Very old Port... will it be any good?

[Teresa F Gouveia]

I have several bottles of very old Port from my husband's grandfather's wedding. This includes Neipoort LBV 1929, Burmester LBV 1929,and others.

For the past 24 years we have kept it lying down in the larder, the coolest place in the house. However, in the summer, the temperature can go above 20ºc even in there. I don't know how it was stored in my mother-in-law's house, but probably in her larder like us.

My questions are 1) would it be good to drink 2) would it be good to sell?

[Derek T.]

Teresa,

These are very rare bottles and very early examples of the LBV style.

The storage conditions do not sound ideal, particularly for such old wines, so I would suggest you open one to find out if they are still in good condition.

Old LBVs do not tend to command high prices as they represent a significant risk to the buyer as they were never intended to get this old. The price you could achieve would be influenced by where you are in the world.

Derek

[Andy Velebil]

Very old LVB's for sure and not ones seen very often. As to your questions; Not sure how good they would be as Derek pointed out as that's a long time for an LBV to age and in not so cool temps.

As for value, a tough one as they are LBV's which typically don't command high prices. I saw you're in Portugal, near the Douro Valley, and while I have been there many times I have no idea what these would sell for in your area, sorry.

[Teresa F Gouveia]

Thanks for your replies.

I think I will take the suggestion to open one to see. I have several bottles!!! I'll report back here...

[Moses Botbol]

How does the color look? LBV's that old are worth something to the handful reading this forum and at they are only worth so much in the best of conditions. Perhaps Niepoort or Burmester would trade them for something else just to have a representation in their collection. Those are super rare bottles you have. What else is in the collection?

[Roy Hersh]

This bring us back to the age old question: What was the first LBV?

[Teresa F Gouveia]

This bring us back to the age old question: What was the first LBV?

What's the answer??? Any idea?

[Andy Velebil]

This bring us back to the age old question: What was the first LBV?

I don't think there really is an answer, is there? As there is a number of factors to consider that would affect the answer we seek.

-- What are we considering LBV?

-- Are we speaking of commercially released, or in-house/special release?

-- Are we talking filtered, unfiltered (traditional), or some combo of both?

The answer to these basic questions can drastically alter the answer as to what was the first LBV.

[Eric Menchen]

And are we asking about the style, or the name?

[Moses Botbol]

And are we asking about the style, or the name?

The name would be the one I'd want to know. At least we can't argue whether it's really an LBV if that is what it says on the label. Then again, everything is up for debate on this forum

[Andy Velebil]

And are we asking about the style, or the name?

The name would be the one I'd want to know. At least we can't argue whether it's really an LBV if that is what it says on the label. Then again, everything is up for debate on this forum

Well.....The regulation to bottle between the second and third year after harvest is only a post-WW2 regulation. Prior to that there was none and some shippers, such as Ramos Pinto, was known for bottling their VP's late. Add in that most Port was shipped in casks and then bottled some time later by a merchant, some of the old VP's wouldn't be classified as such under todays rules.