Whitwham's Millenium Port Colheita 1853. Is it Rubbish?

Alan C. · Post by **Alan C.** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:03 am

I found this lot in a Chrities Auction House.

Lot details RARE PORT
Whitwham's Millenium Port Colheita 1853,Bottled by Niepoort
1 magnum per lot
Add to your absentee bid from 200 - 300Euros
FINE AND RARE WINES
Sale 273715 Mar 2007Amsterdam

The thought it could go for 200 Euros, (£135, $270) seems amazing when you consider its over 150 years old. Its also bottled by a still thriving company who had only been going 11years when they bottled it. I presume with all that history and its remarkably cheap price, it would be utter rubbish to drink? Or have I misunderstood something?

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:02 am

Yes you are mistaken. Look for the article THE PORT OF ATLANTA from 2006 in the archives and you'll see my pictures of it and the TNs. From a bottle opened in Jan. of last year. Grab it.

simon Lisle · Post by **simon Lisle** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:47 am

I saw this also I won't be bidding as I already own a bottle.But Christies at Amsterdam often have some unusual lots that don,t come up in London

Alan C. · Post by **Alan C.** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 12:26 pm

Simon,
I'm struggling to find Roys verdict on it. As you have one, is there any chance you've tasted it before. Roy seems to be suggesting its still worthy of attention. I cant get my head around something so old, and fragile, being so cheap. I'd pay that sort of price just for the fun of opening such an old treasure on a special occasion with friends. It wouldn't have to be perfect, but undrinkable would spoil the effect. Mind you, the whole ethos of an auction is it could quickly go beyond ones limits. Any more thoughts?
Cheers, Alan.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 10:04 pm

Alan,

I suggest you look around the website when you have time, there is a LOT of stuff all over the place but the site map makes it all a breeze to find.

Here is the article with the wine you are asking about:
http://www.fortheloveofport.com/article ... tality.htm

As you are new here, there is a tasting note data base which would have been accessible in 10 seconds, but fortunately/unfortunately it is a "pay to play" option. Should you want to learn more about it, look at the FTLOP Partnership Program button at the top of the page, in the brown area.

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:40 am

The auction houses usually have no idea when it comes to putting estimates on Colheitas.

The low estimate in this case is probably one notch above the reserve price - expect it to sell for significantly more..

..BUT you never know..!

(I won't be bidding BTW)

Tom

Alan C. · Post by **Alan C.** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:48 am

Thanks again. As I'm getting fed up of saying...I'm learning. So the chances are it will have been bottled in 2000, so the effect of a 150year old drink in a 150yr old bottle isn't there. That would still be of fascination to me, but detract from the effect with friends. And Tom makes a fair point. I'm not nipping over to Holland, and I have to work during the day, so if I pre-bid slightly over the 'low estimate', I'll probably be unsuccessful anyway. Oh well,

onward and upwards...
Alan

Julian D. A. Wiseman · Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:27 am

I often send in “pre-bids” to London and New York auctions. The trouble with European auctions — for me — is that the cost of transporting one or two bottles is a fair chunk of their purchase cost. Still, good luck.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 2:23 pm

I don't think you could probably purchase a bottle of this outright at Rare Wine Company as they sold lots of it a few years ago if I am not mistaken. Give Mark a call there and tell him you heard about this from FTLOP and he'll take great care of you!

Roy