What's the best under $25 bottle of Port you've tried in the past year?

[Paul Fountain]

I can answer this one now as for the first time ever I managed to get a Port under $25. The Port in question was the Taylor's 04 LBV which I bought at Costco for around $16. I don't like my chances of seeing that price again as I don't think it was that cheap previously.

[Andy Velebil]

I can answer this one now as for the first time ever I managed to get a Port under $25. The Port in question was the Taylor's 04 LBV which I bought at Costco for around $16. I don't like my chances of seeing that price again as I don't think it was that cheap previously.

Did you stock up?

[Paul Fountain]

I can answer this one now as for the first time ever I managed to get a Port under $25. The Port in question was the Taylor's 04 LBV which I bought at Costco for around $16. I don't like my chances of seeing that price again as I don't think it was that cheap previously.

Did you stock up?

I got a few bottles, but I was more focused on clearing them out their stocks of 01 Vargellas which was also an extremely good price. I will get back there to see if anything is left though

[Brian C.]

Noval Black ($17 with my Binny's card) for me.

[Al B.]

I guess to answer the question fairly, I should only consider full-sized bottles that cost under $25 at normal price from a retail source, before any of the generous discounts that we've seen at the UK supermarkets recently. Even in the UK, you can't find much vintage port for this price until people start discounting - Cruz in Morrisons is about the only exception. Really, this means that the choice is limited to LBV, Crusted or Ruby Reserve ports.

There are some good LBVs around that I really enjoy. Croft 2004 @ £16 from Tesco, Quevedo's LBVs are magnificent but difficult to get hold of, Smith Woodhouse and Warre Traditional LBVs are superb and are really just baby vintage ports.

There's also a good choice of Crusted Ports in that price range. Fonseca @ £14 from Majestic, Graham @ £16 from Sainsbury

Ruby Reserves have been well covered in the Ruby Reserve Virtual Offline and in the coming Newsletter Article, but some of these will even mature in the bottle - I particularly like the Graham 6 Grapes, the Noval Black and the Fonseca Bin 27.

My problem is that I like my port mature, not youthful and assertive. I've got bottles of all of the ports I've mentioned hidden away somewhere cool and dark for me to get out in 20 years and really enjoy. If I was to choose something to open today, it would be the Quevedo 2003 and if I couldn't find that I would open a Warre or Smith Woodhouse Traditional LBV.

[Moses Botbol]

Wish I could remember the vintage, but Andresen LBV for $23 was mighty good I had about a month ago.

[Eric Menchen]

I guess to answer the question fairly, I should only consider full-sized bottles that cost under $25 at normal price from a retail source, before any of the generous discounts that we've seen at the UK supermarkets recently. Even in the UK, you can't find much vintage port for this price until people start discounting - Cruz in Morrisons is about the only exception. Really, this means that the choice is limited to LBV, Crusted or Ruby Reserve ports.

I've purchased a fair number of VPs sub $25 at auction. At retail, the list is shorter, but there is a list. I suppose these were on sale, and not a "normal" price:
1987 Moreira for $24
1999 Quinta do Roriz for $25
2000 Quinta do Crasto for $22.73
2004 Quinta da Romaneira for $20
2005 Quinta de Roriz for $20
I can't say I've tasted any of those in the past year, however.