A beginner's cellar on a budget

[Espen S.]

Here in Norway we don't have the largest selection of port, so it's very tough to get, especially classic vintages and very popular wines. I was devastated today when I found out the 2007 Noval VP was sold out and discontinued, just before I was going to buy... now I probably won't find it until it's way too expensive. Forget about wines from the 63, 70, 77 etc vintages.. if any such bottles exist, they're insanely expensive. After all, it's Norway, everything that is imported costs much more than any other place in the world.

Anyway.. I made a list of wines that seem interesting, after reading a lot. Some of them I know I'll get, no matter what.. others I'm not sure about. I know there's some vast knowledge on this board, so I'll ask you for suggestions. These are available in my country, and there's a chance of getting some good juice.

I just have to add, I'm a beginner port lover, I own 4 bottles, and have very limited experience. I'm trying to figure out where to start, to build up a collection of wines for long, mid, and short time aging, plus wines I can drink now, of course. This will be a slow process.

I focused on VP in this list, but I'm not limited to that category. I'm looking for great tawnies, colheitas, rubys, LBV's etc.. if it's good, it's good.

Unlike a lot of high end wine enthusiasts, I can't buy cases of anything I like. I'm on a tight budget most of the time, and I'm always looking for the best deal. I can buy a bottle or two every now and then. So I'm asking for suggestions where to start?

Fonseca Vintage 2003
Quinta do Noval Vintage 2003
Niepoort Vintage 2007
Quinta do Noval Silval Vintage 2005
Quinta do Noval Silval Vintage 2007
Graham's Vintage 1994
Graham's Vintage 2007
Graham's Quinta Do Malvedos 1998
Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage 2007
Smith Woodhouse Vintage 2000
Kopke Vintage 1985
Smith Woodhouse Vintage 2007
Quinta do Vale Meao Vintage 2007
Taylor's Vintage Port 2003
Taylor's Quinta de Vargellas 1998
Dow's Vintage Port 2007

Again, I'm not at all limited to that list, or VP. I just picked some wines that are available.

[John M.]

Hi Espen;

Like you, I too am new to port. The Fonseca 2003 is very good (read the TNs on this one) & Roy rated Niepoort 2007 very high. I just got a bottle of the Foneseca 2003 which I have not tried yet. If your budget is tight, I'd suggest LBVs and Crusted Ports, they are often much more reasonable--often a fraction of the price--and very tasty. Right now there are several nice LBVs out there: Taylor 2003, and Dows 2003 & 2004 to name a few I've had recently (I'm in the USA--not sure what you've got in Norway).

If you want to stick to VPs, scour the TNs--our fine friends here at provide us with very good impirical data.

Do your stores offer case discounts? If you got some port friends together, you could share a case (even mixed) and futher stretch your money.

Good Luck!

[Sebastian T]

Hi there. Im new also and I started up with 4 btls of Quinta do Noval Vintage 2003 Portugal.
Among others i also started up eith 4 btls of Grahams 2000 vp and 2 * 2 other more affordable vintages, still ranked high in Roy's vintage forecast.

And today if i have the time ( they disappear fast here in sweden) i will get that Fonseca 2003, its a top port from what ive read.
(98+ points from Roy, and:
Wine Spectator 96
Parker (WA) 96
Tanzer (IWC) 97
Cellartracker 96 )

Also, do as i've recently done, get a hold of several good LBVs, and some older tawnies

About that Noval, this is what Roy wrote about it:
This Noval is a sexy, full-bodied Port with voluptuous juice flavors that holds nothing back on the palate. It has outstanding symmetry at this stage and the plush, subdued tannins are hard to detect, but they are lurking about just below the surface and lead to a superlative finish. The regular bottling is one of my favorite wines of this young vintage. 4,000 cases made. 97+ points

Got to run now, and i hope i didnt miss anything
Cheers

[Lamont Huxley]

I haven't had many of the ports on your list, but there are several I have had and would wholeheartedly recommend. The Vesuvio 2003 is my favorite VP I've tasted to date. You could age it for decades but it's drinking amazingly even now. The Fonseca 2003 is fantastic but definitely needs a long time before it's ready to drink. The Smith Woodhouse 2000 is another excellent one. You can usually find it priced affordably relative to the bigger names (at least here in the States) and it's a big, juicy, delicious port that is certainly cellar-worthy, though it's so approachable that it wouldn't hurt to enjoy it in the near future, if not now.

Just my for what it's worth.

[Glenn E.]

Fonseca Vintage 2003
Quinta do Noval Vintage 2003
Niepoort Vintage 2007
Quinta do Vale Meao Vintage 2007

These are all amazing Ports, and if you have the ability to get them for a reasonable price you really should. I would LOVE to be able to get my hands on a 6-pack of the 2007 Vale Meao, but it is not sold in the US. That was my top-rated 2007 VP (though I didn't have the opportunity to try the Noval).

The 2003 Noval is a blockbuster that, at last sampling, was starting to close down a bit but which in my opinion is going to be one of the greatest VPs of the vintage. I was very lucky to be able to buy a case of it when they changed distributors in the US and the old distributor sold off their stocks at fire sale prices.

[Symon B]

if you can get grahme 85 that is what we kicked of with as a treat port and not expencive in the scene of things but also look out for antique auctions for job mix lots there are bargains to be found esp the unlabled bottles and they can be cheap good luck symon b

[Thomas Tideman Holst]

Hi Espen,
I started focusing on VP's a couple of years ago myself.
I've bought a few of the available ports in Norway, and haven't found a bargain yet.
In my view the best buy is the Quinta do Vale Meao Vintage 2007.
I've had a few bottles already and are planning to buy more... great stuff.

I would check at Systembolaget for the other ports as they seem to be 20-30 % cheaper in Sweden.
The best buys i've found in scandinavia is the Burmester port offer from philipsonwine.com outside Copenhagen.
I just bought a case of Burmester VP 1997 for the hillarious price of 99 dkr a bottle.

Just decanted a bottle for tonight... and it looks and smells promising.

I''m planning to buy a few older vintages from British auctionhouses by the case, so if you fancy a joint operation send me a PM

[Moses Botbol]

Looks to me that your whole list is worth while. How does it work with shipping wine/port to Norway? There are several merchants in UK that have great prices.

[Espen S.]

Thanks everyone. Seems like I can get some good ones after all.

I don't know how importing wine works here, there's all kinds of legal stuff I don't know anything about. But yes, a joint operation would be great, I'll let you know when or if I have the funds.

[Lars F]

Hi Espen

Since you're in Olso, you may consider taking the ferry to Copenhagen and make a day of it. The price of the ferry could easily be marginal if you pick up some bottles in Copenhagen and you could even split the cost with others if you're bringing port home to them as well.
Copenhagen should offer a wider selection of bottles than you can get in Oslo, and you can research prices from home. PM me if you'd like som website suggestions.

You should however check the customs rules, although i'd think the chance of getting caught should be slim.

Venlig hilsen

Lars

[Espen S.]

That's funny.. I'm always picked for those "random" checks at airports, customs or whatever. Every single time. I've never had too much with me, though.

Bald guys with beard, beware! They always check you.

[chris ward]

Hi,
If you want decent port on a budget I would focus on some good quinta port. Although not up there with a true vintage port they offer great value. Over here in the UK i've just bought several bottles of DOW's Quinta Do Bomfin 1998 at £18. (graham's LBV costs £11) Grahams Quinta dos Malvedos 1998/1999 is another decent port at a good price (£20 here in the UK) I also had a nice bottle of Taylors Quints de Vargellas last week (£25))

[Moses Botbol]

That's funny.. I'm always picked for those "random" checks at airports, customs or whatever. Every single time. I've never had too much with me, though.

Bald guys with beard, beware! They always check you.

Every bottle you carry should be re-labeled "Ruby". Who cares about the label unless you are reselling it? You know what you have and if it's going to save you a lot, it's worth it for sure.

I am pretty clean cut and am on that "list" when entering the USA for some reason.

[Jim R.]

Espen
I have been collecting wines for 35 years and urge you to buy at least two bottles at a time, four is better so that you can try one now and make your evaluation as to when to try the next one(s). With VP you are usually safe to use five or ten year increments if they are young. I agree with the other comments on this thread and wish you happy collecting.

Jim

[Espen S.]

Yes, that's good advice. And, if I really love it, it would be a shame if I only had the one bottle.
And yeah, it seems to me that SQVP's offer great value. Lots of great wines that are under the radar.