Quite a listing ... and the GBPound is now < $!.60

[Roy Hersh]

From Rhys and Methuen:

October 2008 Vintage Port offer:

All Ports are lying in bond London. World wide delivery can be arranged.

Fonseca: Price per case/bottle Score
Under Bond.

1963 5 cases £2295:00 98/100
A grand slam. Deep ruby with a slightly red edge, intense black cherry and raspberry nose, full-bodied, with masses of fruit, full tannins and an extremely long finish. This can age indefinitely.98/100 JS
1966 2 cases £1495:00 97/100
This is still a monster that needs time. Deep ruby, with a ripe, meaty cassis and berry nose, full-bodied, with tons of velvety fruit flavors, full tannins and a very long finish. Can drink now.

1970 10 cases £1180:00 96/100
Deeply colored, with smoky mint, tar and fruit aromas, full-bodied, with concentrated fruit flavors and plenty of tannins.96/100 WS

1977 5 cases £1195:00 100/100
Until recently this wine was understated and closed. Now it has opened into a mammoth wine with so much fruit that it crushes your palate. Deep ruby, with ripe raspberry and cherry aromas, full-bodied, with layers of concentrated, sweet raspberry flavors, tons of tannin and an incredibly long finish. Perhaps as great as the '48. Best from 1998 through 2000. 100/100 JS

1983 10 cases £530:00 90/100
1985 5 cases £595:00 90/100
1992 10 cases £650:00 97/100

1994 5 cases £1095:00 100/100
Hold on to your hat. This is the best Fonseca since 1977, and it's probably even better than that classic vintage--more like the breathtaking 1948. Mind-blowing, with masses of color, aroma and fruit flavor. Smells like fermenting berries, boasting loads of crushed grape, violet and berry character. Big, full-bodied and very sweet, with tons of tannins and a sweet finish. Tannic and huge, it's a long-term, great Port. Best after 2012. 8,000 cases made.100/100 WS

1997 10 cases £595:00 95/100
2000 10 cases £595:00 95+/100
2000 1 cases Halves £600:00 95+/100
2000 1 case Magnums £650:00 95+/100
2003 10 cases £595:00 97/100
2003 5 cases Halves £490:00 97/100

Taylor

1920 9 bottles £495:00 **** MB

1924 4 bottles £495:00 **** MB

1955 2 cases £2990:00 ***** MB
This is still very good indeed. It is a racy wine with a fruit bowl of flavors. Medium red with a garnet edge, chocolate and vanilla aromas, medium-bodied, with sweet berry flavors and a lovely finish.Wine Spectator.
A vast deep,high toned,spicy nose:fairly sweet,full bodied,packed with fruit,extract,tannin and acidity ,still retaining its backbone and a good classic bouquet & flavour **** Michael Broadbent.

1963 5 cases £1695:00 97/100
A big wine with superb balance, a shining example of this exuberantly fruity vintage. Deep ruby, with violets and coffee on the nose, full-bodied, with dried cherry flavors and plenty of tannin, balanced and long on the finish. 97/100 JS

1966 15 cases £1250:00 ***** MB
Lovely flavour rich,fully evolved,good flesh and flavour.

1970 10 cases £1090:00 98/100
Clearly lives up to Taylor's superb reputation. Deep ruby, with intense violet and chocolate aromas, full-bodied, with gorgeous fruit flavors, full but well-integrated tannins and an extremely long finish. Amazing balance and finesse. Still needs time.98/100 JS

1977 10 cases £895:00 98/100
There is an explosion of fruit and tannins in the mouth but at the same time this wine is in total harmony. Deep dark ruby, with blackberries and violets on the nose, full-bodied, with masses of blackberry flavors, full, hard tannins and a very long finish. Will age for decades. 98/100 JS

1983 5 cases £550:00 89/100
1985 25 cases £560:00 90/100

1992 4 cases £1190:00 100/100
Taylor's 1992 Vintage Port is unquestionably the greatest young port I have ever tasted. It represents the essence of what vintage port can achieve. The color is an opaque black/purple, and the nose offers up fabulously intense aromas of minerals, cassis, blackberries, licorice, and spices, as well as extraordinary purity and penetration. Yet this is still an unformed and infantile wine. If Chateau Latour made a late-harvest Cabernet Sauvignon, I suspect it might smell like this. In the mouth, the wine is out of this world, displaying layer upon layer of concentrated black fruits backed by well-integrated tannin and structure. This is a massive, magnificently rich, full-bodied port that will be far more flattering in its youth than were such Taylors as the 1983, 1977, or 1970. It possesses awesome fruit, marvelous intensity, and lavish opulence, all brilliantly well-delineated by the wine's formidable structure. This monumental 30-50 year port is a must purchase for port aficionados.! Also noteworthy is the fact that the 1992 Taylor commemorates the 300th anniversary of this firm, as evidenced by the special bottle Taylor used for this port. 100/100 RP

1994 5 cases £1095:00 100/100
When tasting young vintage ports, Taylor is always the most backward. Yet potentially, it has the capability to be the most majestic. This classically made, opaque purple-colored wine is crammed with black fruits (blueberries and cassis). It reveals high tannin and a reserved style, but it is enormously constituted with massive body, a formidable mid-palate, and exceptional length. It is a young, rich, powerful Taylor that will require 10-15 years of aging. Compared to the more flashy, forward style of the 1992, the 1994 has more in common with such vintages as 1977 and 1970. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2045. 97/100 RP

1997 5 cases £595:00 94/100

2000 5 cases £650:00 98+/100

2003 10 cases £655:00 100/100
The 2003 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port improved each time I raised it to my nose or mouth. It displays a black color and a salty, graphite-laced nose packed with sweet black fruits that is reminiscent of a stellar vintage of Chateau Latour. With air, notes of molasses, burnt sugar, spices, and jammy plums emanate from the glass. Full-bodied, hugely dense, immensely rich, as well as thick, this behemoth is also amazingly balanced and harmonious. Raisins, molasses, licorice, black cherries, plums, and a distinctive note of violets are found in its complex, seamless character. Its interminable finish reveals additional notes of chocolate, kirsch, red as well as black currants, dark cherries, and rose blossoms. Armed with exceptional power, depth, and purity, this Taylor will proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest ever crafted by the Fladgate Partnership. Projected maturity: 2035-2060. 100/100 RP

New Release
2004 20 cases Quinta de Vargellas £195:00 N/A
2004 5 cases Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha £1295:00 N/A
A small amount of this Vinha Velha is to be bottled from the 2004 harvest. This very rare vintage port is made from time to time in very small quantities from selected grapes from the oldest vines at Quinta de Vargellas. These vines are located in what is known as the vinha Velha (old Vinneyard) This rare wine represents the quintessence of one of the world’s greatest vineyards.

Warre

1963 10 cases £1095:00 92/100
Extremely impressive, with beautifully balanced, harmonious sweet fruit on the palate. Medium ruby-red, ripe cherry and cassis aromas, medium-bodied, with rich, velvety fruit flavors, full, soft tannins and a powerful finish. 92/100 WS

1966 10 cases £980:00 91/100
1970 15 cases £790:00 88/100

1977 20 cases £650:00 92/100
This house makes rather restrained yet rich, flavorful vintage port and a very good tawny called Nimrod. Their vintage ports seem slow to develop, and while they never quite have the voluptuous richness of a Dow, Graham, or Fonseca, they have a unique mineral-scented character that gives them their own complexity and style. The 1977 is quite powerful, very deep and intense, particularly for Warre. 92/100

1980 25 cases £490:00 **** MB
1983 20 cases £490:00 88/100
1985 10 cases £495:00 91/100
1991 20 cases £480:00 **** MB
1994 10 cases £455:00 91/100
1997 15 cases £435:00 94/100
2000 10 cases £565:00 91/100
2003 10 cases £575:00 92/100

Croft

1945 2 bottles £495:00 99/100
1963 10 cases £850:00 90/100
1985 8 cases £490:00 **** MB
2000 10 cases £450:00 90+/100
2003 5 cases £395:00 93/100

Sandeman;The following vintages are from the cellar of the late David Sandeman.

5 bottles £300:00 94/100
It is a ripe blockbuster of a wine, youthful rich red with a slight garnet rim, focused ripe cherry and toffee nose,with lots of spicy berry flavors and velvety mouth feel. 94/100

1945 2 bottles £525:00 95/100
It can't get much more enjoyable that this. The color is youthfully ruby-garnet, while the nose shows intense aromas of boysenberries and almonds. Full-bodied, with very focused, sweet fruit flavors, great concentration and a silky mouth-feel.95/100

1958 2 bottles £195:00 *** MB


1963 3 cases £1095:00 96/100
This may be one of the most underrated '63s made. Its deep red color gives little indication of the wine's age, and there is an abundance of youthful, rich fruit on the nose and palate. Full tannins and an assertive finish back up everything. Will still improve with age.96/100

Dow

1963 5 cases £1495:00 92/100

Incredibly youthful and powerful, slightly raw still. Medium ruby with a red edge, concentrated black cherry and earth aromas, full-bodied, with intense berry flavors, full hard tannins and an excellent finish. 92/100 JS


1966 6 cases £1195:00 94/100
This is an extremely racy and totally harmonious VP, with wonderfully fresh aromas of flowers, fruit and berries. Full-bodied, with a sweet yet firm palate. Long, long finish. Super.--94/100

1970 15 cases £790:00 94/100
A classic vintage Port, both fleshy and firm on the palate. Medium deep ruby, with a fresh strawberry nose, full-bodied, with focused fruit flavors, medium tannins and a long finish. Still needs time. 94/100 JS


1977 10 cases £690:00 94/100
1977 10 cases Magnums £690:00 94/100
Impressively hard and powerful, but very closed for the moment. It should age for many decades. Dark ruby, with rich raspberry and earth aromas, full-bodied, with an excellent balance of full tannins and generous berry flavors.

1983 25 cases £550:00 94/100
1985 10 cases £490:00 **** MB
1991 6 cases £460:00 ***** MB
1994 25 cases £480:00 96/100
1997 4 cases £460:00 90/100
2000 20 cases £460:00 94/100
2003 5 cases £395:00 92/100

Graham

1912 1 bottle £395:00 N/A

1945 2 bottles £795:00 95/100

1963 2 cases £1795:00 96/100
This is a monumental wine with a great balance of fruit and tannin. Medium ruby with a garnet edge, enticing nose of bitter chocolate and plums, full-bodied, with chocolate and raspberry flavors, medium tannins and a very long finish. 97/100

1966 10 cases £1295:00 93/100
1966 10 cases Magnums £1280:00 93/100
Elegant, silky and youthful, this is a sexy wine. Medium ruby-red, showing aromas of plums, chocolate and ripe fruit. The palate follows through with a bounty of sweet plum flavors and a fleshy mouth-feel. It should continue to improve with age 93/100

1970 20 cases ex domaine £995:00 94/100

1977 10 cases £760:00 93/100
Graham is another great port house, producing one of the deepest-colored and sweetest styles of vintage port. Along with Taylor and Fonseca, Graham has probably been the most consistent producer of great port in the post- World War II era. Their tawnys are quite good rather than exceptional, but their vintage ports are truly sublime and sumptuous. 93/100

1980 20 cases £480:00 *** MB
1983 25 cases £490:00 92/100
1985 15 cases £590:00 96/100
1991 10 cases £465:00 94/100
1994 10 cases £550:00 96/100
1997 5 cases £490:00 94/100
2000 10 cases £550:00 98/100
2000 1 case Halves £550:00 98/100
2003 5 cases £395:00 95/100

Quinta do Noval

1963 5 cases £1095:00 **** MB
1963 1 bottle Nacional £2750.00 100/100
1997 1 case £1450:00 100/100
2000 5 cases £595:00 96/100

Cockburn

1912 1 bottle £595:00 91/100
1927 1 bottle £595:00 ***** MB
1963 10 cases £850:00 **** MB
1970 15 cases £495:00 86/100

1983 5 cases £595:00 97/100
A big, tough Port for long-term aging. It underlines what people mean when they say a great young vintage Port should overpower one's plate with fruit and tannin. Inky color, with perfumed cherry and berry aromas, full-bodied, with tons of tannins, intense cherry and berry flavors and a lingering finish.

1985 2 cases £440:00 *** MB

Gould Campbell

1975 25 cases £320:00 ** MB
1977 20 cases Magnums £540:00 **** MB
1980 10 cases Halves £390:00 *** MB
1983 25 cases £395:00 **** MB

Quarles Harris

1980 10 cases Halves £390:00 *** MB
1983 10 cases Halves £340:00 ** MB


MB Michael Broadbent.

Prices are per case of 12 bottles or per item.

We can arrange world wide delivery on request by Sea or Air

All ports are offered subject to remaining unsold and to final confiramtion E&OE

george.rhys@es-finewines.com
piers.methuen@es-finewines.com

[Glenn E.]

With the current state of the £, some of those prices are pretty good!

I always love perusing these lists, if only to dream. Thanks for posting them Roy!

[David Gutglass]

Does anyone know about how much is charged for shipping cases across the Atlantic?

[David Spriggs]

Does anyone know about how much is charged for shipping cases across the Atlantic?

My last shipment was $121/case (12 bottles)... that was for 16 cases. That includes all shipping, taxes, dtuy, slip labeling, customs, etc. And that was shipment via container ship, not air.

-Dave-

[Roy Hersh]

The Euro is at $1.25 today and the GB£ is at $1.49, the first time it has been below $1.50 in at least 5 years. Fabulous for American's seeking to buy wines. However, be aware that these price decreases will not be realized in our wine marketplace (unless buying overseas) until January at the earliest. What will be on the shelves here in the USA throughout the holidays will have been purchased with when the exchange rate was a lot less favorable.

[David Spriggs]

the GB£ is at $1.49

Yes, good for buying - unless you think prices are going lower or that the exchange rate will improve further. I am starting to look seriously at importing some more cases from the UK.
-Dave-