guess he thought it was the LBV...

Great find!