How to go about...

[angelaruskin]

Thank you for letting me know the history about the 3 bottles of vintage port that was left to my mother, I'd of loved to know what made my grandfather choose them? I have shown my mother the 2 replies and she feels she would like to sell them and give my children the money she raises from them. So any advice on A) Selling them B) Are they worth much? and C) Roy, you said you might be interested in the 'Ferreira 1900 reserve port'???????
The three ports are 'Constantinos, Colette Estate 1927', 'Hunt, Roope & Co 1953 ( produced for the queens coronation as bottles shaped like a crown)' and lastly the Ferreira 1900 reserve port( Dequede Braganca 1900)
Kind Regards everyone
Angela

[Tom Archer]

To answer the questions we need to know where you are.

Old bottles need TLC during transport - I would not put a very old bottle on a plane unless I had it with me in the cabin, as the pressure differences can be too much for a frail old cork - and parcel delivery vans often get dangerously hot in the sun.

So you really need to find an enthusiast who is close to where you live, who can collect the bottles in person.

Roy is on the sunny north west coast of the USA - while I am in what is currently a cool and overcast UK.

Others on this list are scattered round the globe -

- where are you??

Tom

[Andy Velebil]

Angela,

Selling bottles that old can be tricky. If you could answer the questions below that would help us to answer some of your questions.

1: What were the conditions (ie temp, humidity, location, etc) that the bottles have been stored in all these years. (ex. in the cellar, which doesn't get above 13 degress celcius in the summer...or...in the cellar next to the boiler)

2: What are the fill levels like. (i.e. into the neck of the bottle, at the base of the neck, etc.)

3: Where are the bottles now being stored (kitchen counter, cellar, etc)

4: Can you post a link that has pictures of the bottles (this would really help and would also answer question #2 above.

You will probably find a buyer from this site. As Tom mention there a lot of people from the UK on this board.

[angelaruskin]

Hi Andy,
Many thanks for your message.. right the bottles were purchased in 1975 and were kept in a cellar (on their sides) until 1995 when my grandad passed away and they were passed to my mother who has kept them wrapped up in a dark, cool detached garage.
The levels are as follows.. the Ferreia is in to the neck of the bottle and the other two are at the base of the neck.
For some reasons im unable to attach the photos so I will email them direct to you..(if anyone else wants to see the photos let me know)
Kiknd Regards
Angela

[Andy Velebil]

Angela,

Thanks. here is a link to the photos

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cofidis2/ ... r=/b5ddre2

I do have one more question. how hot does the detached garage get in the summer?

All the bottles appear to have the IVP seal on them, so they were bottled sometime after 1934.

[Tom Archer]

There's an intrigue here - while we all know 1927 as a great vintage year, the '27 is a colheita with the date 1877 in roman numerals above.

Suggests that this is a 50yr old wine bottled in 1927..

..Roy, what do you think?

Tom

[Andy Velebil]

Tom, it looks like it has an IVP seal, which did not come about until after the 1933 regulations took effect. That being the case, it is a colheita bottled after 1933. it is hard to tell though, the seal is weathered and no writting is visible on it in the picture, but the shape sure looks like an early IVP seal.

Maybe the roman numerals refer to the year the company was founded.

[Roy Hersh]

Having now looked at the photos, I realize that the Ferreira and the Constantino's are BOTH Colheitas, a very special love of mine. I am now going on the record saying that I would purchase all 3 from Angela. I have had Hunt Roope Vintage Port back to 1854 (although that bottle fizzled) but I still keep the empty.

[angelaruskin]

Right.. I have now taken a clearer photo for everyone of the 1927, however am still having trouble making a link to it so I will email it to you.
The garage the bottles are stored in now is built in to a valley so is always cool, we have joked in the past that it feels like someone has died in there. Also..all the seals on all three bottles are still firmly intact.
Roy do let me know when you are in the UK, it would be fantastic to meet with you and learn more about the history and perhaps do a sale....
Kind Regards

Angela

[Roy Hersh]

Angela,

Brilliant! One question: Do you personally enjoy Port wine?

[Andy Velebil]

I added the pic. Use the same link above.

[angelaruskin]

I do enjoy port myself, however my knowledge is very, very limited!!!!

[Roy Hersh]

Well, you have come to the right place to learn. Please feel free to look through the BASICS FORUM for some explanations of many diverse topics and answers to questions. Should you have any particular question you would like to have answered, please don't hesitate to ask us.

[Tom Archer]

Ditto

Tom