So how much did I overpay for the 1995 Taylor Q. Vargellas?

[Jay Hack]

After posting about the 1995s a few days ago and getting some interesting positive comments, I decided to jump in and bid for a case of 1995 Taylor Q. de Vargellas at the Acker Merrall auction that just ended today. I bid the minimum, which was much less that I saw it for on Winesearcher, and I won the lot. All in, including buyer's premium but before tax, my price was $29.98 per bottle. Seems cheap to me. Any opinions? In deference to the free advice I got here, I would be willing to share one bottle with any New Yorkers who want to get together and see what it tastes like, at some appropriate local food service establishment.

[Andy Velebil]

Don't think I ever bought this particular bottle before, but sounds like a good price to me. I'll take you up on that next time I am in New York

[Todd Pettinger]

That sounds pretty good to me - but everything here in Canada is so overpriced, so it means nothing! :)

Honestly, merchants know that "Taylor Fladgate is a big, important Port producer, therefore I should probably be able to charge a LOT for ANY bottle of Taylor Port."

And we pay it… oh, do we pay it.

Todd

[Jay Powers]

I think that is a pretty good price, and if I lived in NY still I would take you up on your offer!

Jay

[Adam F]

Sounds pretty godd translated into punds, the wine society over here sells it at GBP30 (admittedly the FX is winging around a bit but not that much).

[Al B.]

Jay,

I think that the price at which you got the '95 Vargellas was very good. If that was the minimum bid then that still works out cheap, a pity you couldn't have gone one bid lower!

Its a great wine and one which will reward patience. If you can afford to lock them away for a few years they will mature and improve for a while yet.

And when I travel over to NYC in October, I will make sure you get to hear about it

Alex

[Jay Hack]

. . . If that was the minimum bid then that still works out cheap, a pity you couldn't have gone one bid lower! . . . And when I travel over to NYC in October, I will make sure you get to hear about it . . .

The minimum was $300 for the case plus premium. The pre-sale estimate range had a minimum higher than $300, so I bid the minimum and won. I also bid $140 for 6 bottles of Fonseca Guimaraens but someone bid $150 so I let it go. . . . As to coming to NY in October, my wife hates Port. She refused to try any when we had a 1977 horizontal at my house. So I can always use an excuse to open a bottle.

[Moses Botbol]

I paid about the same, maybe a little more? Any Taylor VP of any year for under $40.00 is a deal in my book.

[Robin L.]

I paid about the same, maybe a little more? Any Taylor VP of any year for under $40.00 is a deal in my book.

Even under 60$ is a deal for Taylor (in my canadian point of view)...

[simon Lisle]

I think it was a pretty good price.

[Ronald Wortel]

Looks like a very fair price to me. I paid €25,- a bottle and was happy with that. Recently drank a bottle too. It's beginning to show really nicely. A good, solid port as you can expect from Vargellas.

[Marc J.]

I have a ton of this particular wine and I'd say that you got a deal! Your per bottle price (even including auction fees) is the lowest price that I've seen for a Taylor's '95.

[Mike McCune]

Great price. Less than what I paid on release (~$35-40)

[Roy Hersh]

Alex,

I will be in NYC in October as well. Maybe an offline in the making, although I was planning a stop over in London too.